Karen Gibson
Center Director
Karen graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in 1984 with a degree in Human Resource Development and a minor in Mathematics. Although she considered getting certified to teach high school math, she recognized her strength in teaching was in one-on-one and small group interactions rather than standing in front of a large classroom of people. Teaching, encouraging and helping others grow is just part of who she is, and the intimate student to teacher ratios at Mathnasium provides the perfect environment for Karen's strengths to flourish.
Born and raised in Chicago, Karen moved to Tennessee around 30 years ago and has called Hermitage home for the last 25 years. After graduation from college, Karen spent a few years fulfilling a lifelong dream of owning horses and began raising and training Arabians while living in northern Iowa and, later, New Mexico. Upon her return to Chicago, she obtained her paralegal certificate in Estate Planning and Probate from Roosevelt University and worked as an estate planning paralegal just outside Chicago. After moving to Nashville, she worked as a commercial real estate paralegal for a number of years, but with the birth of her son, whom she homeschooled through high school, she decided to return to what she loves most and was decidedly born to do--educate. She started teaching Kindermusik, a preschool music and movement program in 1999. A short time later, she expanded her studio to include piano lessons.
When not working with kids here at Mathnansium, she enjoys traveling, especially cruising, and learning new things. She is extremely excited about the work being done here in our Math Learning Center as she knows solid math skills are becoming even more important as we become a more technology based society. Learning is the reason for our Center, and Karen is passionate about building student confidence as learning gaps are filled and math skills are improved.