Our Team at Mathnasium of Creve Coeur

Larry Martinek

Larry has spent his entire career finding a better way to teach math. From inner city to 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 designed 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 curricula ever produced for teaching math. While Larry is not an instructor at our center in Creve Coeur, he is a valuable asset and we can call on him to ask specific student's scenarios for guidance and advice.

Stuart Klamen

Mr. Stuart Klamen received his Bachelor's degree in Pure Mathematics from Hebrew University. He has taught math in the classroom from elementary school through high school. His favorite number is 32, which was also his high school basketball jersey number. He enjoys cooking and is known for cooking for a lot of people.

Renee Fredman

Ms. Renee Fredman has over 15 years of experience in public education and nearly 20 years of experience in marketing research. She completed her Missouri teaching certification in mathematics in 2017 and expects to finish her graduate degree in middle school math education in 2019. Her undergraduate degree is in business administration. Renee’s favorite number is 18 because it is the average of her two sons’ birthdays.

Matt Jones

Mr. Matt Jones has an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, and he has worked as an engineer and electrical technician. His hobbies include cooking and reading. His favorite number is 29.

John Moritz

Mr. John Moritz received his undergraduate and graduates degrees in Engineering Management from Missouri Science and Technology University. After a lengthy business career, he earned his mathematics teaching certificate from the American Board in 2018. John is excited to be part of the Mathnasium team, and is committed to providing the best instruction possible to its dedicated students.

Hamid Bakhshi

Mr. Hamid Bakhshi has received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in chemical engineering. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and has worked as a researcher at the University of Southern California (USC). He has experience in teaching and instruction at the university level for more than ten years. He believes that knowledge of math in children, as the universal language for science and engineering, not only enhances their logical thinking but also brings clarity to their minds, impacting all aspects of their lives. His favorite number is pi because of its unique characteristics.

Marina Riad

Ms. Marina Riad graduated from Scripps College with a degree in Science, Technology, and Society with a minor in Media Studies. Marina struggled with math in grade school but, with the help of Mathnasium, she came to love math. Now, Marina works on Mathnasium's online platform to teach kids just like her -- whether they love math or struggle with it! Marina's favorite number is 42 because it is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, The Universe, and Everything... and because she has always had a penchant for even numbers.

Noah Pipes

Mr. Noah Pipes is in his senior year of high school and has been homeschooled his entire life. He is an Eagle Scout and a National Merit Semifinalist. He plans to attend Mizzou in the fall of 2024 to pursue a bachelor's in Computer Science with a focus on artificial intelligence. When he's not doing school, he enjoys jogging and playing the piano. His favorite number is 27 due to an inside joke with his family. He is thrilled to be part of the Mathnasium team.

Savita Nijsure

Ms. Savita Nijsure received her Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Bombay and after a 16-year career in the Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay, she moved to the United States with her husband and twin daughters in 2000. She became a stay-at-home mom after the move and found her passion for education while helping her daughters through their upper-level math courses. Once her daughters went to engineering school, she found an avenue to exercise her skills by tutoring children from elementary through high school in math and reading. She has been tutoring for the last 15 years and her favorite number is 17. As a recent first-time grandma, Savita enjoys spending as much of her free time with her granddaughter as possible.

Renell Brown

Ms. Renell Brown has over 13 years of teaching experience in Math and Chemistry. She completed her undergraduate studies at Bradley University where she majored in Chemistry Education and minored in Mathematics. She completed her graduate studies in Student Learning and Well Being at Mizzou. She is currently a high school chemistry teacher. In her free time, she enjoys attending concerts and watching K Dramas. Her favorite artist is Beyonce and her favorite number is 4.

Andy Basford

Andy Basford started working as an in-store locksmith after his tour of duty in the US Navy. Then, he went back to school and discovered that his knack for mathematics not only helped him in locksmithing but also helped him understand things like iterations and statistics. He holds a degree in Mathematical Science from Maryville University, and his favorite number is φ (because it’s pretty much the same if you subtract it from 1 or invert it to 1/φ). Andy's flair for dad jokes, however, seem to be rather pun-ishing. One time, Andy submitted 10 puns to a dad joke contest, figuring that at least one of them would have a chance to win, but unfortunately no pun in 10 did.

Ava O'Bryan

Ms. Ava O’Bryan is a high school junior at Parkway Central High School who hopes to pursue a career in music education. She is a student aide for her high school orchestra program and began a strings club at a nearby elementary school. She also teaches viola lessons and tutors in her free time. Her favorite number is 12 because it is the age she started playing the viola. She loves working with young students to foster a love for learning from a young age.