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.

Paula is a graduate of Amherst College and the Institute of Children's Literature. She was drawn to AoPS because the role of campus director combines and utilizes her 30 years experience and skillsets as a teacher, drama director, writer, songwriter, and playwright, as well as founder, COO, president, chair, and director for several arts-related non-profit organizations. As a manager and teacher, she loves helping her staff and her students grow into their potential by creating space for daily learning, reflection and fun.

G is a Boston native with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre education from Emerson College. They were drawn to AoPS because of the engaging curriculum and the unique makeup of the company's team members. G loves working with students because they each bring their unique perspective and lived experience. G's teaching style draws heavily on their theatre background. In G's classroom, students can expect to participate in activites where they will be invited to create, discover and explore any topic they're curious about. When working with students, G implements various methods that promote spontaneity and a sense of community in the classroom.

Miles earned a Bachelor of Science in math and cello from Indiana University, where he finished in the top 25 nationally in the Putnam Competition; he is also known for discovering new proofs of Heron's formula and the law of cosines. Miles started using AoPS books and resources as a student and has been involved ever since. He joined AoPS Academy Lexington as an associate director in 2022, after 13 years of teaching and assisting with AoPS Online. Miles loves working with students because he can spread the love of math to other people. In the classroom, he encourages students to share their ideas and questions, to produce a conversation that's relevant and enlightening.

Celeste earned a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from University of Massachusetts Lowell Manning School of Business, and a Master of Science in mathematics and computer science. Celeste was also a substitute teacher at the Nashoba School District. Celeste was drawn to AoPS because she's always volunteered in schools both in her youth and as a parent. She loves working with students because she likes seeing the students interact during special events and get to know one another outside of class.

Sophia is studying Excerise and Health Science at University of Massachusetts Boston. She is persuing a career in either pediatric physical therapy or occupational therapy. Sophia was drawn to AoPS because she had always loved working with children, so she was excited to have the opportunity to work beside them. Sophia is excited to part of a community that focuses on building knowledge skills and relationships between the students and families.

Estelle Crowley is a Front Desk Assistant, currently pursuing a degree in photographic art. She is passionate about creating a welcoming environment for everyone at our school and loves seeing students use creative problem solving in their day-to-day lives.

Elizabeth is a currently a public high school administrator, who has just finished her thirtieth year in education. She was drawn to AoPS for the opportunity to continue working with young students and extend her experience helping students find the joy in learning.

Taiki is pursuing a double Bachelor of Science in mathematics and computer science with a minor in Japanese at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He has actively participated in math and programming competitions such as AIME, HMMT, Putnam, USACO, and ICPC. Alongside his educational endeavors, he has worked as an intern at mathleague.org for three years and a teaching assistant for his university's Discrete Mathematics course. Taiki was drawn to AoPS in eighth grade after discovering it in an effort to improve his performance on middle and high school math competitions such as the AMC and MATHCOUNTS. Taiki's favorite aspect of working with students is seeing the proverbial lightbulb flicker from their heads upon brainstorming a clever solution and reflecting on the path that lead them there.

Rhiannon earned a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 2020 from University of North Carolina Wilmington. She saw how AoPS helped cultivate student enthusiasm as a math teacher's assistant when she started in 2022. She is now also a math instructor with AoPS as of 2023. She loves working with students in order to foster creativity and help students overcome mathematical challenges. When she teaches, she alternates between calm class time and loud, high-energy math games. She models calm and patience for her students, knowing that this is necessary for them to practice their math resilience.

Pamela Hao is a junior student at Weston High School. She is captain of her school's math team and is drawn to AoPS by her experience with its math courses and its unique approach to helping students develop problem-solving skills with wide applications. Her favorite part of working with students is seeing how their approach and understanding develop with each new problem.

Ella is a student at Lexington High School. She has been a Math Teaching Assistant at AoPS for nearly a year. She is a captain of her school’s math team and has attended multiple summer math programs. She was drawn to AoPS because of her experience in math competitions such as the AMCs and AIME. She loves encouraging students to work on challenging problems and helping them to develop their skills.

Lila is a high school junior in Weston, MA, and she loves math and physics. She works as a private tutor and also tutors freshman physics at her school. She was drawn to AoPS because she used it as a resource in the past and knew that the quality of the community and caliber of its education were unmatched! She loves working with students, because she understands what it feels like to struggle in a class and seeks to help others feel more comfortable learning.

Eric Liu is a student at Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in biochemistry with a double minor in math and computer science. He was drawn to AoPS due to its strong sense of community and strong students. He enjoys helping students and seeing the moment everything clicks together after a difficult problem.

Rebecca is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the University of Maine, with minors in mathematics and astronomy, and has work experience as a teacher's assistant for physics. She is motivated by solving complex problems and challenges, and enjoys working with students to mutually practice these skills. She enjoys writing and editing as hobbies, and thus is very excited to work at AoPS for math and language arts.

Avery is a mathematics undergraduate with a perfect ACT score, qualified to teach all levels of math AoPS offers. Avery started working as a teacher's assistant at AoPS in 2022 after hearing his peers' positive experiences with the curriculum. Avery cherishes working with AoPS students for the sake of paying forward the help and support his teachers gave him in his own education.

Stephen is currently attending Middlesex Community College. He was drawn to AoPS by the opportunity to give back to his community. He deeply cares about the students he works with, and intends to be a positive influence on them.

Neel is a junior at Lexington High School. He has taken an array of AoPS courses and has participated in multiple math competitions over the years including AMC and AIME. He was drawn to AoPS because of its unique approach to mathematics and its pivotal role in establishing his own mathematical foundations. He loves to relate math problems to the real world to help students to better understand new mathematical concepts and tackle challenging problems.

Stephanie is a university student currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in business. She was attracted to AoPS because of the opportunity to gain experience working with students, as she aspires to become a teacher. She finds joy in assisting students as they strive for a deeper educational connection.

Vivian will be a student at Johns Hopkins University in the fall of 2024 and has been a math teaching assistant for AoPS since 2022. Having taken classes at AoPS before, Vivian's passion for math, problem-solving, and puzzles drew her to AoPS. Vivian is always inspired by students' curiosity and determination, and loves helping them learn and grow.

Neka is earning their Bachelor of Arts in history and global cultural studies at Suffolk University. They are expected to graduate with degrees in both fields within the next year. Having spent time working with and tutoring students throughout high school, Neka sought to continue this at AoPS. Neka’s favorite thing about working with students is being able to pass on the concepts that they know and are passionate about to others and then watch them flourish as a result.

Avery is a student at Washington University in St. Louis, where he studies mathematics and chemistry. In high school, he was a co-captain of the Math Team and participated in many different math competitions, including the AMC and Harvard-MIT Math Tournament. Avery was drawn to AoPS because of his connection to math competitions. He has always loved working with kids, and what he loves most is seeing the joy and satisfaction on their faces when they finally figure out the answer to a difficult problem.

Zainab is studying biochemistry and molecular biology at Boston University. She has interned at Boston Children's Hospital conducting research on cancer and blood development. While she enjoys science, she has always been strongly passionate about English and literature. She chose to work as a teaching assistant at AoPS because she wanted to inspire other students to find an interest in literature outside of the classroom setting. AoPS allowed her to individually connect with students and use her experiences to hopefully provide new approaches to the subject.

Thakshila earned her PhD in computational chemistry and conducted further research on enzyme catalysis using quantum mechanical and mathematical models at Rutgers University, while simultaneously engaging in an e-learning project. She was drawn to AoPS because it provides an ideal environment for nurturing bright and motivated students and for her to exercise her passion for teaching. Thakshila finds the most rewarding aspect of working with students to be witnessing the students’ 'Aha!' moments, when their understanding suddenly clicks into place. In Thakshila's classroom, she meticulously identifies each individual’s needs and provides tailored instruction, fostering an environment where students are encouraged to tackle challenges independently.

Before becoming a full-time teacher, Renee was a research scientist, an attorney, and a published author. For over 23 years, she’s taught elementary and middle school math; for 26 years, she has tutored students ages 6 through adult. Renee was drawn to AoPS because we have teachers, staff and students who hold themselves and each other to the highest standards. She loves it because every decision is made with the students’ best interests in mind and Beast Academy is fun! Renee’s favorite thing about working with students is that they continuously surprise her with how clever, creative, silly, intelligent and kind they are. In her classroom, she endeavors to model kindness, humor, and responsibility while maintaining an expectation of excellence and demonstrating a deep commitment to the subject matter.

After graduating from Dartmouth College in 2016, Ariel worked for several years in plant pathology research before finding his passion for education. The ethos of AoPS, with its focus on deep conceptual understanding, creativity, and student-led discovery immediately appealed to him as resonant with his own teaching philosophies. As an instructor, Ariel delights in students' "aha!" moments when they figure something out by themselves. In the classroom, Ariel prioritizes student independence and thinking by answering all questions with more questions and celebrating each individual student's thinking.

Mazen earned a Bachelor of Arts in linguistics and a Master of Arts in education theory with an emphasis on curriculum design. He's worked with students from all over the Middle East as well as Massachusetts. Mazen was drawn to AoPS because of its creative and engaging lessons which explain the rationale of each task to students. What Mazen loves about working with students are the unique perspectives they bring to the classroom and how they interpret literary works and nonfiction writing. Mazen’s teaching style prioritizes open-ended questions that allow students to have a structured discussion, followed by writing tasks with clear parameters that allow students to formally share their thoughts.

Vera has a Bachelor of Science in psychology and a master's degree in mathematical education from Lesley University. She is currently a math interventionist for public middle schools and previously worked in the special education department. She was drawn to AoPS because it perfectly provides a challenging program for students to achieve success in math and language arts. Vera loves working with the students at AoPS because they are full of energy, enthusiasm, and excitement about learning. Vera's teaching style is to maintain a positive classroom environment that allows the students to feel comfortable enough to share their ideas and solutions.

Joan received her Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Rochester. She taught high school English for two years, and then attended Suffolk University Law School. After practicing law for many years, she returned to teaching as an adjunct faculty member at Bentley University, where she taught writing, public speaking and literature. Joan was drawn to AoPS because of it offers the opportunity to continue teaching and working with students and because of its engaging curriculum. She loves interacting with students and helping them open their minds and think critically, while encouraging them to embrace the learning process, which includes making mistakes. Joan's teaching style is to focus on the individual learning of each child and promote their ability to think critically.

Nicole earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics with a minor in UTeach from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She is currently a licensed math teacher pursuing her Master of Education at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Nicole was drawn to AoPS because it encompasses her teaching philosophy: “It’s better to solve one problem five different ways, than to solve five problems one way” (George Pólya). Nicole loves finding a way in to make the material accessible to all students and is inspired by the students' excitement to learn. Nicole specializes in creating a safe learning environment that curates engagement of each individual learner. She describes her teaching style as engaging, encouraging, and fun.

Jonathan has a Bachelors of Science in mathematics and a Masters of Arts in education from UMass Lowell. He began as a teaching assistant with AoPS Academy Lexington in 2021 and was promoted to an instructor position in 2023. Jonathan was drawn to AoPS by its philosophy of teaching math, which emphasizes true understanding of topics rather than rote memorization. His favorite part of teaching is getting to know the students and watching them grow, both as people and as mathematicians over the school year. Jonathan's teaching style focuses on letting the students take the lead in learning. He also tries to make the class enjoyable for his students, as he thinks the more fun students have in math class, the more likely they are to become engaged with the work and material.

Allison received her Bachelor of Science in math from the University of New Mexico and her PhD in math from the University of Oregon. She taught math as a graduate teaching fellow and as an assistant professor at Indiana University South Bend and has been teaching for AoPS since 2022. Allison was drawn to AoPS because she loves the thought-provoking AoPS math curriculum which deepens students' understanding of the subject matter. Allison thinks the students at AoPS are a joy to teach because they are bright and eager to learn. Her teaching style showcases her enthusiasm for math and her friendly nature, providing a classroom environment that encourages participation in discussions and persistence on classwork.

Nathan Curtis earned a Bachelor of Arts in music with a minor in mathematics from Duke University and a Master of Arts in music from Tufts University. Prior to teaching at AoPS, he was an instructor and teaching assistant at the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth for 16 years, teaching courses ranging from Algebra I to Number Theory. He is excited to teach highly motivated students in a range of challenging mathematical topics, and to share his appreciation for the beauty of mathematics. Nathan aspires to work with students to help them reach their own goals of understanding, offering guidance and feedback along the way.

Sarah is a writing instructor at Boston College with an MFA in poetry from Emerson College. Before teaching college students, Sarah worked in high schools and after-school programs. She loves working with young people and was drawn to the way language arts projects at AoPS are both skill-building, creative, and relevant to students' lives. Sarah is a cheerful and creative instructor who is attentive to individual students and creates a welcoming classroom environment.

Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and statistics from the University of Florida and is currently a mathematics PhD student at Brandeis University studying combinatorics. He first encountered AoPS as a high school student interested in competitive mathematics by watching Richard Rusczyk solve AMC and AIME problems on YouTube. After finishing his high school career qualifying for the USAMO, Jonathan was drawn to AoPS as a way to pass on his knowledge of competitive mathematics to other aspiring students. He loves working with students because he can not only demonstrate his love of math, but help others to love it too. Jonathan's teaching style is to explore all the unique ideas students come up with in the hope of sharing with his students the same wonder of discovery he found in mathematics.

Rhiannon earned a Bachelor of Science in physics and a Bachelor of Science in chemistry in 2020 from University of North Carolina Wilmington. She saw how AoPS helped cultivate student enthusiasm as a math teacher's assistant when she started in 2022. She is now also a math instructor with AoPS as of 2023. She loves working with students in order to foster creativity and help students overcome mathematical challenges. When she teaches, she alternates between calm class time and loud, high-energy math games. She models calm and patience for her students, knowing that this is necessary for them to practice their math resilience.

Chris works full-time as an engineer in pharmaceutical manufacturing. He received his Master of Science degree in theoretical mathematics from Tufts University, and recently, his Master of Science degree in applied & computational mathematics from Johns Hopkins University. Chris was drawn to AoPS for its creative and exploratory math curriculum and teaching the best and brightest math students in the country. What he loves most about working with students is hearing those Oh and Ah moments — knowing something must've clicked. Chris's teaching style incorporates patience, enthusiasm, and positive reinforcement. He enjoys teaching the next generation of math collaborators, who are good team players and debaters, as well as friendly competitors.

Asa graduated earned a Bachelor of Science in computer science with a minor in math from Carnegie Mellon University Then he worked as a software engineer for four and a half years before joining AoPS as a grader/helper/assistant for the online school. He then became an instructor for the Lexington campus and Online School. Asa was drawn to AoPS to get back into teaching. What he enjoys most about working with students is the puzzle of finding exactly what a student is missing to make a concept click, then crafting the explanation to fill the gap or correct the misunderstanding. His teaching style is adaptive, fun, loud, and often spontaneous despite careful prepping. He listens very carefully to student answers for subtle misunderstandings he needs to correct.

Li earned his Ph.D. in biophysical chemistry at Yale University, and he continued as a William Wiley Fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Li was a teaching assistant at Yale for general, physical, and biological chemistry. He also mentored college students and scholars at PNNL for their research projects. Li currently works in the biopharma industry. When Li was exposed to the AoPS math curriculum he found it deepened students’ math, logic, and problem-solving skills. He loves working with students because he is able to offer a platform for nurturing a passion for learning and mastering ideas through Socratic dialogue. Li’s teaching style is to always endeavor to excite students to explore the wonders of nature and make sense of abstruse mysteries in scientific ways.

Casey earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in both math and music, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in piano performance from The Longy School of Bard and a Master of Science in statistics from Texas A&M. Casey had frequently used AoPS texts when tutoring and teaching and was impressed with the quality and organization. Casey also loves Beast Academy. Therefore when the campus opened, Casey was drawn to join. What Casey loves most about working with students is seeing those moments when a challenging concept finally clicks, and their faces light up. Casey's teaching style is to aim for students to feel completely at ease in his classroom, especially when it comes to making mistakes, and he also tries to bring humor and fun into his lessons.

Ray taught middle school English for several years and has worked as an English teacher in South Korea, a part-time lecturer at a college, and a freelance editor for academic papers in the field of education. He was drawn to AoPS because it gives him the opportunity to work with exceptionally bright, clever, and dedicated students who remind him of himself as a kid! He learns something new from his students in every class, whether it is a vocabulary word, an interesting connection, or a unique way of thinking about a topic. His teaching style is one in which he aims to help his students develop autonomy and critical thinking skills, always encouraging them to make purposeful choices and explain their thought processes.

Michael O'Bannon graduated from New Mexico State University, where he earned two degrees. One in Mathematics (concentrating on Logic and Set Theory) and the second in Philosophy. He spent 3 years as a college level Mathematics tutor and finished an internship a little while after graduating. He was drawn to AoPS because of his background in tutoring/teaching and he identifies closely with the pedagogy of AoPS. Michael loves answering questions and explaining complex topics, he encourages curiosity and questioning the world. His teaching style emphasizes the Socratic Method of Teaching, focusing on asking questions that prompt the students to arrive at the answers themselves.

Brendan earned his Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Arts, Performance from Florida State University Asolo Conservatory and is a professional writer and actor. When he’s not teaching at AoPS, Brendan is a visiting lecturer in Salem State University’s Theatre and Speech Communication Department. He was drawn to AoPS, specifically the language arts curriculum, and when he realized the faculty and staff's desire to help students, he wanted to be part of that. Brendan loves helping students find their voices and strengthen their communication skills. His teaching style is one in which students can have fun, aren’t afraid to make mistakes, and are encouraged to take their work seriously.

Franklin holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Dartmouth College and a Master's in mathematics from Northeastern University. He works in the software/tech space in the greater Boston area but is interested in staying active in the mathematics community and helping the next generation of learners thrive. He was drawn to AoPS for the opportunity to remain engaged in teaching and to communicate mathematical insight and rigor to students. He strongly believes that learning mathematics can open doors for everyone.

Andrew earned his Bachelor of Arts in English literature and Bachelor of Science in mathematics in 2006 at the University of California and his Ph.D. in mathematics in 2013 at the University of Maryland, College Park. Before joining AoPS, he held research positions in mathematics at the University of Illinois and Heidelberg University in Germany. While continuing his research career in pure mathematics, Andrew wanted to continue teaching mathematics to enthusiastic and talented students. He was drawn to AoPS, which provides an environment where the passion for knowledge is paramount, and empowers teachers to do what they do best: teach. Andrew loves working with students at AoPS because they have a vivacity and intellectual curiosity, and the honesty of young students is a constant reminder that the adult world is truly theirs for the taking. Andrew believes that students are capable of high levels of personal and intellectual maturity if they are provided with the appropriate tools and support. His teaching style encourages students to find their own meaning and form their own opinions in their pursuit of knowledge.

Gus earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Chicago in 2020, then spent a year as a high school teacher. He thenearned a Master of Science in mathematics at Brandeis University. He is currently a PhD student at Boston College, where he studies number theory. Gus was drawn to AoPS as a place to remain connected to his genuine passion for teaching and to inspire the next generation of mathematicians. He loves showing students math they've never seen before and making new connections between topics they've seen a million times. In his teaching, Gus enjoys asking big questions, trying as many ideas as possible, and hands-on collaborative learning. The best way to learn math is to do math!

Bailey earned her Bachelor of Science in computer science from WPI in 2017. She's worked in tech as a software engineer since then but recently wanted to explore her passion for teaching others, which brought her to AoPS. She's happy to get students interested in STEM subjects and loves to help students reach that "aha!" moment when learning math and solving puzzles. She aims to encourage students to explore math concepts and not be afraid to get things wrong; we're all learning!

Martha is a veteran teacher with extensive experience working with students with a broad range of strengths and challenges. She enjoys helping students to make connections between prior knowledge and new concepts and to explore new ideas. Martha is passionate about engaging all students and helping them to develop the skills they need in a welcoming, inclusive environment.

Ghanima Sol earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Rider University in 2019. She then earned her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Emerson College. During her time at Emerson College she taught at EmersonWRITES, a weekend writing program for young students. Ghanima was drawn to AoPS because of our creative and rigorous language arts program. What she loves most about working with students is their honesty, their zest for learning, and their smiles. Her teaching style is to focus on to motivating students to keep their writing fun and imaginative.

Zachary Steinberg is a mathematician, maker, and amateur astronomer. He has a degree in math from Amherst College, where as president of the Electronics Club he tripled the number of 3D printers on campus and built a metal lightsaber. He first learned about AoPS as a middle school student and is excited to return as an instructor. His favorite part of working with students is improvising ways to connect complex ideas with students so anyone can understand their beauty.

Molly participated in the University of Minnesota Talented Youth Mathematics Program (UMTYMP) in 7th grade, and had taken three years of calculus by 11th grade. She earned a Bachelor of Science in physics from California Institute of Technology and a PhD in astrophysics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She spent 8 years teaching math and science at the Waldorf High School of Massachusetts Bay. She was drawn to AoPS because she is passionate about providing opportunities for talented students to be challenged and to excel. Her favorite part of working with students is when a student asks an interesting question to which the answer is, "I don't know, but let's try to figure it out together!" Molly's teaching style engages students with hands-on, minds-on activities to apply math and physics in the real world, including art projects and physics labs.

Lauren Upton earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and psychology (with a neuroscience concentration) from Smith College and her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law. While she still practices law, her true passion is for teaching. She has taught in Grades K-12, including AP Biology to AP US History to AP English Literature. She also teaches rhetoric (oral and written) at the collegiate, graduate, and professional levels. Lauren was first an AoPS parent; finding that the school’s pedagogical philosophy meshed with hers drew her to join the faculty. Lauren particularly loves teaching literature and rhetoric to young students because both speak to the heart of “being human.” Lauren's teaching style reflects “essential” lessons beyond subject matter curriculum that a teacher should strive to instill and first and foremost is the love of learning. Her classes are highly interactive and, particularly for the higher levels, Socratic in nature.

Minali earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from George Washington University, where she also performed Shakespearean plays. She is currently a freelance editor. Minali was drawn to AoPS because she loves working with writers to help them bring out the best in their writing. Minali started her AoPS journey working as a summer teaching assistant. She returned to AoPS because she loves working with curious young minds. Minali loves seeing how students approach new and unfamiliar material for the first time. Her teaching style is to guide student learning and hone their understanding while fostering creative approaches to explore language arts principles in unique ways.

Daniel attended Johns Hopkins University and earned a Bachelor of Mathematics. He is currently working as a high school math teacher. Daniel loved AoPS as a student because it helped him reach his potential by giving him challenging problems to solve. He enjoys working with students because of the enthusiasm they bring to learning. As a teacher, he likes having students work together to solve challenging problems to help students grow in confidence and collaboration.

Shaun's love of words and teaching led him to get his master's degree in curriculum and instruction at University of Connecticut. He helped to pioneer the International Baccalaureate program at his last school and was chosen by the class of 2021 as their faculty speaker at graduation. Shaun taught high school English and coached girls' basketball for ten years. Shaun was drawn to AoPS by the chance to work with intelligent and diligent students and alongside colleagues with a love of learning and teaching. With a sense of humor and a long time background in English, Grammar, and Rhetoric, seeing students hit the "aha" moment on a difficult concept is what drives Shaun to continue teaching. Shaun's teaching style is built around working to break difficult concepts down into manageable and understandable chunks for students.

Huayu uses her PhD in chemistry to work in the biotechnology industry. She was drawn to AoPS because it allows her to solve a variety of problems, which include both ones that can be solved in a couple of hours and complicated problems for which she has to invent new approaches or find creative ways to teach. She loves to see her students discovering different ways to solve the same problem. Her teaching style is continually adapting and morphing to provide the best possible experiences for her students while maintaining the same rigor of academics.

Margy is an all-round STEM enthusiast. She has bachelors degrees in biology from University of California at Berkeley and in math education from Western Governors University, and has a masters degree in curriculum development with an emphasis in environmental education from University of California East Bay. She has been a Peace Corps Fisheries volunteer in Liberia, a middle school math and science teacher in Oakland, California, an elementary art teacher in South Africa, and currently works in special education in Watertown. Margy was drawn to AoPS’s philosophy of teaching how to learn in a fun, collaborative, challenging environment. A life-long learner herself, she enjoys helping students develop dynamic skills that can be applied to novel problems.

Sharisse is a writer, filmmaker, and teacher from Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Stage and Screen at Lesley University. Sharisse was drawn to AoPS because working with students is one of her skillsets. She loves working with students because there is never a dull moment when teaching. Her instructional style can be best described as inclusive, fun, and gentle. She endeavors to come up with creative, sensitive, and fun ways to tailor academics to each student’s unique needs.

Alan joined AoPS as a middle school student in 2007, when he was getting started in math competitions. Becoming part of an enthusiastic math-centered community of students was a large part of his life in middle and high school. Alan earned a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Science from UCLA, focusing primarily on algebraic number theory. What Alan enjoys most in working with students is being able to share with younger peers the perhaps unexpected but deep connections between different areas of math. Alan's teaching style is an effort to convey how amazing these ideas are to new generations of students.

Throughout her career, Jennifer has served as an ELA teacher, curriculum developer, academic mentor and tutor for students in grades five through twelve. She taught middle school English in Boston and Lexington and was a longtime faculty member at the Steppingstone Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving equity in education. Her academic background includes a BA in English from Bates College, an MAT in teaching English from Tufts University, and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Simmons College. Jennifer was drawn to the vibrant teaching and learning community at AoPS and especially values her students’ curiosity and willingness to take on new challenges. Through lessons that offer a mix of structure, choice, and fun, she seeks to foster a love of learning both in and beyond the classroom.