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.

Javier Steve Santacruz

Owner and Managing Director

Javier holds a B.S. in Accounting and a law degree from DePaul University. His passion for helping children succeed brought him to Mathnasium, where he fell in love with the program’s ability to make math make sense. He describes his journey with Mathnasium as “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” 

Javier and his wife, Karen, enjoy spending time together after raising their two sons, Austin and Dylan. Outside of Mathnasium, he loves reading, spending time in the countryside, and following his second passion—baseball.

Karen Santacruz

Owner

Karen graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Physical Education and holds a Master’s in Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Before Mathnasium, she taught physical education and served as Head Athletic Trainer at Stevenson High School. 

While raising her two sons, Karen taught part-time, coached youth sports, and volunteered with Boy Scouts. She is passionate about helping kids build confidence in math. “The Mathnasium Method does this so well—it allows kids to ‘work out’ their minds while building a love for learning.”

Betty Wang

Director of Operations

Betty graduated from New Trier High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomechanical Engineering from Northwestern University. Her passion for learning and problem-solving drew her to Mathnasium, where she helps create nurturing learning environments for students. 

Betty loves Mathnasium’s individualized learning plans, which help students make sense of math in a supportive setting. She believes that when students feel confident, they thrive—not just in math, but in life.

Shaundrece Rangel

General Manager

Shaundrece holds an MBA from the University of Iowa and brings over 20 years of experience in leadership, business strategy, and team development. Her passion for education led her to Mathnasium, where she focuses on building structured learning environments that help students thrive. 

Her background in consulting and change management allows her to implement effective strategies that boost student confidence and math skills. Shaundrece believes that math is more than numbers—it’s a way of thinking and solving problems. “When students build confidence in math, they build confidence in themselves—and that changes everything.”

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.

Quote Quote
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

Schedule Your Math Skills Assessment Today

Student using math cubes to solve fractions
Student working with a math tutor at a local math learning center

Want to join the Mathnasium team?

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!

Explore Employment Opportunities Default Arrow
Loading