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.

Damian Virant

Assistant Center Director

Say Hi to our Assistant Center Director Damian!

Javier Steve Santacruz

Owner

Javier earned his B.S. in Accounting and his law degree from DePaul University. His passion for making a difference in children’s lives led him to Mathnasium, where he found a meaningful way to help kids make sense of math. He describes his journey with Mathnasium as “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” 

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

While raising her two sons, Karen coached youth sports, taught part-time, and volunteered with Boy Scouts. She is passionate about helping kids learn in a way that makes sense to them. “The Mathnasium Method does this so well—it allows kids to ‘work out’ their minds while building confidence and 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. She was drawn to Mathnasium for its philosophy of creating nurturing learning environments where students can build math skills without fear or frustration. 

Betty believes that when students feel supported, they thrive. She loves seeing kids develop confidence and discover the fun in math through Mathnasium’s individualized learning plans.

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!

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