Dalal leads the Mathnasium centers in Hendersonville with an unwavering passion for math and education. Originally from Morocco, she graduated with honors from a top mathematics high school and holds degrees in both Aerospace Engineering and Mathematics. With over a decade of tutoring experience, Dalal is dedicated to helping every student not only excel in math but truly enjoy it. She also homeschools her three children and loves traveling and exploring new cultures. Dalal brings warmth, structure, and inspiration to her centers—creating an environment where students can thrive both academically and personally.
Favorite Number 13 — It’s bold, unique, and often misunderstood—just like math can be!
Favorite Math Joke No math jokes for me—math itself is the fun part!
In 5 Years I see myself in a key leadership role within our company and traveling the world with my family.
Why Mathnasium? Because it works! She loves seeing how the Mathnasium Method transforms not only students’ math skills but their confidence, mindset, and love of learning
Jennifer Speer
Owner
Jennifer has a unique perspective that allows her to understand your kids and help them.
She is a successful business owner and homeschooling mom of 3! She has the perspective of an educator as well as a busy parent and knows the challenges of both. Jennifer knows how to engage the kids and hold their interest. She keeps them progressing in math in a way they will actually enjoy!
Jennifer has always had a strong grip on Mathematics, earning her B.B.A in Finance at Southwest Texas State University and then owning and operating successful businesses alongside her husband James.
After discovering Mathnasium and seeing what it can offer kids, they made a tough decision to sell their previous business and start all over again. As scary as that sounds, they knew that parents wanted the best education options available for their children. Now she and James have expanded to multiple locations and have thousands of amazing success stories as a result of the passionate instructors, inspiring learning environment, unique teaching style, and world-class curriculum at Mathnasium!
Favorite Math Joke: There are 3 kinds of people in this world... Those who can count, and those who can't.
Fun Fact: Graduated college in 3 1/2 years with a 4.0!
I love Mathnasium because: I get to be a part of a great organization that changes kids' lives! Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?!?
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 curricula ever produced for teaching math. While Larry is not an Instructor at our Center, he is a valuable asset we can call on to ask about specific students' scenarios for guidance and advice. This has helped to make visits more productive and enjoyable for many of our students.
Brooklynn is a 2023 graduate of Austin Peay with a bachelor’s degree in Special Education. She is passionate about math education and took additional coursework focused on teaching elementary math concepts. Outside of Mathnasium, Brooklynn enjoys spending time reading and continuing to grow as an educator.
Favorite Number: 13 — because it’s a misunderstood number.
Favorite Math Joke: Why was 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7 ate 9!
In the Future: Brooklynn hopes to continue making a positive impact on children and her community.
Why She Loves Mathnasium: She loves watching students gain confidence and realize they are capable of more than they thought.
Vickie Ennis
Lead Instructor
Miss Vickie loves math because there’s usually one clear answer, which makes problem-solving especially satisfying. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and earned her doctorate in Biomedical Sciences from UC San Diego. After completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the Salk Institute, she worked as a cell biologist at UC Irvine. Now retired, she enjoys sharing strategies that make math easier and celebrating students’ “aha!” moments.
Favorite Number: 0 — because it helps make math simpler.
Favorite Math Joke: Why is pi afraid of repeating itself?
Because it’s irrational!
In the Future: Doing more math, of course!
Why She Loves Mathnasium: She loves seeing the moment when a student truly understands a new concept.
Brody Strong
Instructor
Brody is passionate about mathematics, photography, and playing guitar. He also competes on his school’s bowling team and brings a calm, focused energy to everything he does. His love for learning helps him support students as they build confidence in math.
Favorite Number: Rayo’s number — because it’s really big.
Favorite Math Joke: Why was the math book proud? It had all the right answers!
5-Year Goal: Studying nuclear engineering in graduate school.
Why He Loves Mathnasium: It gives him the chance to help students understand and appreciate math.
Jared Bronstein
Instructor
Jared has always had a strong love for math and science and enjoys solving problems and strategizing through complex challenges. Though he studied computer programming in college, he found great success tutoring high-school students in ACT and SAT math. Jared prefers a Socratic approach—asking thoughtful questions to spark curiosity and deeper understanding.
Favorite Number 37 — because people commonly choose it when picking a random two-digit number, thanks to its digits 3 and 7.
Favorite Math Joke Why is 6 afraid of 7?
Because 7, 8, 9.
Five Years From Now Jared hopes to be working as a back-end data programmer or game programmer, with math tutoring still in the mix for fun.
Why He Loves Mathnasium He finds it incredibly rewarding to help students who are struggling or overlooked gain confidence and understanding in math—plus, he enjoys all the unique personalities he meets along the way.
High School Math Experts
Knowledgeable and Relatable
High school math courses include advanced topics that require specialized knowledge and a deep understanding of complex concepts. Our instructors are brilliant, engaging math experts that guide our students through these challenging topics.
Here's why their expertise is essential:
1. Advanced Math Topics Require Specialized Knowledge High school math covers subjects like algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics, which require advanced problem-solving skills. Mathnasium instructors are skilled in teaching these challenging topics, breaking them down into clear, understandable steps that help students succeed in high school math.
2. Preparing for College and Standardized Tests High school math tutoring is crucial for preparing students for college math and standardized tests like the SAT and ACT. Mathnasium instructors can provide targeted test prep, ensuring students understand the necessary math concepts to perform well on these exams.
3. Filling Gaps in Math Knowledge Many high school students have gaps in their math knowledge from earlier grades. Mathnasium instructors are experts at identifying these gaps, whether from pre-algebra or earlier, and providing the math help needed to fill them. This ensures that students have a strong foundation for tackling high school-level math.
4. Personalized Instruction for Every Student High school math tutoring at Mathnasium is personalized to fit each student’s learning style. Whether students need more visual aids, hands-on practice, or a slower pace, Mathnasium instructors tailor their teaching methods to ensure students grasp complex math concepts and succeed in their courses.
5. Building Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills Problem-solving and critical thinking are key in high school math. Mathnasium focuses on developing these skills, helping students approach complex math problems logically. This not only improves their performance in high school math and on college entrance exams, but also strengthens their overall math problem-solving abilities.
6. Support for Various High School Math Curricula Whether students are following a Common Core, IB, AP, or another high school math curriculum, Mathnasium instructors provide tailored support that aligns with these programs. They also help students prepare for AP exams and math sections of the SAT/ACT, ensuring they’re prepared for any challenge.
7. Boosting Math Confidence for Success Math confidence is essential for success in high school math and beyond. Mathnasium not only improves math proficiency but also focuses on boosting students' confidence, empowering them to approach advanced math topics with a positive mindset and excel in their coursework.
Mathnasium instructors are high school math experts because they have the knowledge and experience to help students master advanced math topics like algebra, calculus, and geometry. Their personalized approach ensures students get the math help they need to succeed in high school and test prep for college, setting them up for lifelong success in math!
Middle School Math Experts
Patient and Helpful
Mathnasium instructors are experts in middle school math tutoring because we know this stage is crucial in building a strong foundation for future success in high school math and beyond. Here’s why our expertise is essential:
1. Bridging Gaps in Math Learning Middle school math acts as a bridge between elementary concepts and more advanced topics like algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus. There is a strong focus on important concepts such as solving equations, working with variables, and understanding ratios. Mathnasium instructors help identify and address gaps in math skills, ensuring students are well-prepared for high school math.
2. Developing Problem-Solving and Critical Thinking Problem-solving and critical thinking are essential in math. Mathnasium instructors specialize in helping students develop these skills, ensuring they can approach math problems logically and confidently. This is key to excelling in advanced math and on college entrance exams.
3. Personalized Math Help for Every Student Mathnasium offers personalized math help to match each student’s unique learning style. Whether students need extra support with visual aids, hands-on practice, or a slower pace, Mathnasium instructors tailor their approach to meet the needs of each learner.
4. Addressing Common Struggles in Middle School Math Many students face challenges in middle school math, such as working with fractions, negative numbers, and basic algebra. Mathnasium instructors are skilled at helping students overcome these difficulties, offering step-by-step explanations to boost math confidence and understanding.
5. Building Confidence for High School Math A key part of middle school math tutoring is fostering math confidence. Mathnasium instructors ensure that students feel capable and confident in their math abilities, which is crucial for succeeding in high school math and beyond.
6. Support for Various Math Curricula Whether students are following a traditional middle school math curriculum, an advanced math program, or something like Common Core Math, Mathnasium instructors provide customized support, helping students succeed in their current math class and be well-prepared for the challenges ahead.
Our instructors are experts at helping with elementary math topics. The Mathnasium Method focuses on building a strong foundation in basic math skills by ensuring that students master essential concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. Mathnasium helps students develop the math proficiency they need to succeed in more advanced math as they progress.
Mathnasium instructors are trained to identify and address struggles in elementary math early on, helping students develop math confidence and a deep understanding of key concepts. Focusing on elementary math tutoring allows instructors to close gaps in knowledge and build a solid mathematical foundation for future success.
The Mathnasium approach doesn’t just teach students the "how" of math, but also the "why," helping them to avoid common misconceptions that can hinder their progress. This early intervention ensures that students are well-prepared for higher-level math.
By prioritizing math help at the elementary level, Mathnasium provides the essential tools to boost confidence and improve math skills, setting students up for lifelong success in math!
Mathnasium instructors specialize in elementary math tutoring
We focus on building a strong foundation in basic math skills
Mathnasium Instructors are trained to identify struggles and improve math confidence
The Mathnasium Method helps close knowledge gaps, ensuring students are prepared for advanced math
Mathnasium teaches both the "how" and the "why" of math to avoid misconceptions
Early math intervention supports lifelong success in math
Experts in Math, ANY Math!
Skills for Any Math Curriculum
Mathnasium helps students no matter which math curriculum or standards they are using in class. Our approach provides students with a full understanding of the core concepts of the topic, not just the memorized algorithm. This sets them up for success in any math class or on any college entrance exam. Plus, we set aside time to help them with their homework at the end of each session, so we can demonstrate exactly how the skills we practice at Mathnasium apply to their schoolwork.
Are you interested in changing lives through math? We're looking for outstanding individuals with a high level of commitment who are passionate about teaching math. Find out if there's a Mathnasium position that's just right for you!