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.

Shanika has over 11 years of experience in education as a teacher, instructional and school leader in the city of Newark. She got her start in education with Teach For America (Greater New Jersey) after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Amherst College. She's excited to work at AoPS because she gets to engage with high quality content that brings both joy and rigor to the classroom. From her very first day with AoPS, she noticed that the culture (across departments) is dedicated to building a product that elevates the student learning experience, and she's grateful to be on the frontlines teaching with and leading a site of dedicated, life long learners. While there is so much to love about working with students, what Shanika loves most is seeing the triumph students express when experiencing a breakthrough or overcoming a challenge! Shanika describes her teaching style as student-centered. This means that students do the heavy lifting through techniques like guided discourse, inquiry based projects, and, when necessary, a little bit of direct instruction from the teacher.

Tina majored in elementary education and special education at American University in Washington D.C., and went on to earn her master’s degree in education policy from the University of Pennsylvania. After researching inequities in education in Philadelphia, Tina moved back to New Jersey, where she grew up, to continue her work in education, which led her to AoPS! What Tina loves most about working with students is getting to tackle problems and find different solutions with the help of her students' different perspectives. She describes her teaching style as challenging, yet tailored to the needs of her students, as well as highly engaging.

Jamila is a Trinidadian immigrant with a profound interest in engaging with diverse personalities and backgrounds, and as such, holds both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts and in Diplomacy and International Relations from Seton Hall University. Upon attainment of these degrees, she spent almost two years as a substitute Science teacher for Newark Public Schools. It was during that time that she went on to complete coursework in the teaching profession at Kean University and holds a Pre-School Through Third Grade Certificate of Eligibility from the New Jersey Department of Education. What drew Jamila to AoPS is her excitement to be able to contribute to the Academy's goals by fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for students and their families. Jamila’s extensive experience in student engagement and customer interaction aligns perfectly with AoPS Academy’s mission of inspiring high-performing students. What Jamila loves most about working with students is her ability to make a meaningful impact on students' academic journeys by supporting their growth and development.

Anthony began his career as a visual artist and has since become an educator and perpetual student of mathematics and computer science. He is deeply interested in the intersection of machine learning (ML) and medicine and completed MIT Professional Education’s certificate in Applied Data Science and ML with a concentration in the health sciences. Anthony is pursuing a B.S. in Applied Mathematics at NJIT, he received an A.S. in Mathematics Summa Cum Laude from HCCC, and a B.F.A. from the National Academy of Design. His creative background informs his common-sense approach to learning and problem-solving. He is passionate about AoPS’s dedication to inventive mathematical thinking. To Anthony, it feels rewarding to lead the process of demystifying math for students. He believes the world’s future depends on the next generation of scientists and mathematicians.

James received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from William Paterson University in 2007 and proceeded to teach students ranging in grades 6-12 for sixteen years. He enjoys the challenge of maximizing each one of his student’s potential by utilizing their unique talents, interests, and intelligence. His classroom is a lively, positive, welcoming learning environment where students are motivated to work together towards achieving success leading to a deeper understanding and joy of the limitless applications of mathematics in our world. Students are frequently reminded that mistakes are best viewed as learning opportunities that help our brains grow and develop.

Kaitlyn got her associate's degree in mathematics education in 2022 and her bachelors in mathematics in 2024. She is currently in her first year of pursuing a master's degree for mathematics at Montclair State University with the aim to become a graduate mathematics professor. Kaitlyn has always been captivated by the types of problems taught at AoPS and how they differ from the traditional problems with their intense aim at whole concept understanding. She recognizes that every student approaches concepts differently and the creativity that students bring to the classroom never ceases to amaze her. She considers herself an interactive instructor who loves to have dialogue and teamwork. She believes that students learn best when they are being actively engaged and challenged with a variety of problem types and activities.

Don is a certified K-6 teacher with a Bachelor's and Master of Science in biology, and a Master of Arts in teaching and he currently holds a special education certification. Don has been an educator for nine years, with four years dedicated to instructional leadership. Passionate about teaching, he views it as a means to serve communities and create a lasting impact. His experience spans various educational settings, where he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fostering academic excellence and personal growth among students. Don’s leadership skills and dedication to education inspire both his colleagues and students, making him a respected and influential figure in his field. Don was drawn to AoPS because of the vibrant teaching and learning community that allows students to explore the curriculum in a way that drives curiosity and a love of learning. His approach to teaching and leadership underscores his belief in the transformative power of education. His teaching style is a mix of structure, and fun and engaging hands-on lessons.

Chris's lifelong love of words and stories led him from a BA in Theater at Long Island University to work as a journalist for numerous newspapers, magazines, and websites, and ultimately to a career as a professionally published children's author. It was as an author that he discovered working directly with children on school visits was his favorite part of the job, and has been teaching writing classes and workshops for years since. For Chris, the highlight of being an instructor is helping students unlock and engage their own creativity, and seeing that moment of pride when they are able to discover a solution on their own. He was drawn to AoPS for the opportunity to work with students who are as enthusiastic about learning as he is. He likes lively classrooms with energetic, highly interactive lessons, and is always open to trying new things in an effort to get the best out of every student.

Quincy received his Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Drew University and is currently a graduate student and research assistant at Rutgers University School of Public Health Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. He was drawn to AoPS by its challenging and unique approach to providing students with excellent academic skills. After years of teaching and tutoring, Quincy still feels that there is nothing quite as rewarding as seeing the light come on when a student understands a new mathematical concept. His teaching style is interactive, celebrating each student's individual strengths and ensuring that every student feels comfortable in the classroom.

Feven Negussie is a graduate of Barnard College, where she studied political science and history. During her time in college, she worked as a teaching assistant for an eighth-grade class in a rigorous program and discovered that she enjoyed teaching and working with young students. She is drawn to AoPS Academy because it offers her the opportunity to work with talented students exploring subjects that intrigue her. Because of her childlike wonder at learning and discovering new things, she enjoys working with students who share these same qualities. Feven believes that the most powerful learning occurs through engaging, shared experiences of storytelling. Stories bring topics of study to life and connect with students on a deeper level.

Iramir's educational background includes a bachelor's degree in mathematics with a minor in computer science, and his professional experience encompasses working as a supplemental instructor and tutoring students from grades 5-12 and at the college level. He was drawn to AoPS by its innovative approach to teaching mathematics and its strong emphasis on problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. He loves the satisfaction of helping students build a better understanding of the subject and witnessing something that was once challenging become easier for them. His teaching style involves explaining the theory, providing examples, and encouraging students to participate in discussions on how to solve mathematical problems.

Courtney Scott is a certified elementary education teacher with a certification in K-6 from Montclair State University. She has taught second grade, fourth grade and fifth science and social studies. What drew her to AoPS is their dedication to enhancing student knowledge and success. She believes students should feel valued, supported, and recognized through all of their trials and triumphs in their work. Her teaching style combines active and collaborative learning. She believes students work best in engaging and peer discussion collaboration.

Michelle has been a secondary classroom English teacher for over 10 years. She was drawn to AoPS because of the high expectations that are set, the community created, and the opportunity to work with like-minded learners. Michelle enjoys working with students. She builds rapport with them and guides them by helping them apply what they are learning in the classroom to the real world. She has an involved and engaging teaching style that draws in students and makes learning relevant to them and the world around them.

Michael is currently an Assistant Principal of Science & Mathematics at KIPP New Jersey. For the last 10 years teaching mathematics, he has a plethora of experience teaching in both middle and high school classrooms respectfully. Prior to stepping into education, Michael earned a B.A. in Applied Learning & Development and a B.S in Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin. As a new math instructor at AoPS Academy - Millburn, he will have the privilege to work with our Algebra I students. Michael encourages critical thinking and problem solving to help make sense of the world using mathematics.