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.

Matt, Assistant Center Director

Where do/did you go to school? Cal State Channel Islands, amd am currently at National University for my Master's in Behavioral Analysis

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Read, write, golf, and woodwork

Fun fact: I'm a published poet

Favorite number: 5, because it's my birthday

Favorite math topic: Geometry, because shapes are fun!

Favorite math joke: Last night a storm blew off 25% of my roof. Oof.

In five years, I will...teaching elementary school?

Rachel, Assistant Center Director

Where do/did you go to school? Got my degree in math from Azusa Pacific University and now working my teaching credential and Master's from UCSB!

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Read books and watch musicals

Fun fact: I am always down for any kind of movie marathon

Favorite number: 56, because 56=7x8 (like 5 6 7 8)

Favorite math topic: Calculus!!

Favorite math joke: Why is 6 afraid of 7? Because 7 ate (8) 9. But why did 7 eat 9? Because she needs 3 square (3^2) meals per day

In five years, I will...either a high school math teacher or running my own Mathnasium!

Jessica, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Mound, Anacapa, Holy Cross, Foothill, El Camino, VC - born and raised represent!

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Cook with my family, walk and go on hikes with my dog, sew, paint, rollerskate

Fun fact: I love making sushi!

Favorite number: 3, 5, 15. I don't know why but I think it's because of the relationships between those numbers

Favorite math topic: Trigonometry!

Favorite math joke: Why was math class so long? The teacher kept going off on a tangent!

In five years, I will...sure of my major and spending time with my parents

Glo, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? I'm a graduate of Cal State Channel Islands!

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Draw/do art

Fun fact: I was once on NPR

Favorite number: 6, because it's perfect

Favorite math topic: Topology

Favorite math joke: Why was the math book sad? It had a lot of problems!

In five years, I will...be 5 years older

Naomi, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? I'm a senior at St. Bonventure high school

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Play songs on guitar and spend time outside with my cat, Shadow

Fun fact: My soccer teammates and I won the CIF championship for the 2021 season

Favorite number: 9, becuase it is my position number in soccer (center forward) and also my jersey number!

Favorite math topic: Proportions

Favorite math joke: How do you stay warm in a cold room? You go to the corner - it's always 90 degrees!

In five years, I will...Finishing college with a degree in psychology and looking to start my career!

Jesse, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Cal Lutheran University

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Watch movies, play music, read comic books

Fun fact: I play the spoons

Favorite number: 14, because it's the number of my favorite fictional basketball player, Troy Bolton

Favorite math topic: Geometry

Favorite math joke: Why doesn't anybody talk to circles? Because there's no point!

In five years, I will...be an elementary school teacher

August, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Mound, Balboa, Buena, VC, UCLA!

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Watch anime, play video games, and spend time with my girlfriend

Fun fact: I love Rubik's cubes and can solve one in under a minute; I even programmed my own Rubik's cube app!

Favorite number: 45, because it's the first number of my very first ID in elementary school

Favorite math topic: Probability, because I find the idea of chance and randomness very interesting

Favorite math joke: Are monsters good at math? Not unless you Count Dracula!

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

Paul, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? Oxnard High, Ventura College, CSUCI

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Listen to music and spend time with my son

Fun fact: I once came up with a math proof in the shower!

Favorite number: 716 because it's my son's birthday

Favorite math topic: Calculus

Favorite math joke: Pi: Quit being a square! Square: You're being irrational!

In five years, I will...be a grandfather?

Esmeralda, Instructor

Where do/did you go to school? UC Berkeley

What do you like to do when you're not at Mathnasium? Play tennis and dance

Fun fact: I've traveled abroad to 5 countries!

Favorite number: Infinity (even though it's not technically a number), because of infinite possibilities and infinity being the sum of small steps

Favorite math topic: Calculus

Favorite math joke: Hey have you ever noticed what's odd? Every other number!

In five years, I will...be doing what I love!