Our West Des Moines Team

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 / West Des Moines / Our Team

Dan Gehlbach

Center Director/ Owner

Thanks for visiting our website! My name is Dan Gehlbach and I serve as the Center Director as well as own the West Des Moines Mathnasium location. Please don’t hesitate to call me or fill out the form above to find out more about how we can help your child. I am a native of Urbandale and graduated from UHS. I have lived all over the world but settled back in the Waukee side of Urbandale in 2006. Before opening our center in West Des Moines in early 2011, I was in the auditing field and a Certified Internal Auditor. I have an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas and a MBA from Arizona State University. I have worked as a high school teacher overseas, a corporate auditor for the big casinos in Las Vegas, and in the insurance and healthcare industry. I have a wonderful wife, Staci, and 2 fantastic daughters. My oldest will be a Freshman next year any my youngest in 6th grade. After learning more about Mathnasium and seeing what it offers kids, I took the risk and started Mathnasium of West Des Moines 12 years ago. It has been tremendously rewarding to help kids in our community and see them reach their potential. We have hundreds of amazing success stories as a result of our Passionate Instructors, the Inspiring Learning Environment, Teaching Style and Curriculum at Mathnasium! Let Mathnasium help your student!

Staci Gehlbach

Co-Owner

I feel lucky to have the opportunity to channel my love of working with children and watching them achieve success at Mathnasium. I get to spend more time in the center working along side Dan now that our kids are now both in school. I graduated from Texas Lutheran University with a Bachelors of Arts degree in Elementary Education. I have taught in school districts in Texas, Nevada, and most recently in West Des Moines.

Meg Meyer

Assistant Center Director

I grew up in Waukee, and I graduated from Simpson College with an Elementary Education degree and a Special Education endorsement. I always knew I wanted to work with kids, and I have found my home at Mathnasium. I love teaching math, because it is so fun to watch something ‘click’ in a child’s brain! Favorite Number: 25 - Because it is a perfect square and is a quarter of 100.

Joel Dotseth

Lead Instructor

I graduated from UNI with an M.A. in Mathematics. I enjoy working at the Mathnasium because of my love to teach math to others. Regardless of age, seeing a person's eyes light up with a sudden understanding is deeply gratifying to me. Favorite number: i Once the concept is grasped it opens up an entire new world of math to explore!

Michael Bellinghausen

Lead Instructor

I have a bachelor degree in accounting from AIB College of Business. Currently I work at the Hy-Vee corporate office in the accounting department. I love working at Mathnasium because helping kids with math is something I have done and enjoyed. Seeing kids understand how math problems work and have confidence to do them gives me great pride. Favorite Number: 4 - Because my first clear memory is my 4th Christmas. That has always stuck with me and I still have the present I got.

Michael Fries

Lead Instructor

Michael is a Math and Philosophy Major from New York. In In addition to studying Math, Michael is an accomplished singer who has performed the National Anthem for over a dozen MLB teams across the country. In 2007 Michael was named Long Island Idol by a local radio station. Michael is passionate about not only passing on a knowledge of Mathematics but also a wonder of Mathematics. As Socrates says, wisdom begins with wonder. In addition to Math, Michael enjoys reading, playing piano and composing music.

Dexter

Math Dog

I enjoy meeting all the Mathnasium Mathletes and getting lots of pets! Favorite Number: 711 - Because that is my Birthday! 7/11

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

Schedule Your Math Skills Assessment Today

Call (515) 440-6284

Want to join the Mathnasium team?

Are you interested in changing lives through math? We're looking for outstanding individuals with a high level of commitment who are passionate about teaching math. Find out if there's a Mathnasium position that's just right for you!

Explore Employment Opportunities

West Des Moines

Meet the Team at Mathnasium of West Des Moines

Dan Gehlbach

Staci Gehlbach

Meg Meyer

Joel Dotseth

Michael Bellinghausen

Michael Fries

Dexter

Our Mathnasium Mission

Schedule Your Math Skills Assessment Today

Want to join the Mathnasium team?