Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Short Pump

Raven Smoot

Raven is a passionate educator with a strong background in mathematics and a Bachelor's degree in Education from Towson University. Prior to joining the Mathnasium team, she taught 2nd, 6th, and 8th grade students in Maryland and Richmond. During her time working with 2nd grade students, Raven recognized the importance of developing “number sense” and went on to apply those concepts in her 6th and 8th grade classes. As a member of the Mathnasium team, Raven is excited to continue working with students to develop number sense and prepare for success in math! Raven is, herself, a walking testament to how well the Mathnasium Method works, as she attended Mathnasium in middle school to help close the gaps in her own education while preparing for high school. Apart from her teaching endeavors, Raven has a deep love for needle-crafts like knitting, crochet, and sewing, as well as hobbies such as PC gaming and hiking/orienteering. She’s also a forever learner and is always acquiring new skills - right now she’s learning to weld!

Jessica L.

Jessica is a dedicated and passionate individual with a deep love for children and teaching. She graduated from James Madison University with a Masters in Elementary Education, specializing in math. With experience teaching 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades, Jessica joined our team in 2016. She previously served as the Center Director at the Mathnasium of Short Pump, where her exceptional leadership skills led the center to be recognized as the #1 performing center in North America during her time as manager. Jessica's unwavering commitment to children's growth and her enthusiasm for their learning make her an invaluable asset, ensuring families receive the perfect Mathnasium experience.

Nicki Atwood

Nicki hails from Baltimore and studied Physics and Chemistry at University of Richmond. While working with students in college, she noticed that many times students are held back because of a gap in their educational foundation and that drew her to Mathnasium’s unique approach. When not at Mathnasium, Nicki loves to visit different cities and hang out with her cat. In fact, she loves pets of all shapes and sizes, and has had many different types of pets, including a dog, a mouse, a rabbit, and even a hedgehog!

James Temple

James developed a passion for and proficiency with Mathematics during his middle and high school years. In 2000, James graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in Mathematics and a love for solving all types of problems. He took those skills into the United States Air Force where he served for 7 years as an aircraft maintenance officer. It was during these years that James had the opportunity to tutor home schooled children and really started to appreciate the frustration that many kids feel towards Mathematics. James left the Air Force in 2007 to go back to the University of Virginia where he received his Master's of Business Administration degree from the Darden School of Business.