Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Tustin

Larry Martinek

Larry has spent his entire career finding a better way to teach math. From inner city to public schools, to acclaimed magnet schools, to leading private and parochial schools, Larry has served as both a classroom teacher and as an educational consultant. He has designed curriculum, teaching strategies, and teaching materials designed to help students and teachers learn math more effectively. He has trained teachers in the art and science of boosting students' ability to “do” math, thereby increasing students' math scores and feeling of self-worth. Larry is the developer of Mathnasium’s educational program – one of the most comprehensive and innovative curriculas ever produced for teaching math. While Larry is not an Instructor at our Center, he is a valuable asset we can call on to ask about specific students' scenarios for guidance and advice. This has helped to make visits more productive and enjoyable for many of our students.

Parisa

Parisa graduated from Sharif University of Technology (SUT), Tehran with a Master degree in physics. She is always passion about Math as the language of physics. As Albert Einstein said: “If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough”. She loves interacting with both young and high school students to figure out the ways that they are thinking about math problems and tries to develop various explanation by using productive methods/shortcuts and real-life examples to ensure students masters math concepts and boost their self-confidence. Parisa believes that the key factor for success is to encourage students to compete with themselves, by understanding their own learning styles, rather than with others. In her spare time, Parisa enjoys hanging out with friends and family, going out and eating at various restaurants, photography, cooking, nature hiking, and playing backgammon. She has over 5 years experience in Mathnasium system and more than 10 years in teaching/mentoring high school and collage level students.

Blake

Blake is currently a senior at Foothill High School. He enjoys problem solving and creating projects with his engineering class. He plans to pursue a degree in engineering. In his free time, Blake enjoys creating art and playing soccer.

Alex

Alex has been with Mathnasium since August 2021. Before teaching math, he worked in the pharmaceutical industry and in clinical development. He is very passionate about math and teaching students of all ages. Alex holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biological Sciences and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from UC Irvine. He also earned a Master's Degree in Clinical Research from The American University of Health Sciences. In addition to spending time with his wife, Marie, Alex likes to read, swim, and bicycle ride. We are very fortunate to have Alex at Mathnasium of Tustin.

Darya

Darya was a long-term Mathnasium student for over 6 years and after graduating Beckman High in 2021, she transitioned to being great instructor with a unique perspective. She enjoys working with our young students and applying her strong knowledge in math with our high school students. She is currently a sophomore at UCI studying Biology. We are grateful to have Darya join our team now and for years to come. During her free time, she enjoys swimming, attending school activities, and spending time with family and friends.

Manon

Manon graduated in May 2023 from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Pure Mathematics. She is actively involved in mathematical research with one of her former professors and classmates and plans on publishing within the next year. She has years of experience teaching and tutoring university mathematics courses such as Calculus, Differential Equations, Abstract Algebra, and Linear Algebra. She is currently applying for Masters programs in Pure Mathematics, with career goals of becoming a professor. She has a passion for math and loves working with all students at Mathnasium. Her goal for every student is to help them understand their math classes just a little bit better after each session. Manon always wants to ensure students understand the foundations of their courses and always reviews previous topics or concepts to better prepare students. In her free time, Manon likes to swim, create art, and spend time with her loved ones.