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:

Mitch Gelfand, Center Director/Owner

Mitch is the Center Director at Mathnasium of Ventura. Prior to opening his Mathnasium center, Mitch worked as a middle school math teacher in the Conejo Valley. Since his days of attending and working at summer camp, he always knew he wanted to work with kids - there is simply nothing like seeing a kid do something for the first time that they did not believe they could do! He has an Master's degree in Education from Azusa Pacific University and a BS in Marketing from the University of Arizona. While Mitch excelled at math as a student, he was always eager to help those around him to improve their math skills because he always understood the importance of math in life. He believes that the Mathnasium Method is the best way for kids to learn and truly understand math and he's excited to bring success to the students of Ventura. Married with 1 fur baby (dog) and one human baby (boy), Mitch enjoys the Dodgers all summer and skiing in the winter.

Chris, Assistant Center Director

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? I like to work with my hands

Fun fact: I used to 3D print small goodies for friends

Favorite number: 7, because it's an "ugly" prime number that I often look to as a prime other than 5

Favorite math joke: An infinite number of people walk into a restaurant. The bartender asks, "What will it be?" The first says, "One soda please!" The second says, "One half soda, please!" The third says, "One quarter soda, please!" The bartender finally interupts, "OK, OK, 2 sodas coming right up!"

In five years, I will...own a taco shop in Hawaii

Sarah, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? I graduated from CSUN with a degree in Astrophysics

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Go for a run with my dogs or read old classic horror novels

Fun fact: I can find toothpaste in any store in under 5 minutes

Favorite number: i, because it was the first number to confuse mathematicians and rework number theory. It also caused relativity to exist

Favorite math topic: Noneuclidean geometry - I like the odd shapes

Favorite math joke: My boss is like the square root of -100; a solid 10, but imaginary!

In five years, I will...be getting my PhD or working on a lobster boat in Maine

Alexis, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Oxnard High School graduate currently enrolled at Ventura College

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Take my dogs to the park

Fun fact: I love to bake cupcakes and other desserts!

Favorite number: 9, because I was born in 1999

Favorite math topic: Algebra, because you use it all the time

Favorite math joke: Gee! I'm a tree!

In five years, I will...be working in a lab as a chemist

Ariella, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Graduated from Cornell University. Currently getting my Master's at USC

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Work on original music for a musical I wrote

Fun fact: I used to be in the circus (Spanish web and flying trapeze)

Favorite number: 16, because my sister and I were both born on the 16th

Favorite math topic: Logic statements

Favorite math joke: What's the derivative of optimus? Optimus prime!

In five years, I will...be performing in the musical I wrote

Zeke, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Cal State Long Beach

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Play video games and board games

Fun fact: I was student class president of my elementary school in 5th grade

Favorite number: 26, because Z is the 26th letter of the alphabet, my birthday is 6/20 (which added together is 26), and my grandparents house was on 26th street

Favorite math topic: Algebra

Favorite math joke: Why couldn't the angle get a loan? It's parents wouldn't cosine!

In five years, I will...be teaching middle or high school math

Jason, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? UC Santa Barbara

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Play music, practice sign language, solve Rubik's cubes, juggle

Fun fact: I'm a black belt in Taekwondo

Favorite number: 73; it's the 21st prime number, and it's mirror, 37, is the 12th prime number, which is also a mirror of 21. Also, 21 is the product of, you guessed it, 7 and 3.

Favorite math topic: Algebra

Favorite math joke: I have a good joke about math, but I'm 2^2 to tell it!

In five years, I will...have my BA in Music Studies and be a music teacher