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:

Larry Martinek, Creator of the Mathnasium Method

Larry has spent his entire career finding a better way to teach math. From inner city 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 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.

The Mathnasium Method developed by Larry is implemented in our center by our trained instructors. Our instructors are not only passionate about math, they are also passionate about helping students understand, appreciate and excel in math. 

Amirah Meghani, Center Director

Amirah was raised in the Porter Ranch area. She attended Chaminade Middle School and Chaminade High School, prior to attending USC and graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelors degree in Finance and minor in Psychology. She then went on to pursue a legal career, earning a JD from Loyola Law School and practiced law with a well-known firm in Sherman Oaks. However, it was motherhood that led Amirah to what is now her life's true passion: children. Watching her two children grow up have been the most rewarding experience of her life. She is excited and eager to have the opportunity to support and have an impact on the young people that are the true pillars of her hometown. 

Nicole Shabazi, Assistant Center Director

Nicole S. is currently a senior at California State University, Los Angeles.  She is majoring in mathematics and hopes to teach math at the college level.  Nicole S. has been tutoring for seven years and is certified as a tutor by the College of Reading and Learning Association through the University Tutorial Center at CSULA.  She loves working with students of all ages to build their knowledge and confidence in math.  She is patient and kind which makes her especially popular amongst the shy and/or young Mathnasium students. In her free time, she loves visiting theme parks with friends and family- her favorite being Disneyland.  She has a large collection of all things Disney at home.

Jonathan Ching, Assistant Center Director

Jonathan is a senior studying Mathematics at CSUN. He originally entered CSUN as a sociology major, but he discovered a passion for mathematics while taking a statistics class required for sociology. Jonathan also tutors for the Developmental Math Program at CSUN. He enjoys recognizing the "A-ha" moment in his students and will work his hardest to ensure they get there.

Sameer Kabir, Higher Math Specialist

Sameer is also local from the area - Reseda, CA. He attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills and then went on to attend the University of California, Berkeley where he graduated with a B.S. in BioEngineering. He currently works in a medical processing lab while he pursues entrance into medical school. Sameer has a deep understanding and appreciation for math and medicine (he is currently working towards creating biomedical devices and microfabricated silicon wafers to model organs and helped produce a do-it-yourself hemodialysis device!). He aims to parlay his love of medicine and physics into a career of medicine as a Radiation Oncologist. 

Min Fei, Instructor

Min received her PhD degree in Condensed Matter Physics from Chinese Academy of Sciences, and was a research scholar at CSUN for three years. While discovering the world in physics, she also learnt the beauty of math as a language of nature sciences that it is not only a tool for calculation, but also a perspective to understand the world. She has tutored many students in math and physics from China to the US, and looks forward to helping even more children understand the beauty of mathematics at Mathnasium. 

Marissa Guevara, Instructor

Marissa is a STEM Scholar at Mount Saint Mary’s University and attended Granada Hills Charter High School, where she studied Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math all four years. Marissa has always been drawn to math, but it was volunteering as a CSUN Camp Counselor that piqued her interest in working with children.  Now Marissa not only majors in mathematics — she embraces the opportunity to teach it. During high school, she completed a Biomedical Engineering summer program at Brown University. 

John is a third-year Electrical Engineering student at CSUN. He has always been fascinated with the complexity and beauty of using mathematics to understand the natural world. He is extremely passionate about his studies in college, and devoted to helping others. During his years in high school, he worked with children both in academics and in sports, volunteered at his local YMCA as a youth volleyball coach and tutored middle school and high school students in science and mathematics. He enjoys helping students understand math that seems impossible, boosting their skills and confidence. He also enjoys putting a smile on the student's faces, making sure that they are learning every day as well as enjoying their time studying.

Lizette Silva, Lead Instructor

Lizette is a Cell and Molecular Biology major at CSUN. After struggling in math a bit herself, thanks to dedicated teachers and even classmates, she learned skills and techniques that allowed math to become friendly. After these experiences, she was able to guide and help others that were struggling in math, leading them to the point of understanding where they are now able to teach others the subject. Lizette fell in love with teaching others. She saw how teaching others has a domino effect and how it could impact the lives of so many people. Now she hopes to help even more students, just how others helped her, to understand and eventually love math!