Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Highlands Ranch

Kassidy Shumway

Kassidy Shumway grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2011. While at BYU, Kassidy earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Civil Engineering, was a TA in the math department, and also found time to be an All-American and a team captain and member of the BYU Women's Soccer Team. Kassidy has many years of experience coaching children of all ages in soccer. She has been helping students at Mathnasium since January 2013. Kassidy and her husband have two kids and two active dogs.

Fun Fact: I was in a video on YouTube with over 6 million views.

Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from BYU

Why I love Mathnasium: I love helping kids realize that math can be fun. My favorite part of my job is going into elementary schools and putting on Math Nights. Laughing and having fun with kids while we do math is so rewarding!

Reed Brown

Reed has always loved math and enjoys helping kids learn to love math and how to use math in their daily lives. Reed earned a BS of Electrical Engineering degree from Brigham Young University and a Masters of Business Administration degree at Boise State University. Reed has spent over 25 years as a successful engineering and operations executive at Hewlett Packard, Quantum, and Iomega. In 2004, he decided to test his entrepreneurial skills and created Matchbin (now Radiate Media), a successful internet software company. Over the last 10 years, Reed has been active in the Utah technology community. As a member of the Governor's Technology Initiative Advisory Board for the State of Utah, he has helped to grow funding for engineering programs at Utah Universities and Colleges. Reed and his team is committed to helping children grow their interest and confidence in math and prepare them for a successful college education and career in technology, business, finance, medical, manufacturing, science, biology, or other fields that require strong math skills.

Fun Fact: I decided to become an Electrical Engineer because of 8th-grade shop project making a DC motor

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from BYU and Masters of Business Administration degree from Boise State University

Parker Hoggan

Hi, I’m Parker Hoggan. I grew up in the area and love Colorado. Ever since I was a young kid I’ve been fascinated by math. I love understanding the connections between all the different ideas, formulas, and methods and then being able to apply it in real life. I remember being in school and hearing the question, “When am I going to ever use this?” All the time, thankfully. As I always say, math only matters if you can apply it! When I’m not doing math, you’ll likely find me enjoying computers, listening to music, or enjoying a good story.

Fun Fact: I can raise either one of my eyebrows by itself

Favorite Number: e, because e^x is the only function that is its own derivative and integral

Why I love Mathnasium: The students who come in always have some great questions. It's a lot of fun hearing what they're thinking about. It keeps me on my toes!

Maddie Sackett

I have taken numerous math courses within my educational career. Starting in high school, I took algebra one and two followed by geometry, trigonometry, and discrete mathematics. Within my college education, I have chosen to stay on a business math based path as I get my accounting and marketing degree. I have had the opportunity to take college algebra, calculus, income tax, finance, and business analytics. I am currently obtaining a double major at Metropolitan State University of Denver: Accounting and Marketing. I have also been a Lead teacher within ECE for over 3 years. I enjoy hiking with my dog and traveling with my boyfriend. I am a big lover of live music and am often going to local concerts.

Fun Fact: I have 4 pets: one dog named Kevin, one large bearded dragon named Rezz, one ball python named Willow, and one african sideneck turtle named Ralph.

Favorite Number: I like the number 11. I have always liked this number growing up; it was my mom's favorite number as well.

Education: Graduated from Chatfield Senior high in 2020. I will be graduating from Metropolitan school of business within 2 years.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working in an environment designed to support the specific needs of each student. At Mathnasium, tutors do their best to individualize their teaching to best support their student.

Rachael Verhoeff

I have a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics. I enjoy Dungeons and Dragons and many different video games. I worked as a middle school math teacher previously. I am a giant nerd and love playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. I usually play as the GM and guide the players through an adventure.

Fun Fact: We don't actually know the day I was born, as I am adopted from China and my true birth date is unknown.

Favorite Number: 4, because it's believed to be bad luck in many Asian cultures.

Education: University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor's in Math.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love teaching students about math.

Geneva Hessee

In the past school year, I worked on Geometry and Algebra II. This year, though, I am working on College Trigonometry and I will be taking College Calculus in the spring. I am an honor roll student who really enjoys school. A recent accomplishment was being nominated for student of the year! One of my hobbies is dancing. It is my favorite way to spend free time. I also love web design and cooking.

Fun Fact: One fun fact about me is that I have a 90 pound golden doodle who loves to give giant hugs!

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 51. You would never expect it to be divisible by anything other than one or itself, but it is divisible by 17 and 3.

Education: I go to CEC Inverness and Arapahoe Community College. I am a sophomore and I am working towards a degree in mathematics.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working at Mathnasium because of our wonderful and smart students! They are always so fun to work with and to watch them grow in math.

Kaylee Holmberg

The math class I am currently taking as a Freshman is Geometry Honors. Clubs and activities I have participated in for high school are Unified club, Unified sports, and soccer. My previous jobs and volunteer experiences are babysitting and helping my younger sibling with math. My favorite hobbies are soccer, dance, pom’s, and many more.

Fun Fact: My favorite vacation spot is Disneyland

Favorite Number: 47 because it has always been my favorite and it also my soccer number!

Education: I am a Freshman at ThunderRidge High School.

Why I love Mathnasium: I like working and am excited to be at Mathnasium because I have a passion for math and I also love working with kids!

Elena Vaughn

In high school, I have taken Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra II/Trig. I am currently taking Honors Trig/Pre-Calc, and I plan on taking AP Calc BC next year as a senior. I am a member of Nationals Honors Society and HOSA at my school. I will be on the Varsity Poms team for my fourth year this upcoming season. I am very involved at my school through events such as Link Crew, and Wish Week activities. I have academically lettered each year for my great GPA. I worked at Peak Athletics as a recreational gymnastics coach where I helped kids learn and grow their skills. I have over 100 community service hours with many of those including tutoring underclassmen. My hobbies include walking my dogs, or any other activities outside! I also love shopping and any time spent with my family or friends.

Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I won a state title with my poms team this past season.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 13 because it is Taylor Swift's lucky number!

Education: I am currently a junior at Mountain Vista High School.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working at Mathnasium because it combines my interests of doing math and working with others. I understand how difficult math can be, so I want to help anyone feel more confident in their abilities.

Luke Postma

I have taken all math courses through honors Pre-Calculus and will be taking AP Calculus A/B this year. I have played basketball, rugby, cross country, and track for my school as well as soccer for both school and club. Last year I earned the bronze Duke of Edinburgh award by tutoring a peer in math. I enjoy playing soccer and chess.

Fun Fact: I have lived in 3 countries (US, Russia, and England).

Favorite Number: 10, Messi's number in soccer and it is the first 2 digit number.

Education: I go to Valor and I am a sophomore.

Why I love Mathnasium: I enjoy math and helping others understand new concepts.

Grace Uhrain

I have taken AP Calc AB in high school and Calculus 2 in college. In high school, I was AP Scholar with Distinction and graduated with highest honors. I have gotten the distinction of Hornbeck Scholar in college. I enjoy journalism and volunteering.

Fun Fact: I enjoy ice skating.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is infinity because it represents a really interesting concept of numbers continuously becoming bigger and smaller beyond our imaginations.

Education: I am a junior at the University of Denver.

Why I love Mathnasium: I like working at Mathnasium because I enjoy seeing students grow in their confidence and abilities in math.

Varaha Vivek Avupati

I have taken Honors geometry, Honors algebra 2 trig, Honors trig/precalc, and AP Calc BC. I was the sixth chair flutist in all state band. I am drum major for my school's marching band. I helped start my school math national honor society. I play the indian flute and western flute. I like to invest and trade in the stock market.

Fun Fact: I've had an interest in math since I was a little kid. It just grew stronger and stronger.

Favorite Number: 2, it can reduce every single fraction as long as both numbers are even. I also just like even numbers more than odd numbers.

Education: I am a senior in Highschool. I will graduate in 2025, I want to major in finance.

Why I love Mathnasium: I want to change the overall negative emotion that is associated with math.

Mindi Parkhouse-Song

I have taken all math class levels through Honors Precalculus, and I am currently taking AP Calculus BC. I have participated in FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) at a National competition level as well as played soccer and ran cross country. I have lots of experience working with kids through working day camps, babysitting, and volunteering for multiple weeks at an overnight summer camp for kids. I like to stay active (through sports and physical activities like soccer, dance, and cross country), I play the violin, I like listening to music, and I also love to hang out with my friends.

Fun Fact: A fun fact about myself is that I have never broken a bone.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 12 because I like that it’s an even number, and I’ve just always liked the look of it.

Education: I’m currently a junior at Cherry Creek High School, and in the future I plan on going to college and majoring in something within the math/science field.

Why I love Mathnasium: I like working at Mathnasium because it’s a great opportunity to get to work with kids while also helping others to learn about themselves and their skills through math. I think working at Mathnasium provides a great environment for both myself and the kids that come here.

Matthew Bennett

I have taken algebra 2, trigonometry, calculus, linear algebra, abstract algebra, number theory, differential equations, topology, and formal logic. I did tai chi my first two years at Arapahoe Community College. I volunteered as a Sunday school teachers assistant and I've also tutored a neighbor when I was in college. I like to read, hike and spend time with my dogs.

Fun Fact: I accomplished a knight's tour on a chess board on my first attempt.

Favorite Number: Seven because my birthday is July 7, I weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. when I was born and my first and last name have seven letters each.

Education: I graduated in 2010 with a degree in mathematics from the University of Colorado at Boulder

Why I love Mathnasium: I think I will enjoy helping students. It's always fun to see the light bulb turn on when someone understands something new for the first time.

Ayden Rodriguez

I LOVE Calculus, each concept in Calculus is connected to every other concept. In particular I am a huge fan of integration, as each problem often has multiple ways of solving it allowing for creative problem solving that is not completely unique among other math problems, but it still feels special in its own way. Calculus also continues to get cooler as you learn more about it, and has tons of real life applications. In highschool I was in orchestra and played the Viola, I was never the best but I did like playing an instrument. I've also played the piano and drums before, but not for nearly as long as viola. I love competitive gaming as well as cooking.

Fun Fact: I am deeply interested with the process and art of improvement, and the honing of skills. There's just something about the eternal pursuit to get better and better at something that really clicks with me.

Favorite Number: 6, because it's factors include all positive integers less than itself other than 5, making it and all of its multiples easy to work with!

Education: I go to Community College of Aurora currently, and I am one semester away from getting my A.S. in Math.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love sharing my joy of math with others. If I can even get one other person to develop a love for math as I have, then I have been successful. Of course, I hope I can inspire more than just one person!

Jacob Hamilton

I've taken everything up to Calculus 1, and I'm currently taking Intro to Statistics. I've published a book, "Jake's Door," which has become an Amazon Bestseller. I've also been a member of a few groups in high school, including: Out knowledge bowl team; we won an award at a regional competition, chess club, and The school's gifted and talented group. I'm a volunteer for Hope Worldwide to help people in need, like serving the homeless and I'm an active member of my church ministry, where I volunteer with A/V equipment. I love art, mainly drawing on pencil and paper. I've filled up nine sketchbooks over my life and the tenth one's almost full! It's my creative outlet, I love making characters, worlds, and stories. I especially like drawing comic strips; writing humor and jokes is very fun for me. Recently, I've been branching out into digital art and animation, it's been very fun. I like walking and spending time outdoors, especially when I've got a good song on. I like to go on hikes/bike rides, see beautiful views, and catch a nice breeze. I'm also very fond of logic puzzles; I enjoy that sort of problem solving, and getting that "a-HA!" moment when you solve them is super fun. 

Fun Fact: If I have to pick one fact, I'd choose publishing "Jake's Door," that's an accomplishment I'm very proud of. The book made over $10k, and I made it when I was only 14 years old! 

Education: I graduated from high school at Colorado Early Colleges last year with an associate's degree. I'm currently a junior in college at CU Denver, and I'm hoping to major in computer science. 

Favorite Number, Why: Gonna have to go with 1 here. You see a 1 in a math problem, you know it's gonna be easy. That you'll be safe. Everything's gonna be alright. 

Why I love Mathnasium: I love to help people, I love math, and I've been told that I'm very good at explaining complicated things to people, so I believe math tutoring would be a great job for me. It's what I love doing, but as a job!