Our Team at Mathnasium of San Clemente

Damian Virant

Say Hi to our Assistant Center Director Damian!

Javier Steve Santacruz

Javier graduated from DePaul University with a B.S. in Accounting and later received his law degree from DePaul. One of Javier’s passions in life is working to improve the lives of children . . . with baseball, a very close second. His mid-life crisis led him to Mathnasium which Javier loved for its way of making math make sense to kids. Javier and his wife, Karen, are now enjoying time for themselves after being raising two sons, Austin and Dylan. Today, he loves to read and spend time in the country. “The journey of becoming involved with Mathnasium and changing lives through math has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Karen Santacruz

Karen graduated from Western Illinois University with a B.S. in Physical Education with an emphasis in Athletic Training. She has a Masters in Exercise Science and Cardiac Rehabilitation. Before starting a family, Karen taught physical education and was the Head Athletic Trainer at Stevenson High School. While raising their two boys, Karen taught part-time, coached her sons' sports teams, and volunteered her time in boy scouting. Karen loves working with children, and was excited about the opportunity to open a Mathnasium Learning Center!! She has always been a strong advocate for developing children and knows how important math skills are to the overall educational development of a child. "I've always been a firm believer in teaching kids in a way they can understand. This allows for a love of learning whatever the subject!! The Mathnasium method does this so well, and allows kids to ‘work out’ their minds!”

Betty Wang

Betty graduated from New Trier High School and obtained her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University in Biomechanical Engineering. Mathnasium's philosophy on learning and teaching resonated with Betty's belief that learning is at its best when it occurs in a nurturing environment where students can cast aside their fear and frustration. "Mathnasium offers an unique learning environment and individualized learning plans to helps students make sense of Math. It really makes math fun!"

Shaundrece Rangel

Shaundrece Rangel graduated from the University of Iowa with an MBA and has over 20 years of experience leading people, creating structure, and ensuring the healthiest business environment for growth and success. She is passionate about fostering leadership, developing teams, and creating transformative learning experiences. Her journey with Mathnasium is rooted in a deep commitment to education and problem-solving, ensuring that every student gains the confidence and skills to excel in math and beyond.

With a background in leadership consulting, business strategy, and change management, Shaundrece has worked with top organizations to build strong, sustainable operations. At Mathnasium, she focuses on creating structured, engaging learning environments where students not only improve their math skills but also develop critical thinking and resilience. By integrating strategic initiatives, she enhances Mathnasium’s ability to provide personalized learning that meets students where they are and helps them succeed.

She believes that math is more than just numbers—it’s a way of thinking, reasoning, and solving problems that extends into all areas of life.

"When students build confidence in math, they build confidence in themselves—and that changes everything."