Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Spanish Fork

Elizabeth Olsen

Liz is from Utah County and is currently a Senior at the University of Utah. Her all-time favorite subject is Calculus. Some of her other favorite classes she has taken are Foundation of Analysis 1, Foundations of Algebra, and Intro to Number Theory. In high school, her favorite math class was AP Calculus BC. In high school, Liz was on the Girls Golf Team. She has spent the last 8+ years working with kids, teaching them math, golf, tennis, basketball, and swim. Liz loves to ski, snowboard, and golf. She loves to watch football and basketball - she is a big fan of the Utah Utes and Utah Jazz.

Fun Fact: I love Star Wars. I can watch them all over and over again, and will never get sick of them.

Favorite Number: 7 - It has the highest probability of being rolled with two six-sided dice.

Education: Senior at the University of Utah studying Mathematics

Why I love Mathnasium: I am excited about Mathnasium! Two of my favorite things are math, and teaching kids new things. At Mathnasium, I'll get to do both of those things! I love when you are teaching a student math and you can see in their eyes when something has just clicked and they start to understand it. Math can be hard, and it is very rewarding when you figure certain problems out. I love helping students feel that. 

Kassidy Shumway

Kassidy Shumway grew up in Bountiful, Utah and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2011. While at BYU, Kassidy earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Civil Engineering, was a TA in the math department, and also found time to be an All-American and a team captain and member of the BYU Women's Soccer Team. Kassidy has many years of experience coaching children of all ages in soccer. She has been helping students at Mathnasium since January 2013. Kassidy and her husband have two kids and two active dogs.

Fun Fact: Is in a video on YouTube with over 6 million views

Education: Bachelor of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from BYU

Why I love Mathnasium: I love helping kids realize that math can be fun. My favorite part of my job is going into elementary schools and putting on Math Nights. Laughing and having fun with kids while we do math is so rewarding!

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: 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

Hannah Gibson

Hannah has taken algebra 1, geometry, pre-calculus, and calculus. She played soccer in high school and has tutored a girl through algebra 1. Hannah enjoys listening to music and painting.

Fun fact: I am a twin

Favorite Number: My favorite number is the one that pops into my head so it changes every time I'm asked

Education: Graduated high school in 2018

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working with children.

Hayley Bradbury

I have taken Pre-Alegbra, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, and College Calculus. I'm in the country swing dance club at BYU. I also competed on a professional level for art work and I was in my schools Chamber Choir. I have worked at Mathnasium for a little over a year and before that was a private math tutor for two years. I enjoy hiking, reading, drawing, and playing games.

Fun Fact: I was on my high school Color Guard Team.

Favorite Number: 21 - because based off the change in my pocket I guessed the outcome to my highschool football game.

Education: I just graduated high school in 2024 and now attend BYU as a freshman studying Bioinformatics.

Why I love Mathnasium: Math is a passion of mine and love to share that joy with others who either need it or want it.

Jay Talbot

I have taken Trigonometry, Multivariable and Integral Calculus, Linear Algebra and Matrices, and Statistics. I was the former president of the Utah Scholastic Chess Association, Math Olympiad coordinator, Spelling Bee organizer, and Timberline master. I have taught middle school math full and part-time for 7 years. I am an avid board gamer, content creator, and enjoy anime, alternative music, reading, and writing.

Fun fact: I like to crack jokes a lot.

Favorite Number: i, because it's our attempt to comprehend the impossible

Education: I attended Ricks College, graduated from BYU, and did some post-graduate work at UVU. I majored in English, with minors in business and communications.

Why I love Mathnasium: I like helping students understand that they are better at math than they think.

Omar Beltran

I have taken Algebra I, algebra II, geometry, college algebra, calculus, probability and statistics. I was a Mathnasium Instructor for 4.5 years in Arizona as well as a teaching assistant at the University of Arizona for Economics. I enjoy chess, powerlifting, country music, and watching UFC.

Fun fact: My Birthday March 14th which is Pie day. I think this is the only reason I like math.

Favorite Number: 74. I was born on the 74th day of the year

Education: University of Arizona. MS in Economics, BS in Math. Graduated 2017

Why I love Mathnasium: I really enjoy working with students and helping them overcome their "fear of math". It is extremely rewarding to see their growth, both their skills and confidence, throughout the program.

Lucie Green

I have taken Secondary Math II and III, along with AP Calculus AB, which she scored a 4 on the AP test for. I am super excited to be joining Key Club. This summer, I attended a 9-day national leadership conference in Washington, DC, which focused on Neuroscience and Psychology. In the past, I have been a part of and competed in Math Olympiads, Future Business Leaders of America, and We The People: The Citizen and the Constitution. I love listening to music, nonstop. I also enjoy binge-reading books by myself and binge-watching shows with my sisters, taking care of my cyclamen plant (Alfred), and drawing and painting (particularly watercolor).

Fun fact: Sometimes when I hiccup, I sound like a pterodactyl. My favorite color is hot coral.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 4. It's the perfect square of 16 and even. It just feels right to my brain.

Education: I am a Springville High School senior and will graduate in May 2025.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love to help people both understand and enjoy new concepts. Making learning enjoyable is a strong value of mine. I find it so fun and rewarding to work with others to solve problems, especially since I get to hear a large variety of ways to approach challenges.

Soren Turner

I have taken AP calculus AB, which I got a 5 on and I’m currently taking AP Calculus BC. I’m on the Spanish Fork Youth City Council, where I help plan and run service activities throughout the city. I also play on the Spanish Fork high school boys tennis team. I currently am an engineering intern at US Synthetic, where I get to improve my engineering skills. I like to play tennis, and I also like to play the cello, which I play for the Spanish Fork high school orchestra. I also like designing things to 3D print.

Fun fact: I collect small instruments. Right now I have a ukulele, an otamatone, a kalimba, and an ocarina.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is pi, because you see it everywhere, especially in places you wouldn’t expect. When I first learned about pi, I thought it would rarely appear, but the more I learn about different branches of math, the more I see it. It shows how math is all connected.

Education: I’m currently a senior at Spanish Fork High School, and will be graduating in May.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love how impactful this job is. Every day I work, I get to help kids grow and learn to love math, and I really feel like I’m making a difference.

Sierra Farrer

I have taken Secondary math ll & lll honors, math 1010 (intermediate algebra) and math 1050 (college algebra). I’m currently taking math 2010, which is math for elementary teachers. I graduated high school with high honors. I’m a part of future educators of UVU. I have had internships working at preschool and kindergartens teaching students. I love to bake/cook and I love animals.

Fun fact: I have 5 pets

Favorite Number: 6 because I was born on 666 ( june 6th 2006) so it’s always been my favorite number

Education: I graduated from Payson High School in may of 2024 and started my first year of college this august at UVU majoring in elementary education.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working with kids and helping them learn and grow. I believe that everyone has the ability to do math they just need the confidence and motivation to do so!

Sanjana Mahate

I have taken Secondary Math 1, 2,3 AP Calculus AB, and IB Math Interpretations and Analysis, as well as Math 1020, and currently taking Math 1030 at BYU! In High School I was involved in HOSA, DECA, FBLA, NHS, as well as dancing, basketball, and golfing, I also graduated from High School as a CNA with the medical pathway program. I loved being apart of NHS and getting to volunteer at elementary and middle schools and getting to help kids improve their academics. I love to hike, read, golf, and be outside either on a boat or skiing!

Fun fact: A fun fact about me is I am very clumsy and have broken my wrist over 5 times.

Favorite Number: my favorite number is 24 because I would use it for any sport activities and my dad and grandpa grew up using it!

Education: I recently graduated from Hillcrest High School In South Salt Lake but have moved down to Provo Utah to attend Brigham Young University as a current freshman. I am a Psychology major hoping to be a pediatrician in the future.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working at Mathnasium because as a fellow student, I have seen the improvement first hand instructors can provide. It is rewarding to see the dials turn in kids brain when they realize how fun math can be! There are so many ways to learn and it is so fun to learn them.

Cali Wilson

I have taken College Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus 1, and Statistics. Back in high school, I took all AP classes, was on the academic team, and participated in student government. I have been tutoring my younger brothers in math since I was six, and I was a paid tutor throughout high school. I'm a huge reader! My favorite books are fantasy or historical fiction, bonus points when they're both. I also love to bake, embroider, craft, and be outside. I frequently take trips home to California to get my beach time in. 

Fun Fact: I'm really good at saying words backwards without having to see them. 

Favorite Number: 11! I love odd numbers and numbers that have the same digit repeated. 11 is my favorite out of that bunch. 

Education: I am currently a student at UVU studying Mathematics. 

Why I love Mathnasium: One of the greatest feelings in the world is having an "aha!" moment - that feeling when you've been working on a problem for so long it doesn't even look real anymore, and suddenly it all clicks. I love helping kids have these moments, and showing them that they are capable of doing hard things!