IN THE PIPELINE:

Tired of selfish, spoiled, irresponsible celebrities? Fed up with having to hear about midnight exploits acted out by young women who, despite the fact that millions of teenage girls idolize them, could care less about creating even so much as a hint of positive influence?

We could debate all day over whether or not celebrities should be role models. The fact is, many of them are, especially when it comes to young female fans. How else do you explain the fascination with Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and a host of other “It” girl-pop-culture-train-wrecks?

It would seem today that “The Girl Next Door” starlet has been replaced by the “Addict Next Door Rehab Recidivist” — which makes Danica McKellar so refreshing. The appealing actress who starred as Winnie Cooper on ABC’s “The Wonder Years” and more recently as Elsie Snuffin on “The West Wing,” among many other productions, has deftly handled the typically challenging evolution from child actor into adult.

But beyond that, the La Jolla-born star found a unique way to not just connect with her fans, but to help them tackle something that’s been the bane of many a middle schooler’s existence since the days of the abacus — math. You see, Danica McKellar is not just a good actress.

She may also be America’s most popular math teacher, thanks to a recent book she wrote that has become the rage of the numerically challenged younger set: “Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail.”

The history behind the book is hardly the stuff of Hollywood legend. In fact, it may be the first sort of showbiz tale of its kind. McKellar graduated summa cum laude from UCLA in 1998. As an undergraduate, she had excelled in math and even co-wrote a scientific paper that proved a theorem in mathematical physics.

Once news of her acumen found its way into the public stream and fans began requesting math help via McKellar’s website, the concept of the book was born.

But the lessons in the book go beyond just numerical equations. I spoke with Danica this week and with schoolgirl enthusiasm, she talked about why the book was so important for her to write.

“So many young girls today feel like they have to choose between their looks and style, and their brains. I wanted to show them that the combination of the two things is more powerful than one or the other. You can go so much farther in life when you don’t sacrifice one for the other, and too many times today the education gets forgotten because it’s not considered cool,” she said.

“Math and science are very cool and it was important for me to reach out and remind kids that even with all the social pressures today, you have to remember how important learning is.”

Interestingly, McKellar was not a naturally gifted math student herself, instead having to overcome many of the same hurdles as many of her new de facto “students” who read the book.

“I had the most wonderful teacher,” she said. “When all I could worry about were the grades, he took me aside and said, ‘Let me worry about the grades. You just worry about the math.’” That simple pearl of wisdom freed McKellar up to tackle math, “more like a language,” she explained. “When you approach it like that and not like a series of unrelated problems, it becomes much easier to manage.”

The book has become a huge hit not just with her large flock of devoted fans, but also for parents and educators. It doesn’t just tackle math concepts (though everything from pre-algebra, fractions and percentages are presented in a fun, easy-to-digest manner).

The book also covers stories from Danica’s life growing up, tips, advice, suggestions and throughout, a “big sister” voice of reason to help guide a student through this challenging chapter of life. It’s accessible, positive and encouraging, which is everything Danica thinks a good teacher should be.

“When I hear from kids today, I can usually tell from their experiences what sort of teacher they have,” she said. “The students who are most comfortable have a teacher who makes the process positive and never makes them feel like less if they’re not getting something right away.”

I think if Hollywood were smart, they’d find a few more Danica McKellars. She’s a celebrity who makes an ideal role model because she has put her talent and fame to exceptional use. She not only accepts her status as a role model but thrives on it. She makes learning cool. And what’s cooler than that?

Danica McKellar will be signing her book, “Math Doesn’t Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail,” at 7 this evening at Barnes & Noble at the Bella Terra Shopping Center, 7777 Edinger Ave.

Have an old H.B. family photo for the new book Chris is working on, “Huntington Beach, Then and Now?” Write him at [email protected]. If he uses it you’ll get a free signed copy of the book!

 CHRIS EPTING is the author of nine books including his latest, “Led Zeppelin Crashed Here, The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America.”