Our Team

Prior to getting involved with Mathnasium, Berish spent the past decade in the collegiate world as the Director of Admissions of a liberal arts college. In that position he helped create new undergraduate college programs and was responsible for the recruitment and retention of its’ students. In this capacity, Berish traveled around the globe during which time he counseled hundreds of students in planning for their futures. It was during these years that Berish saw firsthand the tremendous need to maintain strong math skills in order to succeed at the college level. Berish is the father of six children. His wife is a director of an early childhood program in Chicago. In his “spare time” Berish founded and continues to maintain the largest private men’s basketball league in the country. He has also created a charity that gathers and distributes yearly more than 12 tons of clothing to the needy. Berish is looking forward to helping students achieve their full potential at the first Mathnasium Learning Center in the Chicagoland area.

Dina holds a Bachelor's Degree in Science with Honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She has been teaching for over 18 years at Beth Hillel Academy in Wilmette, IL as a first grade teacher. She is also a high school Biology and Physics teacher at Lubavitch Girls High School in Chicago, where she has taught for over 7 years. Her attendance at numerous continuing education seminars has enriched her teaching skills. Working with children has been the focus of Dina's energies--at home, in school, and in the past as she worked as camp and youth group assistant director and counselor. Her passion for "raising the bar" in education has lead to her volunteer involvement in many PTA fundraising activities for her children's school. Dina has been the chairperson for her children's school benefit auction for 6 years. She has also been involved in many other charity causes including the Women's Charity Players, cooking for the needy, and clothes collections for needy families abroad. Dina has always enjoyed the challenge of math and has spent her entire career working in the education field. Experiencing the gaps in her own children's math education has given Dina the drive to help establish the first Mathnasium center in Chicago. Mathnasium is a perfect fit for her passion for teaching and her love for math. She is married to Marc and has six wonderful children.

Sammy grew up on the north side of Chicago and is a graduate of Ida Crown Jewish Academy. Currently he is a student at University of Illinois at Chicago working towards a degree in mathematics with a minor in music. Sammy is a founding member of the Iota Chi colony of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at UIC and his hobbies include playing piano, listening to music, playing basketball - lots of basketball - and traveling.

Ben is a native of Skokie graduating from Culver Elementary and Niles West High School and a graduate of the Honors College of Illinois at Chicago with a BS in Neuroscience. Ben has been tutoring students in math since his senior year in high school. During Ben’s free time he spends time as a proud member and vice President of the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity at UIC.

Mrs. Cardash taught math and science and chaired those departments in the Chicago Public School system for 25 years. Degreed with a BA and MS, Mrs. Cardash brings a wealth of educational experience to Mathnasium of Skokie and we are proud to have her on our staff!

Penina is a Chicago native who is currently a student in Touro College finishing her undergraduate degree in Math. With many years of experience with children, Penina brings to our center a very charming personality in teaching that will allow better understanding of core concepts in mathematics.

A graduate of UIC and currently a graduate student in Rush University, College of Health Sciences, Josh brings to our center not only academic excellence but a love of teaching he has gained from a variety of experiences: As a former teachers assistant at the Early Child Development Laboratory in Champaign, Il, Josh helped coordinate development based activities for emotional and mental development. Josh also was a counselor at Easter Seals Timberpointe Outdoor Center attending to over a 1800 children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Josh is currently a OT volunteer at Carle Foundation Hospital. Mathnasium of Skokie is happy to have Josh on staff and we look forward to his great success!

Leo is currently completing his undergraduate degree at UIC in Electrical Engineering. Leo's enthusiasm and passion is contagious and is always looking to challenge of students and staff with math insights never seen! Leo is also a very talented photographer that has seen his work featured in newspapers. We look forward to Leo's talents been utilized to their maximum at Mathnasium of Skokie!