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.

Justin attended UNC-Chapel Hill as a National Merit and Joseph E. Pogue Scholar. Graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy, he joined Teach for America in the summer of 2005. He has over ten years of experience teaching in the classroom and over 20 years of experience as a tutor. Having taught himself Algebra in middle school, he has always enjoyed exploring how math works and finding new ways to solve problems. As a tutor and teacher, he was able to provide those moments of enlightenment to his students. That is what draws him to AoPS — seeing the students make their own discoveries and connections. There is nothing better than seeing a student have that "Eureka" moment and the excitement that comes when they finally crack the code of a difficult problem.

Bobby joined AoPS Frisco in 2021. He holds a BS in mathematics and a BA in philosophy from Stony Brook University. He then attended graduate school at Lehman College, where he studied math education. Bobby joined the New York City Teaching Fellows and has taught in the Bronx, New York, and later in Durham, North Carolina. Bobby believes AoPS is the most important educational tool we have to help students reach their potential. Most of all, he admires the determination, curiosity, and high goals his students at AoPS set for themselves. His teaching style centers around giving students the proper vocabulary tools so they can ask the right questions and better pinpoint their own misunderstanding.

Emma completed her undergraduate degree with dual majors in English literature and language & rhetoric and composition studies from the University of Texas at Austin in the winter of 2019. She then completed her master's degree in library and information sciences with an emphasis in archival management and digital imaging technology at the University of North Texas in the winter of 2021. During her master's degree, she began working as a nanny, tutor, and substitute teacher. Then, after finding a job posting to work with students like her, she applied as an instructor at AoPS Academy Frisco/Plano. In the fall of 2021, she took on her current role as the Associate Director of Language Arts at AoPS Academy Frisco/Plano, a role that allows her to share her content knowledge and passions with students like she was and help other instructors grow and gain experience. In addition to teaching upper-level language arts courses on campus, she runs the campus Speech and Debate Club, leads a grammar workshop, and regularly offers additional skill-building seminars for upper-level language arts students. She describes her teaching style as adaptable and student-centered.

Mary began her career in finance. She then earned her MBA with a focus on international business. After undertaking the biggest challenge and joy of her life, being a domestic manager, Mary earned her master's degree in teaching. She has taught in an elementary school setting for over 20 years. Mary has taught all subjects but truly enjoys teaching and engaging in mathematics. Finding new and innovative ways to challenge her students drives her passion for problem-solving and real-world application of learning. Becoming one of the associate directors at AoPS has allowed her to apply her gifted and talented background to a wide range of students.

Jalaja has an education in electrical engineering and a decade-long experience in tax consulting. Her search for challenging educational opportunities for her kids and a fun curriculum ended with AoPS. Her belief that the AoPS curriculum of problem-solving is so distinctively structured to educate and increase children's confidence is what convinced her to be not only an AoPS parent but also an ambassador for the program. Jalaja believes that kids are the future, but they live in the present. If we provide them with a promising environment now, then they will be ready for the future.

Alexia has her M.B.A. with a concentration in management and has worked in the healthcare industry for over 12 years. She was drawn to AoPS because she has a passion for helping and building relationships with the students, parents, and her co-workers. She has always loved working with children as she was a volunteer tutor for the Boys and Girls Club and a Girl Scouts Troop Leader. She loves working with AoPS students because they have such brilliant minds and she learns something from them daily!

Schifa is a junior at the University of Texas at Dallas, where she is pursuing a bachelor's degree in literature with a minor in business administration. She has always wanted to work in an environment that fosters learning and growth, and AoPS has precisely this atmosphere. She believes that adults can learn just as much if not more, from children than the other way around. As such, she finds working with students to be an absolute blessing.

Monet’s professional and educational background is in dentistry; she has been in the dental industry for 7 years and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others, starting off her career with pediatric dentistry. What drew Monet to AoPS was the academic curriculum and advanced teaching style. She is excited and eager to greet each student with a positive attitude they can use to encourage others.

Varshini is currently a student at the University of Texas at Dallas and is majoring in healthcare management and minoring in ITS. What drew her to AoPS was the sense of community and fulfillment. AoPS Academy Frisco is such a diverse environment and being a part of that and working with students made the job seem fun and engaging. She especially loves the creativity and joy that children bring to our workplace, which is what makes it so interesting to work with them at AoPS.

Leanne is a fourth-year student at the University of Texas at Dallas, working towards a bachelor's degree in finance. She is also an intern at Luminate, a wealth advisory practice, where she is beginning to step into the industry. Because of her past experience tutoring elementary school students, she strives to help create a safe environment for children to learn and have fun. Her favorite part of working with AoPS students is how they always make her laugh!

Sruthi is a current high school senior who aspires to be an engineer. As a former AoPS student, she was drawn to the unique approach to teaching that AoPS takes. She loves seeing students develop hobbies and skills and learn and grow with their peers.

Ethan Hao is currently a junior at Plano West Senior High School. His love for math and basketball started as a toddler and carried into grade school where he was introduced to math competitions. Since then, he has become a 3-time AIME qualifier and a MATHCOUNTS state qualifier. Ethan enjoys teaching and is the founder and president of a student tutoring club with over 100 members. His teaching approach focuses on helping students understand the process for solving problems and extrapolating these strategies to new problems. Outside of teaching, Ethan enjoys listening to music, playing basketball, and meeting up with friends.

Joanna is currently a Junior at Centennial High School. Her love for both art and math led her to think creatively and outside the box. She aspires to become a business professional in the future, and is a DECA 2x ICDC Qualifier as well as a BPA National Qualifier. She is also the founder of Nature's Canvas, a small business and student-led organization that focuses on raising awareness of the environmental problems today by displaying art on everyday items, such as shirts, hoodies, and more!

Averi is a junior in the Frisco Independent School District. She was drawn to AoPS by the higher-level classes, and the thing she loves most about working with students is the opportunity to prepare the future generation by helping them develop critical thinking skills.

Ananya is currently a sophomore at Allen High School. She is the co-founder of Empower Her, a club aimed at celebrating and promoting women's achievements in professional settings. Ananya is a marketing intern at Building-U, a non-profit organization that focuses on bringing resources to high school students around the world. These experiences have helped her cultivate excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills. Ananya was drawn to AoPS to have the chance to motivate and teach students a subject she is passionate about. She loves to help students develop skills and techniques that contribute to their academic success and future goals.

Smeeth is a sophomore at Jasper High School in Plano. His love for counting and numbers began at a young age and developed into an interest in complex mathematical subjects. His desire to learn everything in math sometimes leads him down a rabbit hole into the underground section of math forums, where he picks up quirky math topics that many would find unusual, such as the cubic formula. Due to his extensive math knowledge, he is a two-time AIME qualifier. In conjunction with his exposure to math, he developed an interest in computer science mainly because of how the two topics go hand in hand. He is the president of a cybersecurity venturing crew that teaches people of all ages principles of the digital world, which mirrors his personality of happily sharing his knowledge.

Smitha has 6 years of experience teaching mathematics and computer science in high school. She holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics, physics, and chemistry and a master's in computer applications from India. After realizing her passion for teaching mathematics, she earned her teaching credential from Cal State. Smitha’s passion to teach Mathematics and work with the youth drew her to AoPS. She finds joy in seeing her students learn and grow. She believes that teaching is not just about passing on knowledge but also about inspiring and motivating students to discover their potential.

Mrs. Cisney earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas. She taught and tutored math for over 15 years with Lewisville Independent School District. After she retired from LISD, she found her perfect retirement job at AoPS. Mrs. Cisney is passionate about developing her students’ problem-solving skills by using her interactive and caring teaching style.

Dr. Zhang got his PhD in physical chemistry from Purdue University. He has been a research scientist at different universities and a math teacher at different public schools. Dr. Zhang has been teaching different math courses at AoPS since 2019. It is a great pleasure to work with the talented students at AoPS — he enjoys the great opportunities to challenge students and lead them to explore math. Dr. Zhang appreciates students with a desire to learn, who are hard-working, and who have the courage to explore math. It is so joyful when he sees students make progress in learning math. He prompts students to draw upon their foundational knowledge and familiar strategies to tackle new challenges in each class. After presenting new material, he facilitates discussions aimed at summarizing and generalizing the methods employed. This reflective process solidifies students' learning by encouraging them to articulate and internalize the mathematical understanding.

Mariam holds two master's degrees: one in English literature from the University of Karachi and the other in education from Allama Iqbal Open University in Islamabad. She taught two courses, English Composition and Communication Skills, at the University of Karachi for ten years. She was also an IELTS instructor for over three years. Ever since visiting their website, Mariam wanted to teach at AoPS. It is a renowned learning institution offering a wide range of subjects from English to mathematics. Mariam finds great joy in working with children. The inquisitive nature and desire for knowledge of these “eager young minds of tomorrow” is what inspires her and stirs her passion for teaching. Mariam's teaching approach revolves around the fundamental belief that learning should be enjoyable and engaging. She emphasizes that education extends beyond textbooks, and fostering good manners and nurturing character development in students are inevitable aspects of teaching and learning.

Jaime received a B.A. in psychology from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Education in counseling from the University of North Texas. She was excited to join the talented group of teachers at AoPS to teach language arts. Her favorite thing is to engage with her students and get them excited about learning a new concept. She believes the most beneficial teaching style is one where students are motivated to think critically and learn effective problem-solving skills. She does this by collaborating with her students, asking them questions, and sparking classroom debates.

Michaela earned her bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Minnesota. She has ten years of teaching/assistant teaching experience in a diverse range of settings, including high school English, inner city non-profits, and ESL classes locally and abroad. She aims to help young people acquire the practical skills they need to succeed in life, especially those related to language, communication, and interaction. She is grateful that she gets to do this at AoPS, where students can refine these skills in a fun yet challenging space. In each lesson, Michaela tries to adapt to the unique needs of her students and show them how the knowledge they gain in class applies to their everyday lives.

Bree earned her bachelor’s degree in English and creative writing from the University of Arkansas. After graduation, she was selected as a Fulbright scholar and worked as an English teaching assistant in Germany for a year. Bree then continued to live in Germany for seven years after that. During this time she completed her master’s degree in literature and cultures at the University of Bonn and worked as an English teacher. Her teaching experience ranges from teaching English literature, grammar, debate, creative writing, as well as teaching courses on playwriting and acting. Bree’s passion for education and enjoyment of helping others reach their potential is what drew her to work at AoPS. She loves seeing students broaden their horizons and discover new topics and passions through learning. Bree brings a positive energy and open personality to the classroom that motivates her students to learn. Even students who are typically quite shy and reserved will eventually open up to her because of her inviting deminor. She makes sure her students know they’re being listened to and respected.

Mardalee first recalls her interest in mathematics while learning about Napier's bones, binary numbers, and BASIC programming in elementary school. She went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Midwestern State University. In each of her 31 years of teaching, mathematics has been part if not entirely her classroom. During this time, Mardalee coached with the Math and Science Club at her middle school which focused on MATHCOUNTS, AMC8, UIL, TMSCA competitions. She strives to share the ubiquity, functionality, and beauty of mathematics with students and colleagues. She believes in the importance of building students' confidence, supporting their growth as they journey along their educational pathways.

Peter earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. He's taught and tutored on two continents and on both coasts of the US. He immediately liked the balance between the creativity and challenge of the material at AoPS. He loves trying to keep up with the curiosity and inquisitiveness of the students! His teaching style is to keep it light but to encourage students to challenge themselves constantly.

Farley holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in physics, the master's being from SMU in Dallas. He has taught or tutored physics and mathematics in public and private schools for over 20 years, including three years as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Fiji. He was drawn to AoPS because of the emphasis on problem-solving, the rigorous curriculum, and the highly motivated students. He believes that teaching is most effective when students are engaged, curious, and inquisitive and figure out solutions for themselves under guidance from the teacher. His teaching style is casual and laid back, with a sense of humor while maintaining student interest and high expectations. He prefers to engage in Socratic questioning when possible to draw out student understanding and challenge students to think for themselves and not wait passively to be told the correct answers. When this process of guided inquiry works, teaching is the most fun.

Mick has a BS in speech-language pathology/audiology. Currently, she is obtaining her Master’s of Education in communication disorders. Mick was drawn to AoPS because, just like the curriculum itself, she also enjoys encouraging higher-level, critical thinking in all of her students. Mick loves working with her students; she especially loves to have them engage in discussion during class. Through discussion, new ideas can be discovered, shared, and imparted to others. Mick describes her teaching style as “multi-sensory scaffolding.” She likes to ensure that 1) her students have the chance to engage in a visual, verbal, and auditory manner during classes and 2) her students are working at a level that challenges them to grow beyond their present abilities.

Bob comes from a family of math nerds and met his wife at a calculus reform conference in the early 1990s. Bob holds BA and MS degrees in mathematics from Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. He has worked as a math instructor, math department chairman, and principal at schools labeled as America’s public elites. Bob spends his spare time investigating brain research, working sudoku puzzles, examining motivational strategies, and problem-solving. He reads mostly non-fiction, follows Wired, Fast Company, and Sports Illustrated, and his favorite URL is Ted.com. An engaging topic of conversation for Bob would be about how things work.

Tianbao has graduate degrees in math and computer science. He has been in data science, application of statistics, and operation research for many years. He enjoys teaching talented students and loves the ambition and motivation of AoPS students. He views his role of teacher as that of a facilitator of inquiry and discovery.

Charles has a master’s degree in mathematics from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. He likes to work with bright, motivated students and help them achieve their academic goals. Hence, AoPS students. Charles describes his teaching style as more like scaffolding and reciprocal teaching between students. In his class, every student will answer questions in order to learn.

Arpitha holds a B.S. in mathematics and an M.B.A. in finance from Osmania University, India, in addition to an M.S. in computer science from California State University, East Bay. With extensive experience in the IT industry, Arpitha's passion for analytical reasoning and problem-solving led her to a teaching role at AoPS Academy. Leveraging her computer science background, Arpitha offers a unique perspective to help students develop problem-solving skills, analytical reasoning, and algorithmic thinking. She excels at breaking down complex concepts into manageable pieces and illustrating connections between mathematical theories and real-world applications. Arpitha's goal is to inspire a love for learning in her students by encouraging active participation, conceptual collaboration, and experiencing the joy of moments of discovery.

Jinhee earned her doctoral degree in physics from the University of Texas at Austin. Since her freshman year as an undergraduate, she has worked as a private tutor with many students. Her experience extended to guiding students as a research scientist at Rutgers University. She finds the curriculum offered by the AoPS one of the finest for unlocking the potential of young minds. Consequently, her classes are inclined to be student-led, aiming to boost student engagement to the fullest.

Jennifer holds a BS in biochemistry and a BS in mathematics - both from UNT. She also holds a MS in mathematics from Texas A&M Central Texas. Her current full-time role is as a shared faculty member between TCC Northeast Campus and TCC Connect Campus, but she also has experience teaching mathematics to high school students at all levels, including dual credit courses, and she has also taught proofs mathematics to gifted K-5 students. She is also an adjunct professor for Dallas College, and has taught online mathematics courses to students in China. Additionally, she has much experienced in curriculum design. She thoroughly appreciates the opportunities that she has had to impart mathematical knowledge to her students and to inspire them to pursue mathematical studies, as she feels that she is doing her part to connect them to a long line of brilliant thinkers that have helped further science and research. She believes that AoPS is special in that they train students to not only perform correct mathematical computations, but also to think outside the box for unique ways to approach and solve problems. She loves connecting with students and seeing their personalities shine as they work through the variety of fun and challenging problems that AoPS has to offer. Jennifer likes for her classes to be fun, so she makes sure that students are engaged in the activities and that they feel comfortable enough to ask and answer the challenging questions that come up in the lesson. She believes that it isn't too hard to make the class fun, with all of the hands on activities and games that the AoPS lessons have, especially when reading the class text book. The students really enjoy playing the roles of the monsters as they work though different math scenarios.

Aiyu has a degree in accounting and is an accountant. She was drawn to the opportunity to work with incredibly talented and dedicated students. As a teacher, there’s nothing better than a class full of smart students who love to learn and are willing to go the extra mile — AoPS is the perfect place for that! Aiyu likes to teach young students, as she views them as the future of our country. She teaches as a demonstrator.

Mary Beth holds a degree in English from Yale. Since then, she has worked as a freelance writer and is currently working on a novel. She was drawn to AoPS because her two daughters loved the Beast Academy math curriculum when they were younger. When she learned that AoPS was adding a language arts curriculum, she was intrigued and eventually decided to join the team. She loves helping her students, especially those who don’t think of themselves as writers, develop confidence, voice, and style in their writing. Mary Beth’s teaching focuses on the idea that revision is central to the writing process. She believes that every great piece of writing – whether it’s an essay, a research paper, or a speech – starts with a terrible first draft that gets better through rewriting, reflection, and critique. Mary Beth’s classes feature a collaborative environment in which students learn to give and receive constructive feedback and to develop skills that will be called on for high school-level writing assignment.

Mitzi earned her degree from Texas Tech University and just completed her 16th year in the classroom. She taught Reading for 5 years and has been teaching Integrated Language Arts for the last 11 years. Figuring out what motivates each student, understanding their needs, and watching them learn and grow is what she finds most rewarding.

Natalie earned a dual degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of South Carolina Honors College. She has over seven years of teaching experience, which started in high school where her first job was working as a math instructor at Mathnasium. This year, she celebrates her third school year working as a math instructor at AoPS, where she has taught Level 3, Level 4, and Level 5 classes. Education has always been Natalie’s passion, and she loves teaching math! She enjoys working with younger students and passionate learners and knows how important building a strong foundation can be to succeeding in higher-level math classes. She enjoys thoughtful questions from students and taking time away from the structured lesson plan to answer them. Sometimes, these questions lead the class to very interesting places! Natalie’s ideal classroom is one where students can learn efficiently while still having fun. She likes making her classroom a safe space where students can be curious and challenge the concepts they learn.

Kumar holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s in manufacturing engineering from Government College of Technology, Coimbatore, India. He has more than 15 years of diverse teaching experience, handling students from elementary school to university level. He started his career as a professor in the mechanical engineering department and taught mathematics-related engineering concepts in India and Bahrain. Currently, he is a middle school mathematics teacher. His love for teaching mathematics drove him to AoPS. The curriculum of AoPS provides an abundance of opportunities to teach the future generation of young and bright students, both critically and creatively. He is a constant believer in providing practical examples along with in-depth details of concepts that make students understand every lesson concisely.

Anna has a passion for understanding the world and its complexities, which she has pursued through her studies in international relations, extensive travel around the world, and her work, particularly in her roles as a global news editor and a university professor. She was drawn to the innovative approach to education of AoPS and the commitment to fostering a community of learners, which aligns with her passion for sharing knowledge and inspiring others. It's a place where students can explore their interests and develop new skills in a productive and engaging way. Anna is deeply fulfilled by witnessing growth and development in her students. Seeing students' faces light up when they understand a new concept or make a connection between different ideas is truly inspiring. She loves empowering students to reach their full potential and explore knowledge with curiosity and creativity. In the classroom, she employs a student-centered approach, encouraging active participation, critical thinking, and thoughtful discussion, creating a supportive and inclusive environment that allows students to thrive.

Hao is a software developer but teaching has always been part of his life. From volunteer teaching to tutoring to teaching at colleges, multinational companies, and public schools (even online), he’s been there and done that. But AoPS is one of his favorite places to teach because the students, teachers, and curriculum are amazing. Hao loves teaching all of the bright and motivated students who will surely make this world a better place. He is easy-going and strives to give students those "aha" moments as often as he can.

Patrick graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas with a Bachelor of Science in biology. Since then, he has tutored SAT/ACT and taught middle school math for Frisco ISD. Patrick was drawn to AoPS by the rich curriculum and the bright students. His favorite moments are when the kids ask important questions and when they learn to correct themselves. Patrick loves to call upon the students to help teach the class and discuss the "how" and "why" behind the problems.

Judy has an interdisciplinary studies degree from Southwest Texas State University. She taught 4th and 5th grade in both public and private schools for 12 years. She also holds a master's degree in library science from The University of North Texas. She has been a school librarian in both public and private schools for 11 years. She was first drawn to AoPS because her husband happily worked there. She has stayed at AoPS because she enjoys the students, staff, and curriculum. Her favorite thing about working with students is seeing the growth in their writing skills from the beginning to the end of the year. Her teaching style is relational and structured.

Charumathy holds a bachelor's degree in commerce and a master's in English and has practiced pedagogy for over 11 years. Certified by the Texas Education Agency as a math teacher for grades 4-8 and 7-12, her passion for learning and dedication to working with children has driven her to acquire extensive experience and expertise through teaching in diverse educational settings. Charumathy's favorite part of working with students is witnessing their personal and academic growth firsthand as they become more confident learners. Recognizing the esteemed reputation of AoPS within the community and the opportunities AoPS provided for her personal and career development, she harbored aspirations of joining the team. Her teaching approach encompasses the utilization of the Socratic method alongside direct instruction techniques, ensuring no one gets left behind in the process.

Nithya received her M.S. in mathematics from Madras University and later, following her passion for teaching, received an M.A. in teaching from National Louis University. She has taught a wide range of students, from middle school to university level. Nithya was drawn to AoPS predominantly due to the challenging curriculum and environment. AoPS extends knowledge beyond the classroom, motivating students to pursue questions and interests. Nithya believes working with students allows her to develop new perspectives towards education and other facets of life, and she truly enjoys the process as a result. She has an overall fluid teaching style, catering her approach to each individual student. She believes that there is no singular ‘correct’ way to view a concept and explores various outlooks in her instruction.

April has 14 years of experience as a classroom teacher to elementary, middle school, and high school students. She completed her PhD in curriculum and instruction with a focus in language and literacy from the University of North Texas. April’s teaching philosophy centers on fostering inquiry, creativity, and critical thinking. She was drawn to AoPS because of the focus on problem-solving and exploring learning deeply. Her favorite part of working with students is watching students grow in their confidence as scholars.

Jessica graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in education from Northeastern State University. She has nine years of teaching experience with elementary-age students. At AoPS, small class sizes allow Jessica the opportunity to challenge each student to create their best work. Jessica’s teaching style is student-centered. In her classroom, students learn from one another as they discuss different viewpoints and answer questions that require critical thinking. Jessica ensures every student feels valued in her classroom by fostering a community of engaged, thoughtful, and respectful learners.