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Altadena

2333 North Lake Avenue , #C
Altadena, CA 91001

Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Altadena

Our staff is built to teach each student individually, to develop the skills they need to thrive in mathematics, and to foster a love of learning.

Our staff is built to teach each student individually, to develop the skills they need to thrive in mathematics, and to foster a love of learning.

Math Centers / Altadena / Our Team
Michael Lastra

Michael Lastra

Center Director
Michael Lastra earned his Bachelor's of Science in Biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles. Michael has always been passionate about STEM, especially math and coding. As an Altadena native, Michael has an abundance of knowledge of the local school systems and how the Mathnasium program works for each individual student. He was a member of several clubs that worked with kids from underserved areas & developed a passion working with students. When Michael is not at Mathnasium, he enjoys to travel and attend music festivals!

Noah

Assistant Center Director
Noah has a passion for solving math puzzles and sharing them with others. He has been tutoring and mentoring math students for the past 6 years. Noah received his B.S. in Mathematics from Caltech and will be pursuing graduate school in 2024. Meanwhile, he will be continuing research in mathematical logic (ask him about descriptive set theory!). When not thinking about math, Noah enjoys reading fiction, listening to rock and roll, or hiking mountains with friends.

Nico

In-Center Lead Instructor
Nico earned her Associates in Mathematics and Natural Sciences in pursuit of a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. Participating in pupil discussions for upper division math courses allowed her to discover a new passion towards education, and she now aspires to instruct Calculus at the college level. When away from the center, she enjoys rebuilding classic cars, playing volleyball, and graphic design!

Arpi

@Home Lead Instructor
Arpi received her Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics from California State University, Northridge. While in school, she tutored students in subjects ranging from College Algebra to Calculus. Before Mathnasium, she interned at a non-profit organization that worked on providing clean water to communities in the San Francisco area. She aspires to pursue a Master's Degree in Data Science in the near future. During her free time, Arpi enjoys reading, playing golf, and tennis. She has even produced her own film which is on Amazon!

Areg

Instructor
Areg attended Clark Magnet High School and graduated at the age of 15. He is currently enrolled at GCC, pursuing an associate degree in economics. He plans to transfer to a UC in the coming years to complete his bachelor's degree in economics. Outside the center, Areg enjoys exploring nature, staying physically active, and playing chess.

Armando

Instructor
Armando has an associate’s degree in world languages and is currently working towards a career in education. He considers himself a jack of all trades and is curious about many things! His favorite branch of math is geometry, and he’s always excited to apply proofs to the problem at hand. He also enjoys narrative fiction and linguistics in his free time.

Ashley

Instructor
Ashley is currently studying Computer Science at PCC. Her goal is to transfer to a UC school in the near future where she will complete her bachelor's degree. She believes math should be fun and not tedious, and she wants to be able to help Mathnasium students learn that as well. In her free time she enjoys anything to do with computers, gaming, and cooking.

Patrick

Instructor
Patrick currently attends PCC in pursuit of an Associates Degree in Computer Science. Before Mathnasium, Patrick's tutoring strength included 9th graders working through Integrated math courses. His passion working with students blossomed, which led him to pursue students of all grade levels at Mathnasium. Patrick's plan after PCC includes transferring to a 4 year University after obtaining his Associates Degree. Some of Patrick's hobbies include playing chess, traveling, sketching, and going to amusement parks!

Tao

Instructor
Tao is currently a senior at a local high school and will be attending Brown in the fall! He has been a fan of math for his entire life, competing in competitions and currently studying multivariable calculus. He plans to continue pursuing math at Brown and beyond. Right now, Tao spends most of his free time with photography and going to car shows.

Victor

Instructor
Victor attended Clark Magnet High School and pursued a degree in pure math at GCC and PCC. He has a passion for teaching math and prioritizes making math enjoyable and interesting for as many students as possible. Victor is currently studying as an apprentice tattoo artist and in his free time he enjoys listening to music, making art, and exploring nature.

Vy

Instructor
Vy currently attends a local high school and is working towards acceptance into a college where she can major in mathematics! She started off as a Mathnasium student years ago which is how she originally developed a love for math. She has returned as an instructor with a passion to pass her love of math onto other Mathnasium students. She spends most of her free time on the tennis court, drawing, and listening to music.

Claire

Instructor (@Home)
Claire is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy Analysis. Prior to Mathnasium, she tutored preschool through middle school students in math, reading, and homework — and loves sharing in the learning process. Since she thoroughly enjoys working with students and learning math concepts, being a Mathnasium team member excites her. In her spare time, Claire loves to go on outdoor adventures, learn American Sign Language, paint, and listen to her favorite musical soundtracks!

Our Mathnasium Mission

Teach children math so they understand it, master it, and love it. Math can change their lives, and they can change the world.

What I love about Mathnasium is the ability to teach problem-solving skills and make math make sense, while also making a student smile.
Amber W., Mathnasium Instructor

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