Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Meridian

Dan Hintz

Dan has always had a passion for helping people achieve their potential and a calling to teach math. After high school, he earned an Associate of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology, before deciding to serve in the military. He served an Air Force tour in Germany as an F-16 fighter jet mechanic and fell in love with the mission and people. He decided to make the Air Force career and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Math at Central Washington University while attending ROTC. He holds several Master of Science degrees related to his Air Force career. Dan served 22 years in the Air Force, leading thousands of men and women and managing a wide range of logistics programs, including the US President’s Air Force One fleet requirements, and many types of combat aircraft. He retired to spend more time with his wife and 6 children and to begin a lifelong dream of teaching math. He was voted Teacher of the Year by his high school students and earned 100% top ratings as a private tutor. Meanwhile, he was searching for why math seemed so easy to people in other countries but was such a challenge to many Americans. He found the answer at Mathnasium and immediately joined in helping all students gain a true number sense and life-long confidence in math. He has taught, tutored, and coached thousands of youth all his adult life. Dan and his team are committed to helping students grow their math skills and giving them the confidence to be or do whatever they want in life!

Why I love Mathnasium: It's everything a parent could hope for to build a student's confidence... life-changing

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

Dawn Kissler

Dawn has been with Mathnasium from 2018 - 2020, took a break due to the pandemic and safety of her second child and then returned in 2022 to the present. Prior to working at Mathnasium, Dawn taught high school math in Colorado for 6 years and 1 year of middle school also in Colorado. She taught Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2, and a specialized class called Math Lab to assist students in a more 1-on-1 style of math education. Dawn moved back to Boise, where she grew up, in 2017 with her husband and first son. Dawn enjoyed teaching math but wanted a bit more flexibility to be at home and watch her son grow up. After speaking briefly with Dan, she knew that Dan and her standards and ideals of math education were inline with one another and was very excited to begin working at Mathnasium.

Fun Fact: Dawn has dual citizenship in the United States and New Zealand.

Favorite Number: 12 - is her favorite number, which has always been her athletic number.

Education: Dawn earned her Bachelors of Science in Mathematics at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO. She concurrently completed her secondary education teaching license.

Why I Love Mathnasium: This is a program that can be successful for any child! Through the assessment process, we can meet each child exactly where they are at and build up their skills from there. This in turn builds up their confidence in not only in their math skills but also confidence in themselves. Mathnasium creates an individualized plan for each student which ensures each student gets exactly what they need to be successful.

Joseph Bezemek

Previously an instructor at the Mathnasium in Tracy, California, Joseph transferred to our center at the end of 2018. He quickly became an invaluable member of the team for his dedication and knowledge, rising through the ranks and eventually becoming our online director, as the online director Joseph is the head of our Mathnasium@Home program helping students from all over the state and the world! He’s an aspiring teacher and is pursuing degrees in mathematics and physics. Joseph has a love of learning and working with his hands and enjoys figuring out how things work, making him the go-to instructor for students working on rigorous math problems, odd jobs around the center, and for our team when we have problems with our computers - and occasionally our cars!

Fun Fact: I am the tallest person in the recorded history of my family

Favorite number: 3,435. The Münchhausen number, the only number not equal to 1 satisfying the property of being the sum of each digit raised to each digit’s power 33+44+55+33=3435. There is a second contender: 438,579,088, but that relies on 00 being equal to 0 which it definitely does not.

Education: I graduated from John C. Kimball high school in Tracy California before starting my higher education at the nearby Delta College. I transferred to Idaho and to CWI and then on to BSU, where I finished my degrees in mathematics and physics

Why I love Mathnasium: It works! The way we can assess our students and structure a learning plan to start from the ground up building complete mastery along the way and never missing a step is so simple you’re surprised no one thought of it sooner. No one starts climbing a mountain at the top, or where their peers have already made it to. You start right where you are, walking at your own pace, and step by step you make it.

Adelaide Boyer

I've taken computation based courses up through and including; linear algebra and partial differential equations. Through my degrees, I've taken my share of pure math, proof based courses, but I have more experience in applied math. In particular, I enjoy statistics, modeling and optimization based courses. I was a Girl Scout for 12 years and I played the tuba in concert and marching bands for 10 years, including playing sousaphone in University of Idaho Vandal Marching Band. I spent 6 months as a Mathnasium instructor and have taught a few college math courses. While completing my own education, I've worked as a math tutor and mathematics and statistics tutoring mentor. I enjoy knitting, baking, rock climbing, and whitewater rafting in the summer. 

Fun Fact: I have a pet miniature poodle named Murphy whose nickname is Bonesaw. 

Favorite Number, why: 22. It is the day I was born and appears in the title of my favorite book. 

Education: I graduated from the University of Idaho in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics and a minor in Statistics, and in 2024, I graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Master of Science degree in Mathematics. 

Why I like Mathnasium: I used to struggle a lot with math, so being able to help other people build and improve their relationship with math is very rewarding for me. 

Amy Chen

Born in Nampa and raised in Boise, Amy Chen has experienced Mathnasium as both a student and instructor. Over the course of her four year enrollment, she excelled in our program and was subsequently hired as an instructor due to her incredible growth and encompassing knowledge of math. She has now been working as an instructor with online and in center students for over a year. Amy is a senior at Centennial High School after graduation she plans to enroll at BSU majoring in Biology. In Amy’s free time, she enjoys trying out new recipes, watching movies, and playing with her two adorable kitties, Boba and Nana..

Fun fact: I can speak 3 different dialects in Chinese: Cantonese, Mandarin, and Taishanese.

Favorite number: My favorite number is 9. My birthday is on the 19th but I thought it was too long so I picked the second number.

Education: Algebra 1&2, Geometry, Integrated Math 1,2&3, and Pre-Calc

Why I love Mathnasium: When I was a student, I enjoyed learning new ways to solve math problems, and Mathnasium made it easier for me to think critically about those methods, eventually teaching me the most effective ways. As an instructor, I genuinely love my team and the eager students who come here to learn.

An Klinkenberg

An was born and raised in the cloudy forests of Western Washington and moved to Boise, ID in 2018 to attend college and get more sunshine. She has always been passionate about math and happy to spread the love and try to help others around her. She started her Mathnasium journey in the Redmond, WA center before leaving because she was lucky enough to assist with a mixed 7th/8th grade algebra class at a private school during the height of the pandemic, which is what finally led her to realize her passion for teaching. She moved back to Idaho and joined the Meridian Mathnasium team in the summer of 2021 and has been happily helping kids increase their math confidence since! When she is not completing math problems for fun, she might be reading, hiking, or watching a movie.

Fun Fact: An has five younger siblings, and frequently receives phone calls from them asking for math homework help

Favorite Number: 8 or any number with 8 in it - for no good reason, it just always has been!

Education: An is currently attending Boise State University, earning an Applied Mathematics degree and a Math Teaching Endorsement minor.

Why I Love Mathnasium: As someone who likes math in all forms, I think Mathnasium is one of the best. The curated curriculum helps each student build critical foundations to ensure that they don’t get lost or left behind in any future mathematical ventures they participate in. I love our methods and strategies and truly believe that they can help any student fill any gaps they might have missed in their math education. We are also always trying to give our students the most enjoyable experience possible, with many fun activities to break up the routine and give them things to look forward to. It’s my honor to be a small part of each student’s Mathnasium journey.

Brooklyn Wolcott

I have taken several college classes. I have taken college math three which includes algebra and trig and have take college calculus. I have participated in cross country and track! I also am in national honors society and enjoy doing service in my community! I learned about Mathnasium through volunteering at an elementary school stem activity! I loved the idea of teaching math to kids and the experience I had working with the kids at the stem activity! I love to run and get out side which is why I participate in track and cross country! I also love to do art and enjoy painting.

Fun Fact: I have been in a commercial with a WMBA basketball celebrity!

Favorite Number: 20, because it my favorite basketball players number and the number me and my sisters pick for sports!

Education: I am currently going to Mountain View highschool! I am a junior and excited to graduate 2025 and go to college. I hope to major in biology and one day be a geneticist.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love to work with kids and see them understanding math. It is rewarding once they understand the math and are excited about it!

Eric Johnson

Eric grew up in California with two brothers and five sisters. He spent two years on a mission trip to Colorado Springs, then attended California Polytechnic State University studying Aerospace Engineering. At Cal Poly, his senior project won runner up and he was invited to present at Northrup Grumman. Eric loves teaching and helping others. During college, he served as a teacher assistant and group leader hosting and teaching English to international students. He came to live in Meridian, Idaho to be with family and to find a job teaching and helping others.

Fun Fact: I am from a family of 8 kids.

Education: Studied Aerospace Engineering in college.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love that Mathnasium organizes math in a way that is easy to understand. It organizes the steps and process of math and I have seen amazing growth in kids because of it!

Matt Clarke

I have taken college courses in calculus up to and including calculus 3 (vector calculus). I have also taken some entry level quantum mechanics courses. I used to race for my highschool snowboard team and I helped organize the science Olympiad for Boise State this year. I have tutored on and off for the past 6 years and volunteer at the boise mathlymics. I love playing instruments (especially guitar). I enjoy snowboarding and play cards with my friends weekly.

Fun Fact: I like to cook.

Favorite Number: 8 because sideways it is infinite.

Education: I am a chemistry major at Boise State, I plan to graduate next semester with a bachelors degree and a teaching certificate.

Why I love Mathnasium: I enjoy making math and science fun.

Maddy Tabb

I have taken college-level precalculus, trigonometry, college algebra, survey of calculus, and statistics. I shoot archery competitively and I currently play intramural flag football, volleyball, and basketball at Boise State University. I love making friendship bracelets and being active with my friends by playing pickleball or spikeball. 

Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I love maps, which is why I am elected navigation copilot on every road trip. 

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 21 because its the jersey number I wore in high school and it's divisible by both the perfect number 3 and the lucky number 7. 

Education: I am a Junior at Boise State University studying Kinesiology with an emphasis on Rehabilitative Science. 

Why I love Mathnasium: I like working at Mathnasium because it gives me the opportunity to be intentional about getting to know the students and helping them learn to love math! 

Drew Donahue

I have taken Math classes all the way through AP Calculus AB and still going. I run Cross Country and Track, I'm the fastest guy on my team, I got 23rd at the Idaho State Cross Country Championships this year. I like running, hanging out with friends, any outdoor activities including hiking, biking, spikeball, and guitar. 

Fun Fact: I am young for my grade, I should be a Sophomore

Favorite Number, Why?: 8, my lucky number

Education:  Centennial High School

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working with the kids and sharpening my math brain

Chase Garrard

I have taken math up to and including Calculus 1. I am currently taking discrete math, calculus 2, and mathematical programming at Boise State University. My most proud accomplishment is being a soldier in the Idaho Army National Guard. I serve the 116th as a 68W healthcare specialist. I like to play and write music. I played the clarinet in high school, and now I'm learning piano and guitar. 

Fun Fact: I once drove across the entire country in a week! 

Education: I went to high school at Renaissance High School in Meridian, Idaho. I graduated with my EMT-B certification. Currently, I am going to Boise State University for applied math. This is my second year at BSU and I hope to graduate in 2026. 

Favorite Number, Why?: My favorite number is e: Euler's number. It's my favorite number because to me it's symbolic of the beautiful but sometimes counterintuitive nature of math. 

Why I love Mathnasium: In high school, I had a really difficult time with math. I was often confused. I got really frustrated and fell behind. I had to be placed in a lower level math class. To me, this was really frustrating and it hurt my confidence. I decided to study on my own after that class and I found out that I really liked math. What I needed was to have someone who could explain it to me in a way that made sense. I want to help other students realize that math doesn't have to be arcane and mysterious. Instead, I want students to have confidence as they realize that they can do and understand difficult things.