Our Team at Mathnasium of West Covina

Nicole

Nicole developed a love for math early in life and competed in national math contests while growing up in the Philippines. She continues to find joy in helping others understand math, whether through homework support or guiding students to that exciting “aha!” moment. 

At Mathnasium, Nicole focuses on building confidence and creating a sense of accomplishment for each student. She believes that every problem has a solution if you take time to understand it. Outside of tutoring, Nicole enjoys singing, playing video games, and writing stories. 

Joshua

Joshua holds a degree in Mathematics from California State University, Northridge. His academic interests span computational problem-solving, proof-based reasoning, and applied math in data science and programming. He especially enjoys algorithm design and machine learning. 

At Mathnasium, Joshua uses his technical mindset to break down difficult topics and help students develop deeper understanding. In his free time, he combines his math knowledge with creativity by designing physics-based games and building database applications. 

George

George is pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering at California Polytechnic University, Pomona. A former Math Olympiad participant, he developed a strong foundation in problem-solving and analytical thinking. His tutoring experience through the California Scholarship Federation deepened his commitment to student success. 

At Mathnasium, George helps students develop math confidence and mastery at their own pace. He enjoys using hands-on strategies and real-world examples to bring math to life. Outside of the center, George plays piano, builds model kits, and reads to stay inspired. 

Isabelle

Isabelle brings a lifelong love for math and a strong commitment to student growth. She has supported learners in various educational settings and believes deeply in the importance of building confidence through connection and encouragement. 

Her teaching style focuses on clarity, compassion, and helping students realize that math can be enjoyable. Isabelle was inspired by caring teachers in her own academic journey and strives to do the same for her students. She finds purpose in seeing learners grow and succeed. 

Aaron

Aaron graduated from UC Berkeley as an Applied Mathematics major with a focus in Economics. He has had a lifelong interest in math and how the ideas and skills learned from math can be applied to many aspects of everyday life. What he enjoys most about tutoring is figuring out the most efficient and best ways for individual students to learn concepts. He knows from personal experience how one person/way of thinking can flip a student’s view on a problem or even math as a whole, and he wants to play a similar role for the students of Mathnasium.  He also wishes to give all students the abilities and resources to be skilled in and appreciate the field of mathematics, which can uncover a newly found interest in math or other subjects. In the future, he aspires to be a data analyst or have a career in finance, understanding how a data set can relate to itself or crunching financial numbers. In his free time, he likes to go to metal/punk concerts and the gym, as well as watch baseball and MMA.

Kathryn

Kathryn graduated with a double major in Mathematics and Honors Humanities from Azusa Pacific University. She has a great love for math and an even greater love for teaching and inspiring students. She tutored her peers throughout high school and college and was previously employed by the Azusa Pacific University Tutoring Center. Her favorite part of tutoring is watching a student experience the “aha!” moment when they first begin to understand a new and difficult concept. She also enjoys getting to know the students she works with and finding out how best to help them learn in their unique ways. During her time at Azusa Pacific, Kathryn also discovered her passion for mathematics research while working on a research problem in Combinatorial Game Theory. She hopes to continue her research in Combinatorics or in another pure mathematics field in graduate school, and to eventually work as a mathematics professor.

Larry Martinek

Larry has spent his entire career finding a better way to teach math. From inner city public schools, to acclaimed magnet schools, to leading private and parochial schools, Larry has served as both a classroom teacher and as an educational consultant. He has designed curriculum, teaching strategies, and teaching materials to help students and teachers learn math more effectively. He has trained teachers in the art and science of boosting students' ability to “do” math, thereby increasing students' math scores and feeling of self-worth. Larry is the developer of Mathnasium’s educational program – one of the most comprehensive and innovative curriculas ever produced for teaching math. While Larry is not an Instructor at our Center, he is a valuable asset we can call on to ask about specific students' scenarios for guidance and advice. This has helped to make visits more productive and enjoyable for many of our students.