Our Team at Mathnasium of Brandon

Ali

Ali holds a degree in Mathematics with a minor in Secondary Education from the University of Florida and brings a strong mix of leadership and teaching experience to Mathnasium. She homeschooled her four daughters while working in management, giving her a deep appreciation for individualized learning. 

Since joining Mathnasium in 2021, Ali has advanced from Instructor to Lead Instructor to Center Director. She loves seeing students grow in skill and confidence, and she enjoys meeting with parents to celebrate their children’s progress both academically and personally. 

Sarah

Sarah brings heart, energy, and a deep love for working with kids to her role as Assistant Center Director at Mathnasium. A proud graduate of Florida Southern College, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marine Biology but feels truly blessed to have found her way to the Mathnasium team, where she gets to make a daily impact on students and families.

With experience teaching dance and supporting children through various educational opportunities at FSC, Sarah has a natural talent for connecting with kids. She loves greeting students, cheering them on, and getting them excited for their sessions. Her favorite part of the job? Seeing students walk out of the center with confidence, smiles, and a newfound belief in their math abilities.

Sarah’s warmth, enthusiasm, and genuine care help make Mathnasium a place where every child feels supported and celebrated.

Sophia

Sophia is a senior at Bloomingdale High School with a love for both math and science. Enrolled in multiple AP and honors classes, she balances academics with leadership in her school’s theater club and community volunteer work. 

She enjoys painting, creative writing, and spending time with her younger siblings. At Mathnasium, Sophia brings patience and enthusiasm to each session, helping students strengthen their math skills and develop confidence. 

John

John is a freshman at the Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in Meteorology. He is a recent graduate of Newsome, completing rigorous courses like AP Statistics, AP Precalculus, AP Calculus and other STEM related classes. He was also a member of the Science National Honors Society, Phi Theta Kappa Honors society and more. His dream job is be a weather forecaster for The Weather Channel with a Masters/PhD in Atmospheric Science/Meteorology. He will be taking a plethora of Calculus and Physics classes in his years there. In his free time, John loves playing violin and has a strong passion for music. He has played violin for 8 years and he was the 2nd chair of the highest ensemble in his high school. He also likes going to the gym, hanging with friends and bowling. At Mathnasium, John loves helping students and watching as they grow their math skills and seeing the faces of his students when it finally clicks.

Nathan

Nathan is a student at Bloomingdale Senior High School, where he pursues his interests in computer science and mathematics through game design and advanced math courses. He also participates in multiple extracurricular activities, specifically as an officer in the Bloomingdale Esports club and a member of the Bloomingdale Computer Programming Club and Spanish Honor Society. In his free time, Nathan enjoys playing video games and going to theme parks. Nathan also volunteers at Feeding Tampa Bay and in the tech booth at his church. As a Mathnasium instructor, Nathan is able to help students learn math in a way that makes sense to them, and he is excited to share his love of math with others.

Andrew

Andrew, a recent graduate of the University of Central Florida, with a bachelors of science in mathematics, and before that a graduate and honor student of Bloomingdale High School. In his time at university, he has gained an expert knowledge in a myriad of mathematical topics, including such important topics as calculus, algebra, and how such topics relate to other fields, namely science, engineering, and programing. Passionate about his degree, he has helped many people achieve a better understanding of mathematical topics, and will continue to do so during his time at Mathnasium. In his free time, he enjoys historical European martial arts, and spending time with his brothers. With many years of learning under his belt and a deep love of mathematics, he is excited to help Mathletes learn and understand his chosen field.

Ekaterina

Kat is a senior at Riverview High School where she excels in math and science. She has completed and is enrolled in various advanced classes such as AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, AP Physics, and Calculus II. Kat has also spent over a year and a half in Mathnasium, and she loves helping kids transform complex topics into simpler steps, and she loves to watch the students change their attitude towards math and become more confident in their skills. Her favorite math is Algebra and Calculus I, and she loves a challenge herself.  

In her free time, Kat enjoys doing and learning about all kinds of art, and she regularly participates in contests and art shows. Her favorite medium is painting and her favorite things to draw are her surroundings and her friends.

Biraj

Riya

Riya is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at the University

of South Florida. A graduate of Strawberry Crest High School’s IB program, Riya has a strong

foundation in mathematics, having excelled in courses such as IB Math Analysis and

Approaches, which included statistics, calculus, trigonometry, geometry, and algebra. Her

passion for math began early, participating in Math League in middle school, and has since

evolved into a lifelong commitment to academic excellence.

Riya is driven by a desire to help others discover their own potential, both in the classroom and

beyond. As co-founder and vice president of Tutor Bridge, she led tutoring initiatives that helped

over 500 students improve their math skills. She is also passionate about research, having

contributed to the development of a wearable health monitoring device for early health

detection, which was showcased at the Paris Olympics. Her ability to integrate mathematical

concepts with real-world applications is a testament to her versatility as both a student and

mentor.

Outside of academics, Riya is deeply committed to community service. She volunteers at

organizations like Seeds of Hope, MediFutures, where she gains valuable insights into patient

care, and LifePath Hospice, where she provides support and companionship to those in need.

Riya also enjoys sketching, hiking, and writing poetry, which allow her to express her creativity

and maintain a well-rounded lifestyle.

At Mathnasium, Riya brings her academic expertise, leadership skills, and passion for teaching

to help students build confidence and mastery in mathematics. Through her patient,

compassionate approach, Riya strives to inspire students to see the beauty in math and help

them unlock their full potential.

Sophia

Sophia is a dedicated senior at Bloomingdale High School, set to graduate this December. Enrolled in all honors courses and with multiple AP and AICE classes under her belt, she brings strong academic drive and a love for learning to the Mathnasium team.

Outside the classroom, Sophia spends much of her time skating and volunteering at the local ice rink. She stays active in several school clubs and enjoys being involved in her community.

Sophia’s journey with Mathnasium comes full circle, she was a long-time student here, and now she’s thrilled to help give kids the same encouragement, support, and confidence that she once received. Her enthusiasm and empathy make her a wonderful role model for our students and a valued member of our team.

Lane

Lane is a senior at Durant High School who plans on studying Nuclear engineering in

college and going into the Navy after that. Throughout high school, he has taken several

AP classes, including Statistics and both Calculus AB and BC. He has also taken some

dual enrollment classes, including college algebra. He is a member of Durants Math and

Science National Honor societies, where he competes in numerous competitions.

Outside of the classroom, Lane enjoys sports, more specifically baseball, which he

plays at Durant. He is also a member of FFA, where he competes in a wide variety of

competitions. Lane hopes that he will be able to use his past experiences to help guide

younger generations in mathematics.

Evan

Karthik

Payton

Payton is a senior at Riverview High School with a passion for both STEM and serving her community. She has completed advanced coursework through AP Calculus AB and other rigorous STEM classes, including AP Biology. At school, Payton is actively involved in leadership and service organizations, including the Student Government Association, Medical Honor Society, National Honor Society, Class Steering Committee, and serves as the Secretary of the Civic Advocacy Club.

After graduation, Payton plans to pursue a career in Marine Biology, with a focus on marine conservation and education, combining her love of science with her desire to make a positive impact on the world.

Payton loves working at Mathnasium because she enjoys helping students challenge themselves, think critically, and discover creative ways to solve problems. Watching students gain confidence and realize they are capable of more than they thought is one of her favorite parts of the job.

Outside of Mathnasium, Payton enjoys volunteering through her church, singing in the church choir, reading, spending time with friends and family, and relaxing at the beach whenever she can.

Lisa

Lisa is the friendly face and passionate heart behind Mathnasium’s community connections. As our Community Outreach Coordinator, she helps bridge the gap between our centers and the families we serve, building relationships with schools, local organizations, chambers of commerce, and community partners to ensure more students have access to the math support they need.

Her love for the community shines through everything she does. Whether she’s coordinating Math Night events, representing Mathnasium at festivals, or volunteering at her church’s food pantry, Lisa brings warmth, joy, and genuine care to every interaction.

After overcoming two cancer diagnoses, Lisa has made it her mission to advocate for preventative cancer care and to make the most of every moment especially those spent with her family. Her strength, optimism, and resilience inspire everyone around her.

Parents, students, and partners alike feel instantly welcomed by Lisa’s bright spirit. She has a remarkable ability to connect, encourage, and build trust, making her an essential part of the Mathnasium family and a true light in our community.