Meet the Team at Mathnasium of La Grange

Jena Kanaan

Jena is currently a senior at Saint Xavier University, majoring in Elementary Education. She has a great passion for education, in both learning and in teaching. She also has completed a minor in English as a Second Language and plans to minor in Special Education as well. She has taken a variety of math classes in high school including Geometry, Algebra, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, AP Statistics; as well as College Algebra, and Math For Teachers I and II in college. She tutored math for four years in high school and has found great pleasure in assisting students, encouraging progress, building bonds, and most importantly making math make sense! In her free time, Jena enjoys reading and spending time with her family, friends, and cats, Nala and Levi! Fun Fact: Jena has taken Spanish for 6 years and has a seal of biliteracy in Spanish. She can speak both Spanish and Arabic fluently!

Finn

Finn is a Senior at Lyons Township High School. He has completed Algebra I and II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus. He loves learning Math and Science concepts and wants to help others to do the same! In his free time, Finn enjoys traveling, watching Formula 1 races, and making pizzas. Fun Fact: Finn does rock climbing at LT High School.

Emma

Emma is currently a Senior at Riverside Brookfield High School. She is interested in the intersection of computer science + policy, and is particularly passionate about how technology can be leveraged to support marginalized communities. To add, she has a passion for female empowerment and access to STEM education, and she hopes she can make her impact here at Mathnasium! In her free time, she enjoys coding, thrifting, listening to Fleetwood Mac, watching rom-coms, and drinking iced matcha lattes with oat milk! Fun fact: Her favorite dessert is mangonada!

Jessie

Jessie is currently a junior at the University of Illinois at Chicago pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, aspiring to work on the software of operating systems in her future career as a software developer. She has always been interested in STEM, particularly Technology and Mathematics, and has taken Calculus, Discrete Math, Algebra, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, and Geometry, and is taking Linear Algebra currently. Beyond academics, Jessie finds genuine fulfillment in extending a helping hand to her peers during challenging times in class as well as helping her younger sister with homework. A lover of tea, she drinks it almost daily and enjoys immersing herself in books or listening to music. Fun fact: Jessie was born outside of America!

John

John is a Junior at Lyons Township High School who is currently taking AP Calculus. John has always been intrigued by math and wants to help make it simple for others. John likes working out, hanging out with his siblings, and working on engines. Fun fact: John held the flag at a Chicago Fire soccer game!

Matilda

Matilda is a student at Lyons Township High School. Math has always been her strongest subject and she enjoys helping others with it! In her free time, Matilda likes to listen to music, play video games, and bake. Fun fact: Matilda’s dream vacation is to visit Tokyo, Japan!

Sanaa

Sanaa is currently a Senior at Hinsdale Central High School and has tutored young students in math since she started attending the school! She has also tutored her peers in SAT Math material and helps her younger brothers with their math homework on a daily basis. Sanaa enjoys helping others feel confident in their math skills! During her free time, Sanaa loves reading, trying new foods, and hanging out with friends and family. She is interested in computer science and hopes to pursue it in college. Fun fact: Sanaa loves traveling!

Nathan

Nate is a Junior at Lyons Township High School. He has taken Algebra I & II, Geometry, and Precalculus and plans on mastering Calculus BC next! He has enjoyed spreading his enthusiasm for math through tutoring other LTHS students in the school’s Math & Science Drop-In Center. Nate also competes on the LTHS Math Team which went to state at ISU last year! In his free time, he also enjoys exploring Chicago and its' suburbs with friends, and does Model United Nations. Fun Fact: Nate has a 1000+ day Duolingo streak!

Daniel

Daniel, a Junior at Hinsdale South High School, is passionate about computer science and chess! He enjoys tutoring other students and simplifying complex math to help others. Daniel actively participates in coding courses while aiming to inspire students in math through his teaching. His goal is to pursue a career in technology while continuing to share his love for both subjects. Fun Fact: Daniel has 7 pets!

Audrey

Audrey is currently a senior at Lyons Township High School. She enjoys taking math classes, having completed Algebra I and II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus BC. She plans to take Calculus 3 and Linear Algebra this school year. Outside of the center, she enjoys practicing the flute, playing badminton, and spending time with friends. Fun fact: Audrey’s favorite video game is The Sims 4!

Kristin

Kristin has a degree in Applied Mathematics, and has always had a strong passion and love for math. She hopes to extend this passion to fellow students, regardless of their math level or ability. Kristin is constantly learning and developing her mathematical skills inside and outside of an educational environment! Outside of math, she enjoys dancing and crocheting. Fun Fact: Kristin has a small but growing squishmallow collection!

Lila

Lila is a Junior at Nazareth Academy. She is currently taking AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics. Math has always been her favorite subject and Lila often finds herself helping her peers to understand various topics in math! Fun Fact: Lila's favorite game is Monopoly.

Janusz

Janusz is currently a freshman at Moraine Valley Community College pursuing his major in Mathematics and minor in Education. He aspires to be a math teacher at the high school or college level. So far, Janusz has taken Algebra I/II, Geometry, Advanced Math Concepts, and is currently taking Calculus l. Janusz loves the challenge that doing math gives and helping to explain math concepts to others in an easier way. Math has helped him think in ways he never thought he could! Janusz loves playing video games in his free time and can talk to you about almost any game since he has played over 700+ of them spanning 15,000+ hours! Fun fact: Janusz has gone pro in video games, winning over $8000 in Minecraft bedwars!

Naomi

Naomi is a freshman at the University of Chicago pursuing a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has always had a passion for mathematics and robotics and expects to further use it in her career. She is very outgoing and loves to teach, especially math here at Mathnasium! Fun fact: Naomi plans to travel the world once she graduates!

Laura

Laura is a former math and technology adjunct professor. In addition to corporate training and private technology tutoring, she tutors math, physics, chemistry, and prep for ACT and SAT tests, and volunteer tutors underprivileged high school and undergraduate students. Since the pandemic, she has tutored virtually and created How to Join and How to Run Virtual Meetings courses. She loves seeing the light in students’ eyes as they master math and become enthusiastic about learning. Fun Fact: She used to mountain climb; now enjoys scuba diving and VR.