Our Team

Leon has a wide background including experience in business, economics and engineering. He owned his own manufacturing business prior to joining a large international jewelry company as Director, and General Manager. There he developed software, process controls and metallurgical alloys, as well as managing and supervising the business. Leon graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, and has been a participant in many Metallurgy and Jewelry Symposiums. At Mathnasium, he is responsible for developing and supervising the instructors, managing the business, as well as fulfilling his hunger of teaching children mathematics. Leon has always enjoyed working with children, and has a passion for math. He enjoyed competing in UIL events. One of his major goals is to create a center where students experience how much fun math can be, and how much it can enrich their minds. He believes that the right approach of learning mathematics is the basis in creating a positive attitude toward the passion of learning other sciences and technology… After all the word mathematics = the study of learning. As a center director, Leon wants to pass his knowledge and experience to future generations through the use of the Mathnasium Method.

Hello and welcome to MATHNAISUM! My name is Israel Serna and I’m one of the instructors that teach here. Currently I reside in Mission, Tx where I went to Sharyland ISD (Independent School District). I obtained my high school diploma in 2002, after which I pursued and obtained a Mechanical Engineering (ME) Degree from the University of Texas Pan-American in 2007. While in college I studied all fields of ME (Mechanical Engineering) including: statics, dynamics, thermodynamics, and heat transfer just to mention a few among others. I enjoyed several graduate/undergraduate electives in Engineering such as: Engineering Acoustics, Biomechanics, and Motors and Control Systems. After graduation I found a job in La Feria, Tx as an engineering consultant for potable water and wastewater systems. However, after two years of working as a consultant, I decided for a different career path that led me to MATHNASIUM. Many have asked, what is that made me pursue a teaching career at MATHNASIUM? I tell them that there is no better satisfaction than to know you are influencing the minds of our younger generation for the betterment of our future. Ultimately my goal at this learning institution is to help our students to think creatively and acquire the knowledge of Mathematics through number sense. It is surprising that most of us grow up without this great tool called “NUMBER SENSE”, and to realize that such a great tool has been missing from our repertoire is devastating enough. So I’ve made a personal commitment that no kid should go on without this beautiful set of skills called number sense.

I graduated from McAllen Memorial High School in the top 15 percent with honors, and am currently attending the University of Texas Pan-American as a full time student. I am pursuing a double major in Biology and Mechanical Engineering. After a long day in school I look forward to going to Mathnasium. I love seeing kids’ faces light up with joy after finally understanding a problem they were struggling with. I like teaching math strategies in fun ways that the kids will remember so that when teachers challenge them at school they have the confidence required to not be overwhelmed by whatever that challenge may be.

Ever since I was in elementary school, I was interested in mathematics. I always strived to learn more about math and took any opportunity to do so by attending math camps, taking summer school math courses, and competing in any extracurricular math event available to me such as U.I.L. Mathematics, Number Sense, and Calculators. In 2006, I graduated second in my class at La Joya Senior High School and went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering where I subsequently graduated from in 2010. I decided to apply to Sharyland Mathnasium so I could teach students a subject I am fond of and believe in. While working here, I hope to show students how fun math can be and to share my passion for math with students as well as other instructors.

After proudly graduating from Sharyland High School with honors, Raúl is currently attending The University of Texas Pan-American as a full-time student. To maintain himself occupied and his brain in constant motion, he enjoys helping out kids who struggle in math so that they can better understand the purpose of mathematics, rather than just the procedures. As a Mathnasium instructor, Raúl strives to change kids’ fear of math into a natural curiosity for solving problems.

I was born in Mission, Texas and was raised in McAllen, Texas. I graduated from McAllen Memorial High school in 2007 in the top 10% of my class. I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics at the University of Texas-Pan American. I will be graduating this year on December 18, 2010. My interest in mathematics began at an early age because of my father. Going through school, I was always fascinated with the new things I learned in mathematics. When I got to college, I originally wanted to study engineering. After taking a course on ordinary differential equations (ODE’s), I decided to switch my major over to mathematics. I was in awe at how knowledgeable my professor for that class was and at the application of the subject to science and engineering. He always referred to mathematics as another language; one which is very useful and that has been around since beginning of mankind. Most of us will agree that we need more people who can speak the language of mathematics in order to be able to apply it to a variety of other fields. Working at Mathnasium allows me to take part in this effort and that is a rewarding feeling. I get to share my passion and knowledge of mathematics with many bright young minds.

What makes Mathnasium so special is the people. I enjoy making math make sense to kids.

Hi, my name is Rigo and I’ve been tutoring for over 5 years at South Texas College where I’ve mainly gained all my tutoring experience in the various math courses offered there. In addition to this, I’ve done supplementary instruction for developmental math courses and have hosted various workshops for exams such as the SAT, ACT, THEA, and many other placement exams. It has always been exciting to rise up to new challenges and expand on them which is what Mathnasium brings to the table. Working with adults is one thing, which although Mathnasium isn’t limited to, but working with kids has really changed many of my perspectives in the matter of working and solving problems from their stand point. To me, this has given me a better understanding on the fundamentals to strategically fortify the foundations that build up the students in meeting with the Higher Education’s standards and even going beyond the call of duty in many cases. I have currently been working with Mathnasium for over 7 months, and have seen its establishment grow with many new faces appearing everyday of children and adults seeking to conquer, demystify, or just simply to make peace with mathematics. It brings me joy to be part of a staff that helps the student in their endeavor by presenting mathematics in a unique way.

When it comes to approaching math, my philosophy is "keep it simple". As a math Instructor here at Mathnasium, I have the opportunity to help many students. Here at Mathnasium, I am part of a team whose main goal is to make sure the students succeed not only in school but in life. My main reason for becoming a math instructor is the passion I have for Mathematics. I graduated from the University of Texas at Brownsville with a degree in Computer Science. But, it was my passion for math that makes me pursued a math teacher certification at NC State University. As a certified math teacher I have a vast knowledge in all the different levels of math

What I like the most about Mathnasium are the children. I feel like I am Mathnasium of Sharyland's Official Grandmother. I found out that the word I like the most is the expression OH! I can see their eyes shine like a light bulb while saying OH!

I was born in Seoul, Korea and moved to the U.S. when I was in 7th grade. I went to high school in San Diego, where I graduated in the top 10% of my class with honors. Then I was fortunate enough to get accepted to UCLA and got my bachelor's in economics in 2010. After coming to McAllen upon graduation, I am preparing for a graduate school these days. I like math because most of the math problems have a definite answer, whereas multiple answers usually exist for many other subjects like economics or history. Honestly, (compare to other subjects) math is more like a game where you need to mix and match different strategies to derive your answer. It is what makes mathematics fun! I enjoy working at Mathnasium because we have friendly staff, fun students, and a good laugh everyday. Teaching and looking at difficult mathematics concepts "click" in students' minds is really rewarding and exciting. I guarantee that since we enjoy teaching math here, you will have fun learning math as well!