Our Team

Kathie earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from Rowan University. Working part time until her oldest child was in high school gave her the opportunity to work in diverse settings from middle school to high school in public and private schools. She has been a basic skills instructor as well as an accelerated math teacher. Being a private tutor and doing home instruction for public and parochial school systems, she became comfortable with curriculum from general math to calculus. She has been an adjunct instructor in basic computation and Developmental Algebra for Cumberland County College and Camden County College, and is currently working as an adjunct instructor at Gloucester County College.

She returned to full time work at Cumberland County College in the Math Lab. The Math Lab was a requirement for students in Developmental Algebra classes and a resource for students in college-level math classes. She co-authored a booklet used in the Developmental Algebra lab component. At CCC, she was also the Coordinator for Basic Skills Mathematics. She assisted in developing curricula and courses as well as administering exit exams and serving as liaison with all developmental mathematics adjuncts.

"With all the experience I have had, what I enjoy the most is working one on one with students. The connection you make with children and families is very rewarding. When I heard about Mathnasium, it seemed like a perfect fit for me and my husband. I was most impressed by the Mathnasium method and curriculum. It is an amazing way to develop mathematical thinking and problem solving skills in students."

Bob earned a B.A. in Communications/Public Relations from Glassboro State College, and is currently working on a degree in Business Management/Human Resources. Bob worked in Retail Management for many years. He has served as a Commissioner for the Housing Authority of the City of Vineland for 20 years, the last ten as Chairman. He served on the School Improvement Team while his children were in grammar school, and has coached both in-line and ice hockey.

The opportunity to blend his business background with Kathie’s education background seemed like a perfect fit with Mathnasium.

Bob has been trained in the Mathnasium Method, and truly enjoys the interaction with the students.

Lifelong South Jersey residents, Bob and Kathie have two grown children.

Lorin Nickle is currently attending Rowan University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering, along with a minor in Mathematics. Lorin earned an Associate of Science degree in Engineering from Cumberland County College, where he tutored college students in mathematics courses ranging from Developmental Algebra to high levels of Calculus. He has taken a wide range of mathematics courses during his academic career, including Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus I, II and III, Differential Equations and Linear Algebra. Lorin has always had an affinity towards mathematics and an appreciation for its uses in day to day life. This love of the application of mathematics is what led Lorin to pursue a career in Engineering.

Lorin was attracted to Mathnasium because of the tutoring methods employed. “The personal interaction between student and instructor helps build the student’s confidence in problem solving without creating a dependence on the presence of the instructor.” Lorin knows this is important to the success of the student when solving problems on their own and applying learned concepts to unfamiliar problems. The compounding nature of mathematics can make the subject intimidating, but Lorin feels the Mathnasium teaching methods effectively lay the groundwork for a thorough understanding, and even a love for, math.

Nicole graduated from Sacred Heart High School in Vineland as Salutatorian in 2008. She then continued her education for two years at Cumberland County College where she received her Associate's degree in Secondary Education. She transferred to Rowan University where she currently is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education and Mathematics. She is also a member of Kappa Delta Pi, the honor society for education majors.

As a Mathnasium Instructor and as a teacher who plans to teach math in the future, Nicole feels that Mathnasium really focuses on helping make sure the foundations are there. “It is very useful in judging where the students are and to help them make sure they don't lack the skills they will need further down the road in their education.” Nicole is very excited to be a part of such a wonderful experience and to get to help students with their individual needs.

Christina Vassallo is a Washington Township High School graduate from the class of 2006. From there she went to The Pennsylvania State University where she earned her Bachelor's of Science Degree in Mathematics with a minor in Psychology. As an undergraduate, Christina was actively involved in her sorority, Alpha Xi Delta, serving over five positions in her four year membership. Christina was also an active philanthropist through various involvements in the biggest student run philanthropy in the world, Penn State's Dance MaraTHON. Christina has been a part of helping raise over 15 million dollars for children with pediatric cancer.

After graduating in May 2010, she immediately started her graduate program at Rowan University. She earned her Master's of Science in Teaching and K-12 certification in Mathematics in May 2011. Christina is now teaching 7th Grade Math at Hammonton Middle School.

Christina thinks that Mathnasium is a successful program because of the “Teach and Move On” process. “It gives the students the one-on-one attention that they need and deserve while still giving them the time and space needed to work independently.” This independent work helps students discover math on their own and develop their own understanding and number sense, which is the key to being a successful math student at any age.

Jason Mroz graduated from Delsea Regional High School in 2006. He then continued his education at Rowan University, pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After the first year of math courses, he began to find a deeper interest in mathematics and the strategies involved in communicating its complex ideas to those who may have difficulty in understanding at first. He then changed his major to Mathematics to pursue a career in teaching mathematics to others, and earned his B.A. in 2010. He has also been a leader for a youth group over the past several years at Joy Community Fellowship in the Pitman/Glassboro area.

Jason believes that individual confidence is very important in learning mathematics. "If a student feels that he or she will never become proficient in mathematics, they will have little desire to press forward to understand further mathematical concepts. Mathnasium exists to help students not only realize that they can become proficient but also to help them get where they need to be by focusing on their learning of the core mathematics skills." He believes that since new mathematical concepts are built upon previous ones, strong foundations in the core skills are essential in grasping mathematics.

Sarah graduated in 2008 from Toms River High School South, where she had taken several Advanced Placement classes including Calculus. She enrolled and immediately attended Rowan University as a dual major in Mathematics and Secondary Education. Courses taken include Calculus II and Calculus III, Discrete Math, Linear Algebra, Ordinary Differential Equations, and Modern Algebra. Sarah hopes to graduate in May of 2012 with a duel degree and a reading certification.

Sarah feels that the reason she decided to become a high school math teacher is because she has loved math since she was young, and had a high school Calculus teacher who was a big inspiration to her.

Sarah was drawn to Mathnasium because she enjoys working with students learning math. She loves seeing kids’ faces light up when they finally understand a concept that they have been struggling with. Also, the tutoring methods used at Mathnasium are more beneficial to students’ learning than any other methods she has previously seen.

Amanda Kirner graduated with Honors from Williamstown High School in 2008. She is currently attending The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey pursuing a Bachelor's of Science degree in Mathematics with a minor in Physics. Major Course Work includes Calculus I, II, and III; Linear Algebra; Differential Equations; Probability and Statistics I and II; and Physics I, II, and III. Amanda anticipates earning her degree from Stockton in May 2012.

Amanda is a member of the Stockton Math Club and has been a cheerleading coach for St. Mary’s and the Monroe Township Braves for the past five years.

Amanda likes the Mathnasium Method because of its Individual Learning in a Group Setting. She also likes helping students learn the material with their own Personalized Learning Plans, not just helping get through their current class. Amanda is very thankful for this opportunity to help mold young Math Minds.

Nick is currently enrolled at Rowan University, completing a dual Degree in Mathematics and Education. He graduated in 2008 from West Milford High School in the top 20 percent of his class. Courses that Nick has taken include: Calculus I, II and III, Linear Algebra, Modern Algebra, Ordinary Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics of Random Variables, Introduction to Real Analysis, and College Geometry. Nick is also an active member of the Rowan Men’s Club Volleyball team and the Rowan Musical Theater Company. He is expecting to graduate in December 2012 and begin his teaching career.

Nick was drawn to Mathnasium and its innovative learning strategies. “The goal with the Mathnasium Method is to ensure that the student fully understands concepts and can work independently, and feel confident about it.” He believes Mathematics should be fun for all students as well as challenging to develop growth and understanding.

Lindsay Davis graduated in 2011 from Washington Township High School in the top 15 percent of her class. She is currently majoring in Mathematics at Gloucester County College. From there she plans to transfer to Rutgers University to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics, with an anticipated graduation in May 2015. Courses she has taken include Calculus l, Calculus II, Discrete Mathematics, and Mathematical Reasoning Writing and Proof. Lindsay is also a member of the Honor Society, Phi Theta Kappa.

Lindsay was interested in Mathnasium because she likes helping students learn concepts that they are struggling with. She enjoys knowing that they will be successful after attending Mathnasium. “Not only do the teaching methods help students understand math, but the balance between one-on-one and independent work also helps build their confidence.”

Lindsay has worked with young children over several summers at Vacation Bible School, and has gone on several Mission Trips with her youth group. Some places she has gone to include Tampa, Cleveland, and Kentucky. During these trips she improved neighborhoods by fixing houses and providing the help families needed to live better lives.