Meet the Team at Mathnasium of Vaughan

Rebecca Smith

Rebecca joined the Mathnasium family in 2015 and has held leadership roles across multiple centres. Her experience overseeing centre operations has allowed her to support students, families, and staff while maintaining a strong learning environment. 

Her transition from Centre Director to Franchisee reflects a deep commitment to math education and student growth. Rebecca finds great fulfilment in helping children build confidence alongside strong math skills and is dedicated to making a lasting, positive impact on the families she serves. 

Paul Onica

Paul serves as Centre Director and Manager at Mathnasium Vaughan and also oversees social media. He holds a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Anthropology from California State University, Long Beach, and brings experience in food services and retail management. 

Paul enjoys working closely with students and families and is dedicated to creating a fun, safe, and enriching learning environment. Outside the centre, he enjoys sports, music from the 1980s and 1990s, and collecting sneakers. 

Daniela

Daniela is in her third year of Psychology studies at York University and hopes to become a child psychologist. Her passion for working with children and interest in math make Mathnasium a natural fit. 

She enjoys helping students understand new concepts and build confidence with each visit. Daniela values creating a positive experience that combines learning with encouragement. Outside of Mathnasium, she enjoys spending time with friends and family while balancing her academic studies. 

Dan

Dan studied Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Guelph and has over ten years of experience working with children through camps and educational programmes. He values building trust and strong connections as the foundation of effective learning. 

Dan enjoys helping students feel comfortable and confident while learning math. Outside the classroom, his interests include sports, music writing, and video games. He plans to pursue Teacher’s College with the goal of becoming a full-time math teacher. 

Damen

Damen holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering and has a strong interest in mathematics and problem-solving. His curiosity about how numbers explain the world drives his enthusiasm for teaching math. 

As an instructor, Damen enjoys connecting math concepts to real-life applications and helping students feel excited about learning. Outside Mathnasium, he enjoys tabletop role-playing games, reading, video games, and sharing a steady supply of puns and dad jokes. 

Georgia

Georgia is a first year student at York University, studying to receive a bachelor's degree in Psychology. She also devotes some of her time at York University to classes in mathematics. Georgia plans to combine her knowledge of psychology and mathematics to become an effective and engaging elementary or high school mathematics teacher. Her passion for mathematics began as a young child, as she admired the concept of simple counting, and expanded that into her current interest in calculus. Georgia has a strong urge to mentor other students and teach them that math is not always a scary and intimidating subject, but a fun and interesting one. Aside from her interest in teaching and mathematics, Georgia loves to listen to music, go out with her friends, and travel with her family.

Julia

Julia is currently in her second year studying Business Administration at York University. She has developed a strong appreciation for mathematics through her work in economics, data management, and statistics. Her passion for learning and mathematics came from learning in groups,and she strives to create a positive and engaging environment for those around her. Julia loves helping others understand new concepts and finds great joy in seeing students gain confidence in their problem-solving skills. She hopes to one day find a career in data analytics where she can apply her passion for both business and mathematics. Outside of her studies, Julia enjoys baking, painting, and playing video games with friends, which allow her to express her creativity and unwind.

Emily

Emily is a fourth year psychology student at York University and has a passion for helping young learners grow. Although she once struggled with math herself, over time Emily developed a love for the subject. This journey inspires Emily to support students who feel the same way, and be a helping hand to foster their love for math. She believes that with patience, encouragement, and the right approach, every student can build confidence and even begin to enjoy math. With years of experience working at overnight camps, Emily brings a child-centred mindset to teaching and is focused on meeting students where they are. Emily is also preparing for her future job as an elementary school teacher, and tutoring gives her the opportunity to develop the skills she will carry into the classroom. Outside of academics, Emily has a deep passion for the arts, especially music, and spends her free time reading or crafting.

Cristina

Cristina is a second-year student at York University.  She is studying Mathematics for Education and completing a minor in Business. She has always dreamed of becoming a teacher, but it wasn’t until high school that she discovered her true passion for mathematics. Inspired by a teacher who supported her, believed in her, and made math feel exciting, Cristina now hopes to bring that same encouragement and enthusiasm to her own students.
In addition to her studies, Cristina works for the Toronto Catholic District School Board as an uncertified emergency supply teacher, giving her valuable experience working with children of all ages. She loves helping students build confidence, celebrate small victories, and discover that math can be both fun and empowering.
Cristina’s favourite season is summer, and she looks forward to relaxing and travelling with her family after a busy school year. During the year, she loves surrounding herself with family, friends, and anything that helps her stay positive and be the best version of herself. She is excited to share her passion with students – one math problem at a time!

Minh

Minh Huynh is a friendly and dedicated! He enjoys helping our students strengthen their math skills and discover the fun side of problem-solving. He believes that every student can succeed in math with the right support, so he focuses on creating a positive learning environment and explaining concepts in a way that feels clear, simple, and encouraging. Minh especially loves seeing students gain confidence whether it’s mastering fractions, tackling algebra, or finally understanding a concept they once found intimidating. Beyond teaching, Minh is passionate about quantitative trading. He often brings real-world examples from these fields into his lessons to make math feel more meaningful and exciting.

Asam

Coming soon!

Melissa

Melissa has worked with Mathnasium for over 7 years. She started when she was at York University working towards becoming a math high school teacher, and quickly realized the benefits to applying the Mathnasium methods in her own practice. Melissa graduated from both the Faculty of Education, B. Ed., Inter/Senior Mathematics & Social Science Concurrent program and the Faculty of Science, B.A., Spec. Hons. Mathematics for Education program in 2017, and now spends her days teaching as an Ontario Certified Teacher. Aside from teaching math Melissa loves playing sports, spending time with friends/family, and travelling when she can.

Ace & Addie

Meet Ace and his trusty sidekick Addie!  Our official mascot and the first faces to greet you when you come into the centre!