Our Team

Karen began tutoring in college at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign while earning her BS in mathematics. She has worked in various fields from non-profits to insurance, but throughout her career she has stayed active in curriculum development and math education in local schools. Karen’s philosophy on mathematics learning is that every student is capable of mastery of high-level material, and that all a student may need is a boost of confidence and to be guided to a new approach. Fun fact – one of Karen’s daughters is studying applied math in college and is a math instructor at a Mathnasium in New England.

Joe Schiaffino, Educational Director

Joe discovered his passion for teaching in college, where he began volunteering as a tutor at the local YMCA while earning degrees in both Industrial Engineering and Economics from Northwestern University. He has continued tutoring ever since, working with students both on and individual basis and in a classroom setting. He has experience tutoring in all subjects, including SAT/ACT preparation, but particularly enjoys tutoring kids in Math. Joe understands the importance of having a strong foundation in Mathematics and believes that building that foundation in children must start at an early age. Math has always been Joe's favorite subject, and he enjoys the challenge of inspiring kids who may not share his enthusiasm for the subject to discover how fun math can be. When he is not working with students at the Mathnasium, Joe trades equities for a trading firm in Manhattan.