Our Team
Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting; our unique approach enables us to explain concepts really well and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn! Read below to learn more about our talented team:
Liz is from Utah County and is currently a Senior at the University of Utah. Her all-time favorite subject is Calculus. Some of her other favorite classes she has taken are: Foundation of Analysis 1, Foundations of Algebra, and Intro to Number Theory. In high school, her favorite math class was AP Calculus BC. In high school, Liz was on the Girls Golf Team. She has spent the last 8+ years working with kids, teaching them math, golf, tennis, basketball, and swim. Liz loves to ski, snowboard, and golf. She loves to watch football and basketball - she is a big fan of the Utah Utes and Utah Jazz.
Fun Fact: I love Star Wars. I can watch them all over and over again, and will never get sick of them.
Favorite Number: 7 - It has the highest probability of being rolled with two six-sided dice.
Education: Senior at the University of Utah studying Mathematics
Why I love Mathnasium: I am excited about Mathnasium! Two of my favorite things are math, and teaching kids new things. At Mathnasium, I'll get to do both of those things! I love when you are teaching a student math and you can see in their eyes when something has just clicked and they start to understand it. Math can be hard, and it is very rewarding when you figure certain problems out. I love helping students feel that accomplishment.
Shelby Woodward, Admissions & Marketing Director
Shelby graduated from Dixie State University and played and started for the womens soccer team. She volunteered at The Doctors' Volunteer Clinic in St. George, Utah, served a Spanish speaking mission in Scottsdale, Arizona, and helped translate for American surgeons in Guatemala. Shelby is passionate about helping others realize and reach their potential. She started working for Mathnasium in the Spring of 2018 and already has a love for seeing students gain confidence and start to see that math can be fun!
Fun Fact: I was crowned as Dixie State University Pageant D-Queen in 2017.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Communications with an emphasis in Applied Leadership from Dixie State University
Why I love Mathnasium: I love to see the increase in confidence in kids, from the very first time students come in to when they experience the joy that can come from understanding.
Kassidy Shumway, Regional Director
Kassidy Shumway grew up in Bountiful, Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2011. While at BYU, Kassidy earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Civil Engineering, was a TA in the math department, and also found time to be an All-American and a team captain and member of the BYU Women's Soccer Team. Kassidy has many years of experience coaching children of all ages in soccer. She has been helping students at Mathnasium since January 2013. Kassidy and her husband have two kids and two active dogs.
Fun Fact: I was in a video on YouTube with over 6 million views.
Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from BYU
Why I love Mathnasium: I love helping kids realize that math can be fun. The favorite part of my job is going into elementary schools and putting on Math Nights. Laughing and having fun with kids while we do math is so rewarding!
Reed Brown, Owner
Reed has always loved math and enjoys helping kids learn to love math and how to use math in their daily lives. Reed earned a BS of Electrical Engineering degree from Brigham Young University and a Masters of Business Administration degree at Boise State University. Reed has spent over 25 years as a successful engineering and operations executive at Hewlett Packard, Quantum, and Iomega. In 2004, he decided to test his entrepreneurial skills and created Matchbin (now Radiate Media), a successful internet software company. Over the last 10 years, Reed has been active in the Utah technology community. As a member of the Governor's Technology Initiative Advisory Board for the State of Utah, he has helped to grow funding for engineering programs at Utah Universities and Colleges. Reed and his team is committed to helping children grow their interest and confidence in math and prepare them for a successful college education and career in technology, business, finance, medical, manufacturing, science, biology, or other fields that require strong math skills.
Fun Fact: I decided to become an Electrical Engineer because of an 8th grade shop project making a DC motor.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from BYU and Masters of Business Administration degree from Boise State University
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from BYU
Blake has taken a plethora of math classes, including Calculus, Microeconomics and Applied Business Statistics. He scored a 35 on the math section of the ACT. He did a study semester abroad in Sydney, Australia. He enjoys soccer and road cycling and is part of the University of Utah Triathlon Team. He has been working at Mathnasium since 2016 and loves helping and getting to know all of the kids.
Fun Fact: I am right-handed, but left-footed (specifically when I play soccer).
Favorite Number: 5 - It's an honorary even number.
Education: Studying Business Finance at the University of Utah
Why I love Mathnasium: I enjoy teaching kids to love learning.
Katelyn Ballard, Lead Instructor
Fun Fact: I train for America Ninja Warrior.
Favorite Number: 220 and 284 - because they are an amicable pair. This means they are ewual to the sum of the proper divisors of the other.
Education: Junior at Woods Cross High School
Why I love Mathnasium: I love to see students push past the confusion and frustration that they may feel towards math, and help them to find clarity and confidence as they understand the concepts.
Claire Roberts, Instructor
Claire graduated from Bountiful High School and she frequently volunteers in schools throughout the Davis School Disctrict. She likes to take walks with her dog, travel to the West Coast and spend time with her niece and nephew.
Favorite Number: 15 - for no other reason than that 3 times 5 is 15, I don't know how else to explain it!
Education: Studying Education at Weber State University
Why I love Mathnasium: Helping students experience the 'ah-ha' moment is very satisfying. When I am able to help a student understand the steps to problem solving and have them be able to explain it back to me is a reward!
Christian Wheeler, Instructor
Fun Fact: My last name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word Wielher, roughly meaning "wealthy hero/warrior".
Favorite Number: pi - because it is funny
Education: Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Brigham Young University
Why I love Mathnasium: I enjoy mathematics and I like sharing the joy I feel for the subject.
Nathan Losee, Instructor
Fun Fact: I can do a spot-on Elmo impersonation.
Education: Senior at Weber State University studying Statistics and Data Science
Why I love Mathnasium: Mathnasium creates a fun and cooperative working environment that stimulates learning and working hard. This is a great place that I would recommend to anyone!
Melanie Cottle, Instructor
Fun Fact: When I was 3 I got 13 stitches on my face. See if you can see where i got them!
Favorite Number: 9 - because it is three squared and three is a magic number.
Education: Sophomore at the University of Utah studying Electrical Engineering
Why I love Mathnasium: I love numbers and math and helping people! I really do love math and want other people to love it too.
Jamie Covington, Instructor
Fun Fact: I enjoy running half-marathons.
Favorite Number: 6 - because all of my top number choices are divisible by it.
Education: Freshman at the University of Utah studying Chemical Engineering
Why I love Mathnasium: It is rewarding to see the confidence growth that occurs in others through the use of tutoring.
Seth Hawkins, Instructor
Fun Fact: I know every World Series winner since 1939.
Favorite Number: 2 or 12 - those were the numbers of my favorite racecar drivers when I was little.
Education: Senior at Woods Cross High School
Why I love Mathnasium: It is fun to help kids learn to love math and to succeed at something that may have been challenging to them.
Kolby Taylor, Instructor
Fun Fact: I have a twin.
Favorite Number: 22 - it's always been my number in basketball.
Education: Senior at Woods Cross High School
Why I love Mathnasium: I love knowing that the kids we teach will have a much easier and stress-free time in school after they've worked with the program.