The Teaneck outpost of the Mathnasium franchise, located on Queen Anne Road, has officially reopened under new management. Now run by Yeshivat Noam and Frisch School parents, Matt and Stefanie Diamond of Teaneck, the learning center and its staff will continue to provide instruction to children in grades K through 12 who are either struggling with their math studies, or are looking for enrichment to complement their school work. Offering a customized learning plan for each student based on their individual needs, the Diamonds are excited to see what the school year will bring.
Prior to purchasing the Teaneck Mathnasium, Matt worked in corporate finance. After deciding to make a career change, he chose to become involved with Mathnasium because he wanted to do something that would allow him to both do some good in the world and make a difference in people’s lives. So far, as he explained in an interview with The Jewish Link, it’s been all he and his wife hoped it would be.
“The more I learned about the Mathnasium method the more excited I got about this opportunity,” he shared. “It’s not just a place where kids go to get tutored. It’s a place where they grow. It’s been a perfect fit for Stefanie and I. Not only do we see those light bulbs go on for so many kids, but they’re gaining confidence they didn’t walk in with, and are having fun while learning.”
Both Matt and Stefanie have been active over the years in their community. Matt served on the board of Shaare Tefillah of Teaneck for a decade, and has coached in both the Teaneck Baseball Organization and Teaneck Soccer for many seasons. Stefanie is a former board member at Yeshivat Noam, and has served in many volunteer roles over the years. She also is the owner of her own photography studio, focusing on newborn and family photography.
“We’ve gotten feedback from students and parents who are so proud of their progress, and are excited to return week after week. A little girl just came back from summer vacation with a seashell on which she’d drawn the Mathnasium logo. She loved her sessions so much that she was thinking about us even while on break! Another student wrote a persuasive essay for his English class on why Mathnasium is important. It’s moments like those that make it clear to me that this career change is the right move at this point in my life,” Matt said.
Mathnasium has officially been under the Diamonds’ management since the end of August. Matt has become a consistent presence at the center, continuing to learn the ins and outs of the business and ensuring that everything runs smoothly. The same experienced staff and center director that were employed under the previous owner will remain in place under the Diamonds.
“Mathnasium is different from other learning centers because, from the start, we really want to figure out how it is that each individual student learns best,” Matt explained. “The first step in our process is always an assessment. We want to see what the student knows and where their knowledge gaps are. This way we can directly address those gaps and incorporate them into the student’s individualized curriculum which will give them a better understanding, build their confidence, and improve their knowledge base to set them up for future success. We go beyond traditional math tutoring to develop understanding and build a love for math.”
Mathnasium is a franchise that includes over 900 centers globally. At their various locations they focus solely on math, pinpointing a child’s learning needs and assisting with homework frustrations. The centers have helped an inordinate number of children and Matt is eager to continue the trend.
“One of the things that makes Mathnasium so great is their unique outlook on problem solving,” Matt said. “It’s really focused on not just teaching kids the formulas, or how to multiply, divide or add, but teaching them in a way that makes sense and will be applicable. The Mathnasium Method is all about making a problem manageable and less intimidating.”
As for the offerings and lesson plans, sessions with students generally run for an hour, broken into two halves: the first is based on an individualized learning plan, and the second is a combination of homework help and Mathnasium workbooks meant to reinforce what the students already know. Instructors work in a team teaching environment, which allows for both direct instruction and independent work. The Teaneck Mathnasium is open Sundays from 11 a.m. -2 p.m., and Mondays through Thursdays from 3:30-8:30 p.m..
If you are interested in learning more about the Mathnasium and its lessons, or are looking to sign a child up, visit https://www.mathnasium.com/teaneck� Additionally, you can call (201) 862-1600, or stop into the center for more information or to schedule a risk-free assessment.
By Adam Samuel
Adam Samuel is a journalist from Teaneck. He blogs at adamssoapbox.com.
