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.

Jim

Assistant Center Director

Favorite Number: 13, especially on Friday the 13th.  I love the sound of Paraskevidekatriaphobia which is the fear of Friday the 13th.

Favorite Math Joke:

Q: Why was the student late to Mathnasium?

        A: They got on the rhombus (wrong bus).

Q: Pi r squared? 

        A: No..pi r round, cake r square

In 5 years I Will Be  . . . . Older than dirt!  Enjoying my retirement.

I Love Mathnasium Because . . . . . I like the methods they have to teach Math to students which helps them make sense out of it and succeed.

Fun Fact: I am a 41 year cancer survivor!

Hobbies: Latch hook rug making.

Favorite Math Topic: Trigonometry.  Solving right triangles, solving oblique triangles, etc.  All are fun to me.

Why Did You Come to Work at Mathnasium? I retired from the public schools in May 2019 after 33 years of teaching math to middle school, high school, and post-secondary trade schools.  Just because I’ve retired, doesn’t mean I am “done” teaching.  Working at Mathnasium allows me to continue working with kids and helping them with their math.

Your Best Math Stories: I am following my grandfather’s footsteps as he taught math for many years.

I have had a number of student success stories over the years.  One student said that the “light came on” as a result of my teaching and finally understood algebra.  Another student improved his Math grade considerably as a result of my methods and enjoyment of Math.  If a student sees how excited I am with Math, they get excited.

What Are Your Dreams? To be rich and famous!   Well maybe not famous but rich!  I’ll have to hit the lottery as I know that teachers do not get rich by being teachers.  Unless you count the lives that you impact from your teaching, then I am already rich.

Michael

Instructor/Private Tutor

Hi - I'm Michael. I have been an instructor at Mathnasium of Cherry Creek for around 5 years now. I graduated from the Unversity of Colorado, Denver Campus with a degree in Math and Economics, and am currently in graduate school with a goal of getting a masters degree in mathematics. I grew up in this neighborhood and came to work for Mathnasium because I think math is super interesting and very important. I want to help give kids the same level of understanding and fascination I have. The best advice I ever got was that at some point math becomes difficult for everyone. Maybe it's at multiplication, maybe it's in algebra or maybe it's differential equestions. What's important is not WHEN we reach this point but HOW we react when we do.

Favorite Number: e~2.718. . . because it is a seemingly invented number yet is shows up so many areas of mathematics.

Fun Fact: I started out as a music major before switching to economics and then adding in math.

In 5 years, I will be . . . ideally finished with graduate school and have a master's degree in math.

Hobbies: playing guitar and watching/playing sports.

Favorite Math Topic: My favorite math topic is game theory because it is such a fresh and interesting way of looking at problems.

Colin

Instructor

My name is Colin! I studied mathematics at the University of Denver and graduated in 2018. My goal at Mathnasium is to help students see that math can be interesting and useful; its not just another boring subject in school.

Favorite Number: π - I like pi!

In 5 years, I will be... Able to grow a moustache that doesn't gross out the students! (hopefully)

Fun Fact: I am working on an app - Silicon Valley here I come!

Hobbies: Skiing, hiking, and lifting weights

Favorite Math Topic: Probability - I love knowing the chances of events. Just very cool to me that we can find that out.

Your best math story: Ehh, I always get stuck adding mini-golf scores :(

My Dreams:

Realistic: Complete law school without my brain exploding.

Unrealistic: One time I had a dream that I was swimming in a pool filled with crème soda. I want to make that a reality.

Ellen

Instructor

Hi! - I’m Ellen. I’m a Connecticut transplant and am grateful to call Colorado home since 2012. Full time, I am a credentialed actuary working in health care pricing but enjoy the afternoons I’m able to get away to spend at Mathnasium. Having a solid math foundation opened new career opportunities for me and I hope to help all Mathnasium students build one, too.

Favorite number: The Golden Ratio ~1.618 – it’s so cool how it is spread throughout nature, from seashells to hurricanes.

Favorite math joke: Did you hear about the mathematician who’s afraid of negative numbers? -She’ll stop at nothing to avoid them.

Hobbies: Paddleboarding, yoga and I’m finally giving in to peer pressure and learning how to ski

I love Mathnasium because: Learning something new is hard whether it’s long division or studying for an actuarial exam. Getting to watch students master topics that were once challenging to them is a constant inspiration to me.

James

Instructor

Paxton

Instructor

I started working for Mathnasium because I believe that a good understanding of math helps in whatever field students may choose to pursue. I love working for Mathnasium because I think we help students to think about math in different and unique ways and that really helps them to make sense of it. When I am not working at Mathnasium I also work as a barista and enjoy drawing as a hobby in my free time.

Favorite Number: 13, because it's supposed to be unlucky, but I think it's cool.

Favorite Math Joke: Why was 6 afraid of 7? ...

Fun Fact: Horny toads aren't toads, they're lizards!

Tilly

Instructor

Hello, I'm Tilly! I love math and enjoy sharing my enthusiasm with others here at Mathnasium. I felt immediately drawn to Mathnasium after hearing about the experiences of friends and family members. I admire how Mathnasium offers kids a unique, encouraging environment where they can simultaneously work through challenging material and have fun. Seeing each student's confidence in themselves and their abilities grow is my favorite aspect of being an instructor.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 3 because it's magic!

Favorite Math Joke:

Q: Why are obtuse angles always so depressed?

A: Because they're never right!

My Hobbies: I enjoy painting, playing piano, and astronomy. Every chance I get, I like to take my telescope up into the mountains to stargaze away from Denver's light pollution.

Favorite math topic:Trigonometry because its real-world applications are both fascinating and extremely useful. Trigonometry is full of fun yet challenging puzzles, which I really enjoy.

Ashton

Instructor

At the start of 2023, I had undergone some major life changes. I graduated high school and community college, as well as moved out of my old home. From my experiences in high school, I found fulfillment through leadership positions in after school activities such as TSA (Technology Student Association), Quiz Bowl / NAQT, and Drama club. Where I could work with my younger peers, finding mutual growth and learning from our time together. Eventually, I found Mathnasium. Here, I strive to continue these shared learning and teaching relationships with our students!

Favorite Number: 1,024 is my favorite number! I find it difficult to choose only one number as a favorite, but 1,024 encompasses my favorite single-digit numbers, 0,1,2, and 4.

Favorite Math Joke: Of all the primes, 2 is the oddest!

Fun Fact: A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time! While its had a few different definitions over the years, chemistry and physics often define it as the time it takes for light to travel a centimeter, or 3.336 x 10^-11 seconds.

My hobbies include: Spending time with my cats! They provide excellent company as I enjoy hobbies such as reading, journaling, solving puzzles, or watching movies.

Favorite math topic: Sequences. Describing the pattern, or “rule,” to find the next number in a sequence is a satisfying way to translate mathematical thinking into words for others to understand.

Alex W.

Instructor

Jeff

Instructor

I came to work at Mathnasium because while serving as a 4th-grade math educator with Teach for America in Memphis, Tennessee, I rekindled a love for mathematics and came to understand the need for individualized mentorship and tutorship in mathematics.

Favorite Number: 29. The aesthetic strikes me.

Favorite Math Joke:

Q: What do you call a group of friends who love math?

A: Algebros!

In 5 years, I will be... A published author.

I love Mathnasium because... It facilitates an environment where everyone is encouraged to be curious constantly! I always feel like I'm learning as much as the students are!

Fun Fact: Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi is the Persian mathematician from whom we get the English term "algorithm" which is meant to resemble his last name; al-Khwarizmi.

My Hobbies include: Reading and Dungeons & Dragons.

Favorite Math Topic: Variant base numerical systems like binary or the Babylonian sexigesimal system. Those crazy Babylonians.

Rayl

Instructor

Pete

Instructor

Matt

Instructor

Derek

Instructor

Grace

Instructor

Anna

Instructor

Chloe

Instructor

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

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