Meet the Team at Mathnasium of St. George

Megan Thatcher

Megan has lived in St. George for over three years. She has taken AP Calculus, Statistics, Math 1050, and Problem Solving and Data Analysis. She has been a presenter at the Utah Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference, and she helped write the curriculum for the new Utah Science standards. Megan has taught 5th and 6th-grade for the past 8 years. Teaching math is her favorite part about teaching in elementary schools. She loves helping students see numbers and operations in new ways. Megan loves to travel, work out, walk her dog, read, and be outside. She loves to spend time with her family and explore new places. She plays in pickleball and kickball leagues.

Fun Fact: I'm known for my love of watermelon.

Education: I went to school at Utah State University. I graduated in 2013 in Elementary Education. I have an endorsement in Middle School Mathematics, English as a Second Language, and STEM.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working at Mathnasium because math makes sense to me and I love helping math make sense to others. I love how math can be creative and everyone has their own way of thinking about math!

Kassidy Shumway

Kassidy Shumway grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and graduated from Brigham Young University in 2011. While at BYU, Kassidy earned a Bachelor 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: I was 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. The 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 are 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 an 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

Brandon Hadlock

Some of my favorite math classes I have taken are Calculus 1 (Fall 2021) and Ordinary Differential Equations (Spring 2024). Some things I enjoy doing include competing and performing dance as well as bowl on a frequent basis. In high school I was the first ever male dance sterling scholar for Stansbury High School and went on to compete at the state level. I have done ballroom for about 7 years and I am currently the dance captain for the Utah Tech Ballroom team. Bowling is one of my biggest hobbies. I also collect decks of cards.

Fun Fact: When I tell people I am a frequent bowler the most common question I get is "What's your highest score?" I used to only be able to say I have gotten 3 - 267's, but now I have gotten a 279 which was 9 strikes in a row before missing one pin and sparing/striking again.

Favorite Number: 17 is my favorite number. It is such an interesting prime number that honestly is different than any other number we use in math.

Education: I will be graduating in Spring 2025 with my Bachelor of Science in Secondary Mathematics Teacher Education. This will be an add-on to my Honors Associates of Science I received in Spring 2023.

Why I love Mathnasium: I enjoy working at Mathnasium because you can really tell when the students start to get what they didn't understand before. Students have that ah-ha moment and it is truly amazing to see them start to enjoy something they didn't even like to look at before.

Brady Postma

Brady has taken Calculus, Statistics, and Computer Science courses. He also used to participate in LAN parties. Some of his favorite hobbies are reading, learning about U.S. history, and what he calls "nerd stuff." He also loves Snickers (especially mini Snickers), Panda Express, and Barnes & Noble.

Fun Fact: In 7th grade, I got second place in the state competitive math test. The guy that got first place was a classmate and friend of mine. We got our names in the local paper.

Favorite Number: Pi

Education: I went to Pineview High School and Dixie State University.

Why I love Mathnasium: Once you get the hang of it, math is beautiful, exciting, even creative and artistic. I want more people to grow up knowing that delight.

Emma Ripley

I've taken up through Math 3 (about the equivalent of college algebra), math 1050, and am scheduled to take 1040 next semester. I am on the presidency of the Service Club, I was the president of the badminton club last year, I am part the social deductions club and I am on the seminary council! I like baking cakes, playing badminton, reading, and spending time with my family.

Fun Fact: I love making fascinators and I have a lot of them!

Favorite Number: 24, it's the year I graduate and it's a nice, round number. Also, since a lot of teachers assign numbers based on last names, I'm often number 24!

Education: I'm a senior at Desert Hills High school!

Why I love Mathnasium: It seems like a good place to work because they are actually doing good in the world.

Celeste Nielson

I have taken math up to Honors Precalculus and am taking AP Calculus this year. I am currently the Book Club President and Creative Writing Club President. I have also been Student of the Year at Crimson in AP Psychology, AP Environmental Science, Language Arts, and Theater. I also am competing in SkillsUSA for Advertising Design and am a member of HOPE Squad! I love reading, especially when it comes to the classics and nonfiction books on history and psychology. Music is a crucial element of my life whether it be playing guitar, collecting vinyl records, singing, or going to concerts! I spend extra free time watching movies and enjoying time with friends.

Fun Fact: I'm left-handed.

Favorite Number: My favorite number is the number 4 because I love even numbers. The brain also has 4 different lobes.

Education: I am a Crimson Cliffs High School senior and will graduate in 2025.

Why I love Mathnasium: I love being able to help others, especially when it comes to education. I have realized the importance of being excited to learn and I love getting the opportunity to help others find that passion.

Kellee Wyse

I’ve taken elementary education math classes in college and I like to swim and spend time with my family.

Fun Fact: I have twin daughters

Favorite Number: My favorite number is 13. It was the day my daughters were born.

Education: I have a bachelors in elementary education from Northern Arizona University and my masters in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University

Why I love Mathnasium: I’m looking forward to working with the students and watching them grow and grasp concepts from the help and curriculum of Mathnasium.

Leah Bruin

I have taken pre-calculus, AP Calculus and Calc 2. I participated in FCCLA and a literacy magazine in high school. I graduated with a high honors. I love hiking with my dog Chief, reading and playing piano. I also love traveling and some of my favorite places I've been are the Tetons, Hawaii, and Italy. I also spend a lot of time with my family playing card and board games. 

Fun Fact: My birthday is February 29th (leap day). 

Education: Graduated from Desert Hills High School in 2022. Graduated with an Associate of Science in General Studies at Utah Tech University in 2023. 

Favorite Number: 4; it's my lucky number

Why I love Mathnasium: I love working with students and helping them find success in learning math. 

Abbey Petersen

I have taken Geometry, Pre-calc, Calc 1, and Calc 3. In high school, I was on the cross country, track and dive teams and I was able to run a marathon with some of my family. During my junior and senior years of high school, I tutored math and science. I love being outside, whether it be playing pickle ball, volleyball, or hiking. I also love country dancing and spontaneous dance parties. 

Fun Fact: I'm a twin! 

Favorite Number, why: My favorite number is 4. I've just always liked it. 

Education: I'm a senior at SUU and I plan on graduating in chemistry with a math minor. 

Why I love Mathnasium: In junior high and some of high school, I struggled with math. My senior year of high school, I had an incredible teacher that loved math and made it fun. I have loved learning how to love math and want to help others love math too. I also love helping others have "ah-ha" moments with math clicks. 

Lily Leggat

I've taken up to Secondary math 3H, Math 1040 and 105. I am taking Calculus 1 next semester. I was the president of the National Honor Society in High School. I participated in many theater and art programs and learned American Sign Language as well. I graduated with high honors in mathematics, language arts, history, visual arts, and foreign languages. I got a 30 on my ACT and a 32 in the math section! I love to play guitar, hangout with friends, create, and swim! 

Fun Fact: I had a fear of treadmills for over 10 years because I fell on one as a kid. 

Favorite Number, why? My favorite number is 24! So many numbers go into it and it was my graduating year!

Education: I went to Bingham High School and graduated in spring of 2024. I am currently a freshman in college at Utah Tech University and plan on graduating with my Associates of Science this upcoming spring. I am going to major in biochemistry! 

Why I like Mathnasium: I like working at Mathnasium because I love to learn! I want to help other people feel that same joy that comes from working on a tough problem and then finally understanding it.