Our Team
Our specially trained math instructors will teach your child how to understand math in an individual setting; our unique approach enables us to explain concepts really well and lend a helping hand to every student. Our tutors foster a caring, encouraging environment that helps kids thrive and learn! Read below to learn more about our talented team:
Daryl Gage, Owner/General Manager
Daryl has always had a passion for learning and helping others learn. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and a Master of Science degree from the Defense Intelligence College in Washington D.C. He served 24 years in the military and is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps. During his Marine Corps career he specialized in Cryptologic Operations, Signal Intelligence, Information and Electronic Warfare. His duties included a tour at the National Security Agency and overseas in Iraq, Korea, Japan, the Philippines and Cuba. His desire to help kids not be afraid or intimidated by math prompted him to open a Mathnasium Learning Center. He believes it's a great way to give back to the community.
Kevin Grubb, Center Director
Kevin joined Mathnasium in 2014, after a 31-year career in Information Technology. He has a degree in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech. He always enjoyed math (including silly math jokes) and spending time with children, so Mathnasium was a perfect fit for a second career. Kevin and his wife, Debbie, are the parents of twins, who are now adults. Kevin enjoys playing trombone and spending time with his family, which includes a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and three grandchildren.
Payton Guinn, Lead Instructor
Payton graduated from Virginia Tech in 2018 with a degree in Interior Design (different from decorating!). She loves how art and math directly go together, and that's why she finds geometry concepts so cool. They directly apply to architecture and design. Without it, buildings wouldn't stand. Outside mathnasium, She is an avid knitter and crocheter, a cat and parakeet mom, and a really good cook.
Rachael Lowell, Lead Instructor
Rachael is a Virginia Beach native and has always enjoyed living near the beach. She graduated from the Math and Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School and obtained her Bachelor's degree in Applied Math with a minor in Special Education. She tutored mathematics privately in her free time and worked full time in VBCPS as a teacher assistant. Rachael's love for math and working with children led her to take on a part-time job at Mathnasium.
Steve Noffsinger, Instructor
Steve loves teaching math, and has been doing so for many years. He currently teaches at various colleges as well as with the team at Mathnasium. Other hobbies of his include whittling soap and skipping stones. You might be surprised at how much math can be used in those activities!
David Sinclair, Instructor
David has been a math aficionado since before he can remember. The thrill of understanding how the world works is unrivaled, and math is the key to doing just that. He and his team placed in the state MathCounts competition in middle school and he continued competing throughout high school. Now, he wants to share his love of math with a new generation of mathematicians. Don't be surprised if he starts singing equations at you, though. It's a habit unlikely to go away any time soon.
Kevin Collins, Instructor
Kevin is a current student of the Math & Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School. He is actually a product of almost 6 years of Mathnasium training! After finishing most of our curriculum, he wanted the chance to give back to Mathnasium and its students. He especially loves how math bridges the theoretical with the physical to explain the world around us. While a math nerd at heart, he still makes time for adventuring in nature on bikes and his feet. Unfortunately, crunchy leaves do NOT enjoy Kevin's hikes as much as he does.
Nathan Ferrer, Instructor
Nathan is a student at Atlantic Shores Christian School. He is enamored with the expressions of mathematics in nature, like how the Fibonacci sequence can be seen in flower petals. Additionally, he appreciates how math plays a pivotal role in the technology that has created our society. Outside of Mathnasium, Nathan can be found playing soccer or providing a soundtrack on piano or guitar for Steve as he skips rocks.
Lauren Martin, Instructor
Lauren's pre-school days were unfortunately filled with penmanship lessons rather than math. Luckily, Sesame Street came to the rescue teaching her that there were more numbers than 1 - 10. Her math journey started with counting objects around the house and recently included a B.A. in Mathematics from Randolph-Macon College. It appears that Sesame Street also instilled a love for the arts, as she minored in Theatrical Arts. Determined to expand her horizons, she also volunteers with local Girl Scout troops, goes thrifting, and fosters kittens from her father's work.
Ruoming Shen
Ruoming is currently studying at the Math & Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School. Since she spent 17.3% of her free time last week making wire jewelry and 4 hours 16 minutes and 3 5/7 seconds volunteering, how much free time did she have for travelling? Come to Mathnasium and find out! She can also tell you all about how you can get the same correct answer for math problems through various methods. This and math's application to chemistry and physics inspired her to share her love of math with our students.
Nate Garcia
Providing guitar for hits such as "The Point of Decimals" and "Gee, I'm a Tree" from the Shape of Forests medley, he joins our theatrical expert, trombonist, vocalist, and pianist in the upcoming production of Mathematics Musical Theatre. His love of math began well before he started learning at the Math & Science Academy at Ocean Lakes High School. In fact, some would say he learned to speak math before English! This second language provides a whole new possibility for communication, which is why he loves to spread the word.
Joanna He
Augmented seventh. Parallel fifths. Four-five-one progression. Belive it or not, these music theory concepts are an extension of math into the artistic world. Playing violin is one of Joanna's go to activities outside of education. Studying math and music together has enhanced her understanding of and fondness for both. (Un)fortunately for her, this means she is now obligated to participate in the Mathematics Musical Theatre production. We may not have written the show yet, but Joanna's experience in music theory will be a great boon!
Sun | Closed |
Mon | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Tues | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Wed | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Thurs | 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM |
Fri | Closed |
Sat | 9:00 AM – Noon |
Summer - Closed Saturdays |
Why Choose Mathnasium?
Mathnasium of South Virginia Beach Reviews
Mathnasium Named ‘No. 1 Franchise’; Opens its 1,000th Math Learning Center
Mar 16 2019
Check out the article here!
Mike and Daryl Radio Interview on 102.1 FM!
Apr 21 2015
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