Our Team

Art of Problem Solving was founded by Richard Rusczyk in 2003 to create interactive educational opportunities for avid math students. Richard is the author or a co-author of 7 AoPS textbooks and a past Director of the USA Mathematical Talent Search. He was a participant in National MATHCOUNTS, a three-time participant in the Math Olympiad Summer Program, and a USA Mathematical Olympiad winner (1989). He received the World Federation of National Mathematics Competitions Paul Erdös Award in 2014. He graduated from Princeton University in 1993, and worked as a bond trader for D.E. Shaw & Company for four years. AoPS marks Richard's return to his vocation - educating motivated students.

In 2014, Glen founded a learning center in Morrisville, North Carolina, that two years later became the first AoPS Academy campus. Glen served as the National Director of AoPS Academy until his retirement in 2019. He has experience as a college math professor, statistician, and expert SAS programmer. He has been a professional math tutor for many years, and specializes in training academically-advanced and high-performing math students. Glen is a graduate of Duke University and holds a graduate degree in statistics from Boston University.

Sasha received her bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's in data analytics from Southern New Hampshire University. Prior to joining AoPS, Sasha was the Center Director for Mathnasium in Macon, Georgia, teaching students ranging from second grade to senior year of high school. Sasha was drawn to AoPS because she wanted to work with people who love math just as much as she does and started her AoPS career as an Associate Director in April of 2022. Her love of math started at an early age when she realized that she didn't need to understand the English language to be able to communicate a math problem and her absolute favorite thing about teaching is the excitement students bring to the learning environment and being a part of the "aha moment" for a student.

Charmaine is a Senior Associate Director for AoPS Academy Bellevue. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, she moved to Johannesburg, South Africa in 1987. She lived there for 28 years gaining invaluable experience overseas before coming to Austin, Texas in 2015. While in South Africa, Charmaine completed her Bachelor of Education degree in English and mathematics from UNISA, and went on to complete a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of the Witwatersrand. Before joining the AoPS team in 2022, Charmaine taught high-school level mathematics to middle schoolers, spending six years at a school for gifted students. As a director at AoPS Bellevue, she has taught both math and language arts classes and has seen firsthand how students flourish in both disciplines when applying the problem-solving approach of AoPS.

Emily studied math and Arabic at Portland State University and has filled a multitude of roles in education. From coaching robotics teams, and tutoring college math, to running workshops in a makerspace, she always finds joy in the curiosity and capacity of her students. Understandably, AoPS' mission of using math, language arts, and science to develop strong, creative problem-solving skills resonates strongly with her own views on the power of education. Emily would describe her teaching style as that of a coach—working alongside students, challenging them, and helping them realize that they are capable of so much more than they believed.

Grace is an Associate Director for AoPS Academy Bellevue. Her love for teaching began before a basement lecture hall of Beanie Babies. Grace holds a BA in creative writing from the University of Washington and a master’s in teaching from Seattle University. She is continually inspired by AoPS students; their creativity is boundless! Her classes tend to include laughter, lots of questions, and teamwork.

Lexi is a lifelong learner with a passion for working with students of all ages and abilities. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, she began working with individuals with developmental disabilities, and later moved into collegiate academic advising. She is excited to be working with young learners again here at AoPS and is grateful to be a part of such a great team. Lexi found the people and mission of AoPS to be inclusive and empowering, motivating her to make the change. She appreciates the curiosity and wholesomeness of working with students and enjoys engaging with our learners any chance she gets.

Rolly is the Front Desk Lead for AoPS Academy Bellevue. She has been part of the education industry as a student counselor, administrator, and teacher since 2002. She has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Bhopal School Of Social Sciences in India. In her spare time, she loves painting and getting outdoors with her family.

Sakshi is a rising senior at Issaquah High School pursuing a career in sports medicine. She enjoys volunteering at the Seattle Humane pet shelter and shadowing healthcare workers at Swedish hospital. Sakshi is excited to work with the highly skilled and encouraging team at AoPS, providing foundational support for students in their lifelong journey of learning. She looks forward to witnessing their enthusiasm and academic growth as they strive for excellence in their classes.

Lauren has worked in business and logistics since completing her bachelor’s degree at University of Puget Sound. After becoming a stay at home mom to her daughter, she found a new passion of seeing and watching kids learn new concepts, and is excited to see the students at AoPS continue their learning.

Maliah is a student at Green River College pursuing a Math Education degree. Their background in working at Mathnasium to complete administrative tasks and work with kids led them to work here at AoPS. Working with student is always fun because they keep you on your toes and force you to learn and adapt to each individual in order to help them grow.

Kris is a front desk associate at AoPS Academy Bellevue. She is a junior at Bothell High School and is doing Running Start at Cascadia College. Kris is passionate about being creative and helpful, and AoPS allows her to be both in her role.

Mira Menon is a Sophomore at UW studying public health and law, societies, and justice (LSJ). With experience in 1:1 tutoring both online and in-person with a broad age range, Mira is eager to build on their teaching skills at AoPS in a larger class setting. They are excited to share a passion for the language arts with students.

Andrew received his BS in applied mathematics from Cal Poly Pomona and is currently a PhD student at UW. He has tutored since 2018 and has been a course TA since 2019 where he tutored physics, chemistry, math and statistics. He has also taught college algebra and trigonometry. Andrew grew up in a low-income area and lacked many educational resources, but was lucky to have teachers and professors go out of their way to help him learn and be a successful student. He aims to encourage and support motivated students to reach their goals similar to how his past mentors helped him. Andrew enjoys the varying perspectives and approaches students take to solve problems; getting to see problems in a new way by working with students. He also enjoys the teamwork that goes into working with other people to solve problems.

Ray is a math teaching assistant for AoPS Academy Bellevue and a student at the University of Washington studying applied and computational math. Contests like AMC and AIME played a large role in developing his passion for math, and he has additionally enjoyed using the math and problem solving skills he gained to explore other domains and satisfy curiosities. Ray also enjoys helping students experience the fun of solving interesting problems and hearing their ideas along the way.

Rayhan is a Math Teaching Assistant for AoPS Academy Bellevue and a student at Cornell University. His passion for math started in elementary school while learning about unit prices; he soon found he enjoyed using math to solve real-world problems. He’s been teaching for over four years, serving as a computer science TA at Cornell, a middle school debate coach, and a mentor to high school students. In 2021, he joined the AoPS team, excited to help students tackle advanced math problems and guide them to understanding.

Victor is a Math Teaching Assistant for AoPS Academy Bellevue and a student at the University of Washington. His love of math was sparked by the AoPS Introduction to Geometry book, (his #1 recommendation to anyone looking to get into contest math) which led to him joining the Berkeley Math Circle in California and participating in contests like AMC and AIME in high school. Victor has also participated in Olympiads and contests such as the BAMO (Bay Area Math Olympiad). What he loves most about working with students is helping them understand complicated ideas.

Keerthana Kompella is studying computer science at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her passion for teaching drew her to AOPS, where she looks forward to helping students learn. Keerthana's favorite thing about working with students is witnessing their progress and seeing them achieve their goals over time.

Ethan is an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia Vancouver, studying computer engineering. The prospect of cultivating an encouraging environment and helping students become passionate about problem-solving drew him to AoPS. In working with students, he especially enjoys the process of guiding them to form a complete understanding of difficult concepts in a way that makes sense for them.

Emma has been a math tutor since middle school and has taught students of all ages and abilities from kindergarten to differential equations. She has always enjoyed learning and helping others learn. While earning a degree in mathematics education, Emma taught at Mathnasium and helped develop computer science curriculum for K-12 students in Utah. The fun atmosphere and engaging curriculum at AoPS align with her educational philosophy. Her favorite thing about teaching is seeing her students succeed at a difficult task. Emma is always looking for a chance to learn something new and tries to share her love of mathematics with her students every day. She strives to create a space where mistakes are encouraged and students support each other as they try, try again.

Robert is a Senior Instructor for AoPS Academy Bellevue. He is a graduate of both the University of Washington and Washington State University. He holds a master's degree in math education. Robert discovered AoPS after having returned from Malaysia where he had taught for two years at the Matrix School in Seremban. He was attracted to AoPS because of its mission and curriculum. Robert enjoys watching young students "get it" for the first time and is always amazed and pleased to see his students come up with creative ways to solve problems. He strives to make his classrooms fun, and safe for inquiry.

Saurabh is an accomplished data scientist who loves mathematics. He received his Bachelor of Technology degree from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and his PhD from the University of Florida. Saurabh currently works as a data scientist at Microsoft. Saurabh's passion for coaching young students in competitive mathematics brought him to AoPS. Saurabh truly believes that mentoring young and curious students and being a part of their journey as they grow, learn, and achieve their goals is immensely rewarding and fulfilling. Saurabh's teaching style aims to make mathematics fun, simple, and logical for young students, inspiring them to become curious learners who can excel beyond their dreams.

Sridivya received her bachelors in electrical engineering and an MBA from India. She currently works as a product manager in the tech sector. Sridivya loves all things math and was first drawn to AoPS through her son’s Beast Academy puzzle books. She likes to challenge her students and encourages them to explore various approaches to a problem. Sridivya loves seeing her students beam with joy when they solve a particularly challenging problem.

Zheyi received her Ph.D in applied physics from Rice University in 2008. She then worked for Shell as an engineer for 10 years before moving to Seattle with her family. Currently, Zheyi is teaching math and physics classes at one of the top private schools in the Seattle area. Zheyi believes in personalized teaching. She thinks interest is the best teacher. Identifying and inspiring the curiosity of the students in their interested areas is her mission. She wants to bring her experience to AoPS and help her students achieve their full potential, regardless of their intelligence level and cultural background. One of the things Zheyi loves most is witnessing students’ growth and development, both academically and personally. Her teaching philosophy revolves around student-centered learning. She firmly believes that students thrive when they are actively engaged in the learning process. She always designs/adjusts lessons and activities that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.

For as long as he can remember, Daniel has had a deep love for a good story, be it in a book, movie, song, or the story of any person he meets. It is this love for stories, as well as the thoughtful conversations and critical thinking that naturally results from good stories, that led to Daniel getting his bachelor's degree in English at George Fox University, followed by his master's degree in Education from PLU. Daniel finds it incredibly enjoyable and rewarding to see students wrestling with the important themes and ideas found in stories, and always seeks to find a way for students to practice communicating their ideas thoughtfully, be it through speaking or writing. When not in the classroom, Daniel can be found playing ultimate frisbee and Spikeball in rain, snow, and shine.

Lisa has a background in chemical engineering where her role in the fiber optics and biomedical manufacturing fields often required education and training. She started working with students over 15 years ago as a math, science, and English tutor. Her fascination with teaching methods and curriculums drew her to AoPS. The students' energy, dedication, and resiliency provide endless entertainment. She finds immense joy and satisfaction helping the next generation achieve greatness. Lisa's teaching style reflects her curiosity, sense of humor, and affection for all her students.

Vanessa is an award-winning fiction author and fan of word puzzles with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Her love of English drew her to tutor Shakespeare in high school where she realized she loved guiding eager learners; she has been tutoring and teaching ever since. Though she previously taught adults at writing conferences, the chance to be in the classroom with driven young students led her to AoPS. She believes the students at the academy are inspiring and ambitious. Their creative approaches to projects and willingness to explore new skills make teaching a joy. Vanessa is upbeat and engaging in the classroom, striving to keep the learning energy high. She feels material is best presented with enthusiasm.

Alison attended Western Washington University as an undergraduate and later received her Masters of Science in biology from Central Washington University. She worked as a bacteriologist, chemist and most recently as a teacher and tutor in math and science for learners of all ages. Alison was drawn to AoPS for the opportunity to continue teaching and working with students in an engaging setting, focused on helping learners explore and discover together. She loves interacting with students, observing and getting to know each students individual learning pathway. Alison's teaching style focuses on supporting a growth mindset and offering gentle guiding questions and suggestions to support the learners' growth and development, letting the students puzzle out their own strategies and honoring their own 'Aha!' moments.

Jess recently graduated with his PhD in literature from the University of New Hampshire and he has an MFA in popular fiction from Stonecoast. He is a college professor, as well as a certificated K-8 teacher, with over twelve years of experience and he regularly publishes articles, reviews, and science fiction stories online. He began teaching at AoPS in the fall of '23 because he loves the wackiness that is middle school, and he is fascinated with the cyber-connected youth culture of today. His teaching style is a fusion of old and new, incorporating handwritten journal entries and traditional whiteboard work alongside emergent technologies such as free-to-use visual suites and applications powered by artificial intelligence.

Ana found her passion for teaching and pursued a degree in early childhood and math education after studying meteorology in Portugal. She has been working with children for the past 8 years and finds a lot of joy in teaching math. Ana was drawn to AoPs due to the curriculum and the way the program makes math fun for young children. Ana enjoys working with younger students and helping them discover, or further, their passion for math. Ana's teaching style is calm but disciplined. She believes each student is unique and tries her best to adapt her teaching to each child. Ana believes in letting children work through their problems with some help but takes pride in seeing children reach the answers on their own.

Alejandra has been passionate about education and languages since her time at the University of Washington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in Spanish and music. She began her teaching journey as a volunteer at Stevenson Elementary School, where she taught 4th-grade students in a dual-immersion Spanish/English program. In the summers of 2023 and 2024, Alejandra served as a teacher's assistant at AoPS, where she was drawn to the academy's rigorous––but fun!––curriculum. Now an instructor at AoPS, she loves witnessing the diverse ways her students think through problems and takes pride in helping them navigate challenges creatively. Alejandra’s teaching style is rooted in patience, adaptability, and a genuine passion for seeing her students grow. She strives to create a classroom environment where students feel supported and encouraged to explore new ideas with confidence.

Youkow graduated with a bachelor's degree in math from Yale and a master's degree in computational and mathematical engineering from Stanford. Outside of teaching, he works as a data scientist developing AI and NLP models. He loved participating in math competitions growing up and was a representative of Indiana’s national MATHCOUNTS team, a USAJMO winner, and a Math Olympiad Summer Program participant. Since then, he has enjoyed teaching math and has worked as a math instructor at math camps, high schools, and graduate school. Youkow enjoys teaching because of his students' enthusiasm and energy for learning. In his competition classes, Youkow likes to develop general problem-solving strategies with an emphasis on accuracy and speed while teaching the core content. He believes in a multi-faceted, student-driven approach to learning where students learn the material not only by solving problems but also by explaining and discussing their reasoning with others.

Zak graduated with his BS in physics from Northern Arizona University, minoring in both math and studio arts. Shortly afterward, he taught high school pre-calculus and privately tutored in both Arizona and Washington. He has also taught college level physics at Pacific Lutheran University and helped to roll out AoPS Bellevue's first physics curriculum. He has an extensive background in challenge course operation and facilitation and enjoys working outside with kids. He is equally at home swinging from ropes 50 feet in the air and helping students through difficult math problems. Zak believes that experiencing and overcoming the trials of solving novel problems while still in school is one of the cornerstones of a happy and fulfilling life. In his spare time he draws, paints, and is working on an animated short film.

Arthur holds a bachelor's degree in physics from Texas A&M University, and a PhD in physics from Stony Brook University. Arthur's doctoral dissertation was in the field of theoretical nuclear physics, where he calculated various distributions of quarks and gluons within pions. The language of science is mathematics, and Arthur absolutely loves speaking this language! He is extremely excited to talk and learn about nearly any topic in math. Outside of work, Arthur enjoys further exercising his mind with climbing, both indoors at climbing gyms and outdoors on real rock.

Shreeyas earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master's in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Washington. He chose AoPS because of its unique and effective approach to teaching math, which focuses on problem-solving and creativity. He was especially drawn to the chance to work with students who are truly passionate about learning and eager to challenge themselves. What Shreeyas loves most about working with students is witnessing those "aha!" moments when their understanding clicks. He enjoys fostering an environment where they feel confident to ask questions and explore different problem-solving strategies. Shreeyas finds it incredibly rewarding to see them His teaching style is open-minded and collaborative. He believes in creating a classroom atmosphere where all students feel comfortable participating and asking questions. Shreeyas encourages active engagement and critical thinking, helping students build a strong foundation in mathematics while fostering their curiosity.

After graduating from Central Washington University with a degree in teaching secondary mathematics in 2012, Robert has worked with various Monroe, Lake Stevens, and Snohomish School Districts as well as local tutoring and learning facilities. Throughout this time, he has taught several levels of math to a wide range of grade levels, developing extensive experience and expertise in the field. His love of teaching complex mathematical concepts and guiding students through problem-solving journeys naturally aligns with the Academy of Problem Solving's mission. He has a passion for making mathematics accessible and engaging, combined with his affinity for puzzles, brain teasers, and games, makes the Academy a perfect fit for teaching and other interests. Robert enjoys helping students understand and appreciate mathematics, whether it's basic arithmetic, fractions, decimals, or advanced topics like trigonometry and calculus. He finds joy in sharing neat tricks and strategies to dial down the difficulty of problems that look harder. The greatest reward comes from seeing students put their best work forward to make progress until they finally succeed in their mathematical endeavors. His teaching style is focused on being a facilitator who guides students through the labyrinth of math concepts. They emphasize understanding and application, helping students conquer problem-solving challenges and fostering a sense of accomplishment. They blend traditional instruction with engaging activities, such as puzzles and games, to make learning both effective and enjoyable.

Alex currently works as a civil engineer, designing and building infrastructure projects around the Seattle metro area. He has attended the University of Michigan and UCLA and earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Civil Engineering. He has been involved in education in some capacity since his high school days, both as a tutor and instructor. Alex was mainly drawn to AoPS by its curriculum, which is so unique and tailored to help students supplement their overall skillset. Alex aims to spark curiosity in his students and pass on the knowledge received from his own teachers and mentors. He enjoys working with students from all levels, seeking to help them achieve new goals and make math more understandable and relevant. Alex likes to keep his classes engaged, making sure everyone is welcome and is an active participant, regardless of their skill level and/or educational background.

Renae earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Education, specializing in languages and the arts, from The University of Newcastle, Australia. With over 17 years of experience, she has taught students of all ages, from early elementary to senior secondary, across various cities worldwide, including most recently in Shanghai, China. Renae was drawn to AoPS because of its unique curriculum and emphasis on creativity and communication. One of her favorite aspects of working with students is the opportunity to learn together. By fostering a growth mindset and adopting a global perspective, she ensures her students are well-prepared to confidently tackle challenges and achieve their goals.

Jessica graduated with honors from UC Santa Cruz in 2019, earning her BS in Robotics Engineering. Before AoPS, she worked as an electronics engineering technician, as an assistant manager in the Rapid Prototyping Studio at California College of the Arts, and as an engineering mentor for TorBots FRC Team 1197, where she led her students to compete on Einstein at the First World Championships. Jessica was drawn to AoPS by the challenge of the math test she had to take when she applied to be an instructor, as well as her strong desire to inspire and mentor the next generation of mathematicians. She hopes that one day, everyone in the world will be fluent in the language of math. She loves bringing math to life for her students, and helping them believe that they are up to the challenge! Jessica strongly believes in the power of positive reinforcement and wants all of her students to have a positive experience in the math classroom. Since every student is unique, she likes to tailor the challenge of the lesson to her students’ aptitude for the material.

As a kid, Raif loved math, filling notepads with formula derivations. As an adult, Raif has spent ten years coaching elementary-school students for advanced math contests, including AMC 8 and MATHCOUNTS. He received his BS in physics at Caltech and his PhD in atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington, focusing on the physics and chemistry of cloud particles. As a software test engineer, he hunts for bugs in applications, operating systems, and websites. His passion is helping young children stretch their abilities, build self-confidence, and learn terrible math jokes. He has also been playing and coaching ultimate frisbee for 30 years.

Grace earned a Bachelor of Science from University of California, Riverside, and a Master of Science from California State Polytechnic University Pomona in Mathematics. She teaches mathematics at Cascadia College in Bothell, WA. Grace was drawn to AoPS because of their active learning style in mathematics. She loves seeing the progress that students make, especially when they get that "ah-ha!" moment when solving a challenging math problem. Grace is welcoming to all, helping aid students in feeling comfortable in the classroom. She approaches teaching through motivation and helpful guidance, showing students that anyone can do math.

Andrew graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in playwriting and radio. He has since sampled many different career paths including writing, working with youth, and doing marketing at a radio station. He's excited to have the opportunity at AoPS Academy Bellevue to once again help young people love language the way he does. There's a certain magic to working with students; spurring curiosity and philosophical thought is the best part of learning! Andrew believes that learning is about discovery more than anything, so he tries to foster discovery in the classroom rather than dictate.

Jacob is a Ph. D. student in the mathematics department at the University of Washington researching differential geometry and partial differential equations. Before coming to Seattle, Jacob earned his BS with honors in mathematics from the University of Minnesota. He has experience as a teaching assistant and loves helping students learn to explore their curiosity for mathematics by leading them to ask questions and find the answers. Jacob is excited to share his passion for mathematics with the talented students at AoPS Academy!

Jackie Otting, M.Ed, is an educator with over 10 years of experience in ELA and ESL education. Jackie was drawn to AoPS because the course offerings are interesting and engaging for students. She loves the unique perspectives students bring to the classroom. Her favorite aspect of teaching is seeing students learn and understanding. Jackie's teaching style is responsive to students' curiosities through inquiry-based instruction. She enjoys learning about students' interests and responding by providing content aimed at those interests.

Dr. Peng holds a PhD in Biostatistics from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Fudan University. With extensive experience as a data scientist, he has worked at major tech firms including Microsoft, Amazon, Uber, and Airbnb. During high school, he won a first-class prize in the Chongqing Math Olympics in China. Dr. Peng was drawn to AoPS by the Beast Academy books. His oldest son was captivated by the book, and he was thoroughly impressed by how fun and engaging math education could be. It is fun to see how young minds perceive the world and incredibly fulfilling to witness their growth and development. Dr. Peng likes to engage with students, ensure their attention is fully captured during class, and encourage them to think deeply about problems from different angles.

Todd received an MA in English from the University of Virginia and a BA in English from Whitman College. After a career as a magazine editor and freelance writer, he was drawn to AoPS because of its focus on problem-solving. Todd loves working with students to develop a holistic understanding of language arts and effective communication skills—from rough draft to final draft and the public presentation of one’s work. His teaching style emphasizes classroom discussion and personal feedback to challenge students to become agents of their own ideas. He also appreciates a good sense of humor and is delighted when his students make him laugh.

Cameron earned her BS in mathematics and BA in economics from Pacific Lutheran University in 2019, followed by her MA in mathematics from the University of Montana in 2021. She has been teaching mathematics at both Pacific Lutheran University and AoPS since 2021. Cameron discovered AoPS in 2020 while she tutored homeschooled students using the AoPS online curriculum. The fun, innovative, and student-centered approach to teaching mathematics captured her attention. She enjoys learning from students and finds their honesty and ingenuity both amusing and enthusing. Cameron fosters a supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. She encourages students to approach mathematics with confidence, curiosity, and an appropriate amount of silliness.

Rosemary's passion for math started with contests in high school and took her to a BS in math and an MS in computer science at the University of Chicago. She has taught college-level math and is a former Google software engineer. Art of Problem Solving was one of Rosemary's most important early resources for getting into math, and she's glad to be giving back now as an instructor. Sharing the excitement and beauty of a newly discovered solution is Rosemary's favorite part of being a teacher. Her goal in teaching is to give students the opportunity to practice the habits of mind that lead them to become effective, independent problem solvers.

Dr. Robert Daniel Rubin has been a middle school, high school, and college instructor. He has published several articles and a book with Cambridge University Press. He was drawn to AoPS for its intensive but practical language arts curriculum. He really enjoys working with the deeply committed students who attend AoPS classes. He employs both student-centered and teacher-directed styles of classroom instruction.

Dr. Rundell has been an instructor at AoPS Academy Bellevue since 2018. She received her PhD in business management from Arizona State University, as well as an MBA and BA in psychology from Western Washington University. In addition to her long corporate career, she has taught college business courses to young adults, ESL to older adults, and music to elementary and middle school students. Dr. Rundell is also a passionate musician who played the violin professionally in the Bellevue Philharmonic for eight years and toured Europe with America's Youth in Concert as a teenager. She was drawn to AoPS when her daughter utilized AoPS textbooks to help prepare for math competitions. Dr. Rundell is amazed at the ingenuity of her students and endeavors to cultivate and structure their creativity through kindness, patience, and discipline.

Oana has worked in education throughout her life. She started as a student tutor in high school, then became a teaching assistant and teacher in the US for the past 18 years. Oana earned a doctorate in education, a master's in abstract mathematics at the University of Washington, and a principal certificate. She is also a national board-certified teacher and facilitator with the Seattle Education Association. Oana has been in contest math in Romania and math circles throughout her entire student life, which is what drove her to choose this profession. Oana was drawn to AoPS because she missed working on challenging problems, analyzing ideas, not knowing how to solve some problems, struggling to find answers, seeing new solutions and learning from those questions. Oana loves getting to know her students, inspiring them and seeing them grow. She also enjoys helping students become confident, take risks, thrive and learn to love math. Oana's teaching style aims to cultivate a collaborative classroom where students are open, feel safe to take risks, have fun, help each other, and contribute with new ideas and solutions.

Ms. Scarborough has a master's degree in education with a focus on brain organization and learning, with a K-8 endorsement in the state of Washington. She has taught neuro-diverse students for nine years in public schools and an additional six years in private schools. AoPS offered her the opportunity to teach language arts and history, her two favorite subjects. She enjoys engaging with students with diverse learning styles and helping them to discover how they learn best. Her teaching style is interactive, collaborative, and playful.

Walt earned his BS in mathematics from the University of Puget Sound. After graduation, he pursued a volunteer TA position at Chief Sealth High School. He is excited to be at AoPS fostering the next generation of passionate mathematicians!

Doug’s interest in math and physics led him to graduate from UC Irvine with bachelor’s degree in physics. Encouraged by the developing fusion technology, Doug went to UC Davis and spent many happy lab hours integrating laser and plasma technology while earning a master’s degree in applied science. Shortly after graduate school, Doug was recruited to start a middle school program on Whidbey Island. For 20+ years, Doug inspired young people to discover their love of math and science. Now, Doug has brought his humor and enthusiasm for math to our AoPS Academy.

Heather Stark, PhD has a degree in Journalism from Kent State University and is a professional journalist, broadcaster, and public speaker. She has a master's degree in public administration from the University of Colorado Denver and has earned a master's degree and a doctorate in psychology which enables her to work with those dealing with special needs and those requiring ADA accommodations. She has taught students in classrooms and individually in both public and private schools at all age levels. She focuses on Language Arts, study skills, and organizational skills. Dr. Stark was drawn to AoPS because of its emphasis on individualized student needs, and its focus on not only fun for students but also its support for those teaching those students. When there is a perfect balance between student enthusiasm, parent expectations, and teacher energy and expertise, Dr. Stark believes everyone benefits, and her love for teaching is at its peak. Her teaching style is fairly traditional when it comes to classroom management but with the flexibility to adapt and be spontaneous, allowing students to learn leadership, initiative, and discovery.

Shannon is a graduate student at Western Governors University, working on a degree and certification in teaching secondary biological sciences. During the pandemic she had an opportunity to homeschool her two amazing children and discovered her passion for teaching. Watching students having that magical moment where a concept “clicks” in their minds brings Shannon immense joy and satisfaction. She loves to share her passion for learning and silly sense of humor with younger students.

Glenn is a PhD student in computer science at the University of Washington with experience teaching at Math Circles, currently at the UW Math Circle and previously at the UCLA Math Circle for 4 years. He believes AoPS is a great place to learn and practice problem-solving, and helping students improve this skill while having fun is Glenn's primary goal. His teaching style is interactive and emphasizes collaboration between students.

Anitha completed her master's in teaching from Northwest University, Kirkland and works as a substitute teacher at the neighboring school districts. She also has a master's in counseling psychology from India where she worked at the neurological center for 1.5 years. Anitha entered AoPS with more than six years of experience working with students from preschool to middle school. She was drawn to AoPS for its enriching curriculum that sets high expectations for students and sets them up for success. In the classroom, Anitha loves to facilitate student learning and provide continuous support for their progress. She understands students come from different learning backgrounds with various interests and learning styles. Anitha's teaching methodology helps students build confidence, grow their love for learning, and sharpen their math as well as language arts skills.

Zainab is a lifelong learner with a passion for teaching and cognitive psychology. She holds a bachelor's degree with honors in English and psychology from the University of Waterloo, where she focused her honors thesis on affect and learning in the classroom. With nine years of teaching experience in Canada, Zainab values diverse cultures and learning styles. Her travels to various countries have enriched her perspective, and she believes in the power of learning through immersion. Zainab enjoys optimizing her daily life, travel itineraries, and office processes. She has diverse work experience and a creative side, selling art on Etsy and experimenting with iced coffee. Overall, Zainab is an inspiring educator who strives to create engaging and inclusive learning experiences for her students.

Himanee is a dedicated and enthusiastic mathematics educator. She holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics alongside a bachelor’s degree in education from esteemed universities in India. With over 15 years of experience teaching both mathematics and science as a full-time instructor in India and the United States, she has honed her craft and passion for fostering a love of learning in students of all ages. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes not only mastering mathematical concepts but also nurturing a growth mindset and a problem-solving attitude in her students.

Nancy has been an educator since 2001 and has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in education. She was drawn to teaching the unique courses offered at AoPS and the opportunity to work with passionate, engaged students. A-ha moments in the classroom make this work meaningful to her: students demonstrating understanding of a vocabulary word by showing its meaning through physical actions; students delivering a personal monologue reflective of practice in intonation and pacing; students excited to explore the wisdom of Athena or the troublemaking of Dionysus; or reporting on how their experiment is going in anticipation of presenting their science paper. In the classroom, Nancy gently leads a student-centered roomful of kiddos, allowing their voices to be heard, their effort to be nurtured, and their creativity to bloom. She also strongly believes that stickers make every session more fun.

Derek Tseng received a B.S. degree in mathematics and an M.S. degree in computer science. Afterward, he worked as a Data Scientist for a year at American Express. Derek admires the commitment of AoPS to preparing students for higher-level education and advancing students' skills. He loves when students show enthusiasm for a subject but, more importantly, feels great joy when students understand a concept. Being able to mold minds for the better and growing a student's love for a subject gives him pleasure. Derek's teaching style is dependent on the students' needs. Most of the time, however, he opts for a discussion-based style.

Harika's love for math started at a young age when she was introduced to logic problems, sudoku and fun math puzzles by her family and teachers. In high school, she participated in competition math and then went on to pursue math in college. She received a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University. In college, she was a teaching assistant and has been involved in tutoring since she was in high school. In addition to teaching at AoPS Academy, Harika is currently a Software Engineer at Microsoft. Harika has a love for teaching and believes that the role of a teacher is to inspire students to find joy in learning.

Akshay graduated with his bachelor’s degree in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at the University of Washington and enjoyed taking several math classes there. Along with his background in biology, he derives enjoyment from being able to share his passion for math and problem solving. Akshay has had experience participating in numerous math competitions, such as the math olympiad, AMC 8, AMC 10, and MATHCOUNTS. He finds satisfaction in being able to empower his students to be independent, creative, and logical thinkers. He has had extensive teaching experiences as a math olympiad coach for over 4 years, a teaching assistant at the University of Washington for a biochemistry course, and as a summer science camp teacher at Destination Science. Akshay is currently a medical student at the University of Washington and he is excited to teach and inspire his students at AoPS Academy.

Aihoon received her master's degree in communication studies in Singapore. She previously worked as a TV producer for many years and taught at various universities in Singapore. Aihoon enjoys the innovative and engaging curriculum offered at AoPS. Aihoon sees herself more as a facilitator in engaging students in collaborative learning. She recognizes that each student has something valuable to contribute to the class.