Our staff is built to teach each student individually, to develop the skills they need to thrive in mathematics, and to foster a love of learning.

Mayra Ornelas

Center Director

Mayra graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Psychobiology and brings a strong academic background and compassionate energy to her role at Mathnasium. She loves making math approachable and helping students overcome challenges with confidence. 

Mayra especially enjoys seeing students’ faces light up when they finally master a tough concept. Outside the center, she enjoys music, family time, and cheering on the Dodgers.

Daus Carmichael

Assistant Center Director

Daus holds dual degrees in Computer Science and Physics from Chapman University, where he also competed in Track and Field. He’s passionate about computational mathematics and hopes to continue his studies in graduate school. 

Daus joined Mathnasium to help students feel more confident with problem-solving and discover the joy of math. In his free time, he enjoys exploring the math behind sports pacing and time calculations.

Samson Dorff

Assistant Center Director

A lifelong Angeleno and former Mathnasium student himself, Samson brings both passion and relatability to his instruction. He’s committed to making math concepts simple and engaging for every learner. 

When he’s not at the center, Samson enjoys playing guitar and practicing martial arts.

Kurt

Instructor

Kurt is enthusiastic about teaching and passionate about helping students succeed in math. He enjoys making math approachable at all levels and supports each student with patience and encouragement. 

Outside of Mathnasium, Kurt loves basketball, running, and giving back to the community.

Douglas

Instructor

Hello, my name is Douglas. I have been an instructor with Mathnasium for around three years, and the kids usually tend to view me as both fun and strict. I was going to school to earn a bachelors in Manufacturing Technology before I switched paths and began my military entry process. Currently I am looking at joining the service as either a Navy Nuke or Army Cyber Security. In my free time you can find me playing some kind of game, anything from video games to chess, sometimes when we have free time I'll even teach the students how to play.

Ezra

Instructor
Hi! My name is Ezra and I go to Venice High School. I've sung in multiple choirs and enjoy singing barbershop harmony. I love how music and math intersect --- from waves and rhythm to harmonic series. I've grown to love math and its applications in the real world. In my free time, I enjoy eating with friends and testing video games. I also enjoy hiking and surfing!

Michie

Instructor
Michie earned her bachelors degree in Mathematics from California State University Long Beach. After college she worked as an accountant, then later decided to homeschool her kids and has been doing it for the past 12 years.  She enjoys teaching Math in particular, which is why she is pleased to be working at Mathnasium.  Outside of school and work, she loves to spend time with her family, serve on mission trips, and hang out with friends.  She also enjoys hiking, water sports, yoga, crochet and macrame.

Ben

Instructor

Hi, I'm Ben. I'm a high school senior attending Venice High School. I enjoy computer science and physics, and discovering how they both directly interlink with math. I've always been an avid math fan, and I'm glad to be able to use my hard-earned math skills to ensure the next generation grows bigger and better. I use my free time for working on projects, going rock climbing, and listening to musicals!

Rickia

Instructor

Hi! My name is Rickia and I am a senior at Venice High School. In my free time, I love taking walks, listening to music, and researching any of my ever-changing interests. For as long as I can remember, I've enjoyed the complexity and problem solving involved in math. I enjoy working at Mathnasium because I get to share the same passion I have for math with others, and I'm very grateful for the opportunity to help people become more confident in their math knowledge and abilities!

Our Mathnasium Mission

Teach children math so they understand it, master it, and love it. Math can change their lives, and they can change the world.

Quote Quote
What I love about Mathnasium is the ability to teach problem-solving skills and make math make sense, while also making a student smile.
Amber W., Mathnasium Instructor

Schedule Your Math Skills Assessment Today

Student using math cubes to solve fractions
Student working with a math tutor at a local math learning center

Want to join the Mathnasium team?

Are you interested in changing lives through math? We're looking for outstanding individuals with a high level of commitment who are passionate about teaching math. Find out if there's a Mathnasium position that's just right for you!

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