Teachers

Ming Zhang, Ph.D.

Dr. Ming Zhang received an undergraduate degree in math from University of Science and Technology of China and obtained his Ph.D. from Rice University in Computer Science.

He has worked as an assistant professor at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley. With over 25 years of algorithm development and investment experience, Dr. Zhang now enjoys teaching students in mathematics and computer science.

In last 3 years, more than 50 of his students have been promoted to USACO Gold and Platinum (including the USACO Training Camp). Many of them are currently attending colleges such as Caltech, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. Congratulations to these amazing accomplishments.

Mr. Sam

Mr. Sam has a Bachelor’s degree in Math and Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and Pedagogy. He has been teaching for 25 years in different countries such as Russia, Europe, and the United States.

Mr. Sam worked as an Olympiad Math Coach for IMO, BMO and EGMO coach for many years then worked as Head of Math Department for Teacher Training and Curriculum Development. In the last 10 years he served as College Counselor and helped hundreds of students getting into the IVY league colleges, MIT in the USA and other prestigious universities in Germany, Italy, Netherland and U.K.

Mr. Sam is co-author of a high School Math book “Mathematics 12” for Senior Students. He is currently working as a High School Math teacher in a public school in Texas. Mr. Sam is awarded “Master Teacher Designation”, which is the highest award given by Texas Education Agency.

Lauren Stutts

Mrs. Stutts has been in education for the past 10 years. She graduated from Mississippi State University with bachelors degrees in both Chemistry and Secondary Education and completed her masters in Physics through Texas A&M – Commerce. She is certified in 7-12 chemistry. In addition, she obtained National Board Teaching Certification in Chemistry.

She began her career in education teaching general chemistry labs at Mississippi State University. After arriving in Houston, she spent 7 years teaching various chemistry classes and writing chemistry curriculum in public high schools.

Mrs. Stutts is currently teaching chemistry at The Kinkaid School, and she’s an adjunct professor for algebra-based physics at Houston Community College. She connects science to students’ lives, am determined to find ways to ensure all students are successful in chemistry, and uses a backwards design approach to ensure her instruction is purposeful and cohesive. It is this connectedness, this drive, and this intentionality which make her an effective teacher.

Bedir, Ph.D.

Dr. Bedir holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics, and his passion for Physics knows no bounds. He has dedicated his life to exploring the mysteries of the universe and pushing the boundaries of our understanding.

From winning multiple gold medals in National Physics Olympiads to winning an IPHO (International Physics Olympiad) award, Dr. Bedir’s love for this fascinating field has driven him to excel in every aspect of it. Currently as a Physics teacher at the Governor’s School for Science and Technology, Dr. Bedir is proud to have inspired and mentored many talented students.

Dr. Bedir uses engaging and interactive teaching methods in making the class interesting and enjoyable. He explains physics concepts in such a clear and concise manner to make complex topics easier for students to grasp. Many of his students got a 5 on their AP physics tests and some even won Gold Medals in IPHO (International Physics Olympiad), a testament to their hard work and dedication, and to Dr. Bedir’s commitment to providing the best possible education to his students. In addition to Physics, Dr. Bedir has been teaching Python to high school students in the last 10 years.

Chandra Mohan, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Mohan is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine, and has more than 20 years of teaching students at all levels, ranging from middle school to post-graduate levels. He has a Ph.D. in Immunology, a medical degree, a graduate degree in computer science and post-doctoral training in Genetics. His research interests range from bioengineering applications in Medicine to studying disease models of autoimmunity and cancer.

He has been teaching Science Bowl and Biology Olympiad to middle school and high school students for more than 5 years, and has shepherded Texas teams to the National Science Bowl in Washington DC, for three years consecutive years. In 2019, Dr. Mohan led the Texas team (Dulles High School) and placed 2nd in the National Science Bowl. Several of his students also have made the biology training camp.

He strongly believes the Science Bowl (and similar competitions) represent an excellent conduit for learning Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Earth/Space science. Through these teaching sessions, he hopes to stimulate interest in Science, and channel more students into STEM oriented professions.

Paytakov, Ph.D.

Dr. Paytakov holds a doctorate degree in Computational Chemistry. Currently Dr. Paytakov teaches Chemistry and Math courses in a Houston area high school. Dr. Paytakov is certified (Chemistry, Math, Physics and Engineering) and designated Exemplary Teacher by TEA.

Dr. Paytakov has extensive experience in preparing students for Chemistry Olympiad and math contests. He led and coached his home country’s (Turkmenistan) International Chemistry Olympiad (IChO) team between the years 2006-2010. His students won multiple Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals in International Chemistry Olympiad and International Mendeleev Chemistry Olympiad. In addition, Dr. Paytakov has coached students to prepare them for AMC8, 10, and AIME contests.

Dr. Paytakov is thrilled to bring his passion and enthusiasm to prepare Momentum Learning students for the chemistry and math contests.

Burridge, Ph.D.

Dr. Burridge earned his math degree from Yale University and completed his Ph.D. in Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Burridge’s interest in math started early. Starting in 8th grade he took math classes at NYU. Dr. Burridge took the first two AIMEs that existed (’83 and ’84), and was a member of NYC’s ARML team both those years.

In recent years, Dr. Burridge has focused on teaching various levels of Contest Math and Physics. He has been coaching a MATHCOUNTS Team in TX for seven years. He was the Texas State MATHCOUNTS Coach in 2022 Nationals where his team placed third. In his spare time, he enjoys playing chess, bridge, ultimate frisbee and disc golf.

Ibrahim Albayrak, Ph.D.

Dr. Albayrak earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Nuclear Physics from the Hampton University, Jefferson Laboratory. He spent eight years conducting research at Jefferson Lab. Along with his research assignments, Dr. Albayrak taught a variety of physics classes in classical mechanics, electrodynamic, and quantum mechanics. Currently, in addition to his duties at Jefferson Lab, he is teaching physics and engineering courses at The Governor’s School for Science and Technology in Virginia.

Dr. Albayrak has the ability to present abstract concepts in a way that can be easily understood, especially to a younger audience. He uses his communication skills to bring enthusiasm and rigor to his classrooms to inspire young learners.

Mr. Morgul

Mr. Morgul holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. With two decades of expertise in teaching middle school pre-algebra, Algebra 1, Algebra 2 and Pre-Calculus, he stands as a seasoned educator. In addition to school math, Mr. Morgul has been helping students to prepare for math contests such as AMC8 and AMC10. Alongside his teaching tenure, he has also served as vice principal across multiple schools.

Currently, Mr. Morgul channels his passion for math as a dedicated teacher in a Houston area school. To him, mathematics transcends mere numbers and equations; it’s a captivating language of logic and beauty, capable of unveiling boundless opportunities. Firm in his belief that every student harbors the potential for mathematical excellence, he endeavors tirelessly to foster and cultivate this potential within each individual.

Marilupe Hren, Ph.D.

Dr. Hren earned her Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with a minor in Mathematics from New Mexico State University (NMSU). She discovered her passion for teaching while working in the math department at NMSU, where she taught mathematics to undergraduate students for three years. With over 10 years of experience teaching mathematics—from Geometry to Calculus—Dr. Hren has made a significant impact in her career. Previously, she taught AP Calculus BC at George Ranch High School, where she increased the pass rate on the AP exam from 16% to 97%.

Currently, Dr. Hren teaches AP Calculus BC and Multivariable Calculus at the Math and Science Academy at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. She also serves as an AP Reader for the AP Calculus exam. In 2022, she received the Edyth May Sliffe Award for Distinguished Mathematics Teaching in Middle School and High School, granted by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Last school year, 99% of her over 100 AP Calculus BC students passed the exam, with 97.1% scoring a 4 or 5.

Dr. Hren’s goal is for her students to experience the wonders of mathematics and recognize its power and value, no matter what career path they decide to take.

Gwen Curtice

My name is Gwen Curtice, and I am currently teaching 5th and 6th grade math as well as the Contest Math elective for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at the Honor Roll School. I have 44 years of teaching experience of which 31 were in elementary, 2 were in private and 11 were in middle school teaching math. My undergraduate degree is from Texas Tech University, and I earned my master’s degree in elementary education from the University of Houston at Clear Lake. It was my pleasure to be the original math teacher and math competition coach at the Gifted and Talented Academy at Quail Valley Middle School in FBISD.

My philosophy is simple: all math is connected. Introducing a logical progression of topics, I use hands-on activities combined with daily practice and problem solving of real world associations to obtain long-term understanding. I emphasize accuracy before speed. All students can learn to love math when they have the correct “tool kit” of strategies.

I have lived in Sugar Land for 33 years with my husband, Kolbe, and our labrador, Saxon. Our daughter, Mallory, is a graduate of Texas Christian University and lives and works in Fort Worth.

Ms. H

Ms. H has loved teaching and learning math for as long as she can remember. She graduated with a degree in math in 1999. Ms. H has been a middle school and high school math teacher in Europe for 17 years, and has also trained students for Math Olympiad for Girls for the last 15 years.

After settling in Houston, she was very happy to join Momentum Family in a position that lets her combine her passion for mathematics, competitions and teaching. When Ms. H is not thinking about math, she enjoys traveling, taking pictures and spending time with her three children.

Gaelan Tracy

As an educator at a Houston area private school, Mr. Tracy taught 5th and middle school science. He served two years as a lead teacher and head of the middle school science department. Mr. Tracy obtained his bachelor’s degree in General Science with Teaching from Temple University, completing the UTeach Program developed at the University of Texas in Austin.

Mr. Tracey is looking forward to using his skills in inquiry-based and personalized instruction, to engage students in learning important scientific skills and concepts with real-world applications. He is passionate about inclusive education and incorporating visual and physical models to make learning more accessible to students with varying levels of proficiency and differing sociocultural backgrounds.

In his spare time, he loves learning about technology and new ways to be more effective and efficient as a teacher and recently received training in educational applications of AI. He also coaches two sports per school year.

Sandra Coombs

Mrs. Coombs is an experienced educator with two decades of teaching expertise, having been recognized as Campus Teacher of The Year in Fort Bend ISD. Currently in her sixth year as an English teacher at a prestigious private school in Sugar Land, she brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to her role. She is also certified as an AI Trainer, having successfully completed three levels of certification and passing a trainer certification. In addition, Mrs. Coombs also taught and tutored ISEE English subjects.

Mrs. Coombs holds a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Houston and is a Texas Certified Teacher in Generalist 4-8 and Special Education. Sandra’s commitment to education is further demonstrated through her active involvement as a member of The Texas Association of Gifted and Talented and The National Council of Teachers of English.

On a personal note, Sandra has been a resident of Sugar Land for thirty years, having previously lived in West Virginia. This diverse background and extensive experience shape her approach to education, making her a valued and respected member of the educational community.

Tina Li

Tina Li is a senior at Clements High School. She has participated in math contests since elementary school and is a Maryam Mirzakhani Prize Winner, Math Prize for Girls Prize Winner, USA Junior Math Olympiad (USAJMO) Honorable Mention, and 3 time USA(J)MO qualifier. In addition, she has conducted research with Honors Summer Math Camp at Texas State University.

She serves on her school’s Student Council and multiple other organizations in her high school, and in her free time, she enjoys hanging out with her friends or watching movies!

Mrs. Aksoy

Mrs. Aksoy is an experienced math teacher with over 10 years in education. She holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction Design and a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education. Throughout her career, she has taught a wide range of courses from 4th grade math through Algebra 1, giving her a strong understanding of math curriculum progression and student learning at different levels.

She is deeply passionate about teaching and committed to helping students build confidence in math. Known for her patience and clear, supportive instruction, she focuses on breaking down complex concepts in ways that are accessible and meaningful for all learners. Her familiarity with curriculum design and data-driven instruction allows her to tailor lessons that meet diverse student needs and promote strong academic growth.

Robin Maly

Ms. Maly currently serves as a middle school English teacher in the Fort Bend Independent School District, where she has dedicated nearly two decades to her role as an educator.

After earning Bachelor of Science degrees in Social Science and Education, Ms. Maly has taught a diverse range of subjects including English Language Arts, Theater Arts, Social Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, and Theology, engaging students from sixth through twelfth grade.

Her success in the classroom is rooted in cutting-edge professional development, brain-based education strategies, and innovative programs like Abydos. Known for her creativity and inspirational teaching style, Ms. Maly’s classes are highly sought after by students seeking both academic rigor and practical relevance.

She encourages students to take ownership of their education, fostering positivity, productivity, academic excellence, and integrity throughout their learning journeys.

Mr. Alaydin

Mr. Alaydin a dedicated educator with master’s degrees in Chemistry and Computer Science and more than 30 years of teaching experience.

His strong STEM background allows him to present math in clear, creative, and engaging ways that help students see how mathematical ideas connect to the world around them. He loves interacting with students and guiding them as they explore new concepts and build confidence in their abilities. In the classroom, he emphasizes curiosity, problem-solving, and hands-on learning to make math both accessible and enjoyable. Over the years, he has inspired countless students by nurturing a supportive learning environment where questions are welcomed and growth is celebrated.

Fatma Karakuzu

Mrs. Karakuzu is an experienced mathematics instructional coach and teacher with extensive education in the field. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Math and a Texas Educator certification in mathematics for grades 4-12th. She also graduated from the University of Houston with a Master’s in the Dual Credit program of Curriculum and Instruction in Mathematics. She has worked as an educator for over 17 years for students in several different grade levels with various backgrounds in math, from beginner to advanced.

In addition to teaching math and tutoring students for exams and math competitions, she has served as a department head and instructional coach for 9 campuses. She is passionate about helping students enjoy doing math and excel in their studies. Even within a single academic year, Mrs. Karakuzu’s students have consistently shown great improvement in their understanding of mathematical concepts and test performances. They have also completed the year with an improved confidence in their math skills.

Mrs. Karakuzu likes to spend time with her twin daughters, travel, and do gardening in her free time.

Joe Bernhart

Mr. Bernhart has been teaching English Language Arts for 27 years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English Education 6-12 from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1994 and has been teaching ELA in Houston and FBISD since then.

In 2005, Mr. Bernhart earned a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Houston-Downtown. During that time, as a co-owner of GTInnovators LLC, he also presented teaching strategies to teachers at conventions and professional development sessions locally and throughout the state of Texas. In 2015, he co-authored a book called Stand Up! Speak Out! The Social Action Curriculum for Building 21st Century Skills, which focuses on blending reading, writing, researching, and presenting skills in a manner that motivates and inspires students.

For over a decade now, Mr. Bernhart has also tutored students in all aspects of the English Language Arts and SAT Critical Reading and Language & Writing in particular, developing a personalized strategic approach to maximizing students’ performance on this crucial test. During his career, he has also had the honor of advising students who have written and placed in various writing contests–whether school-based, local, or even national such as Scholastic writing.

Dylon Chow, Ph.D.

Dr. Chow participated in math competitions in middle school and high school. Afterwards, he completed a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at Swarthmore College and then completed a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Dr. Chow has taught at the college level, including Linear Algebra, Multivariable Calculus, and Differential Equations at UIC and the University of Washington. In addition, Dr. Chow has extensive contest math teaching experience and he is also an instructor at Art of Problem Solving.

Joyce Phan

Ms. Phan graduated with a B.A in Mathematics in 2006 and has 17 years of teaching experience. She is currently teaching Geometry Pre AP, Contest Math, and Algebra 1 Pre AP in Fort Bend ISD.

Ms. Phan is student-centered and it is her responsibility to help maximize students’ learning abilities. Her goal is to assist students in mastering mathematical concepts by translating them to simple terms that enables success.

Katherine Liu

Katherine has enjoyed math contests since elementary school. She is a USAJMO Qualifier and 4-time Math Prize for Girls Qualifier. She is also a Maryam Mirzakhani AMC 10A and AMC10B Certificate Winner. She has also participated in math contests including TMSCA, mathleague.org and ARML, and was on the Texas gold team in the 2022 ARML.

Katherine likes to swim and read in her free time.

Dee Delahoussaye

I am Dee Delahoussaye. I have been an educator for over 18 years. During that time, I have been teaching English and other subjects from the elementary school level to the collegiate level. In addition, I am a Reading Specialist/Dyslexia interventionalist and I also worked as the ESL coordinator help students (kindergarten- 8th grade) who were learning English.

I have my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Abilene Christian University and will begin my doctorate degree this summer.

Dr. Charles Huang

Dr. Huang is an associate professor of management at the College of Business, University of Houston-Victoria.

Dr. Huang has been teaching Strategic Management, International Management, Strategy and Business Environment, etc. at both undergraduate and MBA levels, with rich experience guiding students for real business analysis using real world data. He has also been working in various industries for many years before his doctorate study.

In addition, Dr. Huang has been a judge for DECA business plan competition and held workshop for FBLA conference.

Harold Reiter, Ph.D.

Dr. Reiter is Professor of Mathematics at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. For more than 30 years, he has contributed problems to math competitions including the American Math Competitions and MATHCOUNTS.

He has served as chair of the AMC committee and as a MATHCOUNTS judge. In the last 14 years, he has taught at math camps such as Awesome Math, MathPath, Texas MathWorks, Epsilon Camp, and other camps for high school and middle school students in the United States; Bangalore, India; Bali, Indonesia; and Chengdu, China.

Jo Ann Mena

I am a native Texan. I was born and raised in El Paso. My dad served in the U.S. Army and later became a police detective with the El Paso Police Department. My mom was a homemaker.

A graduate of the University of Texas at El Paso, I have a B.A. in Political Science and English and a M.Ed. in Counseling.

I have one sister and two sons. My oldest son (UTEP grad) is a sheriff’s deputy in El Paso and my youngest son (TCU grad) is a computer analyst in Fort Worth. My husband is a Texas History teacher at Sugar Land Middle School.

I most recently taught middle school ELA (Regular & GT/Pre-AP) in Fort Bend ISD and currently I am teaching at The Honor Roll School.

Galina Tabanian

I graduated from Beirut University College in 1990 with a bachelor’s in computer science and got my teaching Certification from UTD in 2000. I have taught all high school math courses (Algebra 1 to Pre-Cal) and Calculus at Plano West Senior High School for the past 24 years. In recent years, I am mainly teaching and tutoring AB Calculus and BC Calculus. Last year, 66 of my students took the AP test and all passed. Among them, 45 received a 5 and 11 received a 4. I am proud of their achievements!

I am married to Minas (Mike) and have 2 daughters who are Plano West Alumni. When not teaching, I enjoy shopping, traveling and spending time with my husband and the family.

Islam Rizvanoghlu, Ph.D. (Dr. I)

I am an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Houston. My main teaching areas are macroeconomics, financial economics and energy economics.

Besides, I have been tutoring various competition math/math/econ/statistics courses at many levels since 2006. I have been living in Houston since 2006 when I started my PhD studies at Rice University. I tutored many Rice undergraduate students, helped them mainly with Calculus and Economics courses. I also tutored middle and high school students, helped them mainly with competition math. Since I became a university professor, I have allocated relatively less time to tutoring. However, teaching is a passion for me, therefore I decided to continue tutoring along with teaching at the university.

I am highly experienced and skilled at competition math as I participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) and have been teaching contest math in the past 5-7 years.

Gong, Ph.D.

Dr. Gong graduated from Colorado School of Mines with a Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering. She has been teaching a wide range of high school level mathematics subjects at FBISD in recent years. She is currently the team leader for Algebra 2 and a mentor for new teachers. In addition, Dr. Gong has extensive experience teaching SAT Math, PSAT Math and ISEE Math.

Dr. Gong is excited to be working with Momentum Learning. Her daughter attended several classes with Momentum Learning before and greatly improved her problem solving skills. Dr. Gong has a great passion for teaching. She enjoys engaging students and helping them make connections with real world applications.

Dr. Gong’s goal is to help students solve different levels of math problems and improve their mathematics knowledge and problem solving skills.

Dana Pratt

Mrs. Pratt graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1985 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. She has taught in elementary schools for over 30 years.

The joy of teaching for me is seeing children grasp new concepts and watching their confidence grow. Education is a passion for me, and I look forward to working with Momentum Learning students.

Chloe Weng

Chloe Weng is an incoming freshman at MIT and has been involved in competition math since elementary school. She is a three-time Math Prize for Girls Qualifier and has conducted research with Honors Summer Math Camp at Texas State University. Furthermore, she is on her high school’s UIL Academics Number Sense team that placed first in the 2024 Region Meet.

In her free time, Chloe likes to read books and draw.

Mustafa Duran

Mr. Duran is a tech lead working for a major bank. Prior to his current role, he was a professor at a local university. He taught Introduction to Computer Science courses on Python and Java, Systems Programming, Operating Systems, and Data Structures courses. Mr. Duran has been focused on Image processing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Machine Learning (ML) in recent years.

Mr. Duran also implemented RNA signal alignment tool for the Neuroscientist using Python programming language, developed Python data analysis scripts including file & directory operations, retail store product data correction / cleaning and analysis in addition to using data visualization and data analysis tools such as matplotlib, pandas, etc.

Mr. Duran is passionate for teaching and education, especially with real-world programming languages such as Python and Java. He is eager to help younger students learn the fundamentals and foster an interest in programming.

Mr. Duran is married and has two amazing children. He enjoys cycling, seeing new places and travelling.

Joseph Stahl

Joseph Stahl became interested in mathematics while he was a junior in high school. Joseph got his BA in mathematics at University of Boston, where he developed an interest in p-adic number theory and arithmetic geometry.

He worked as a counselor for the PROMYS program for four summers while an undergraduate, and also tutored Boston University students during the school year. After completing his undergraduate degree, he spent a year at the University of Bonn on a Fulbright scholarship, where he studied perfectoid spaces and p-adic Hodge theory with Matthew Morrow. He is also an instructor at AOPS.

Joseph is currently a PhD candidate at UC Berkeley under Martin Olsson studying logarithmic geometry and topological Hochschild homology, and is an active user on math.stackexchange (username Stahl). He ran the Directed Reading Program at UC Berkeley for three years, and is one of the quantitative workshop leaders for the first time graduate student instructors at UC Berkeley.

When not doing mathematics, Joseph enjoys composing, playing, and listening to music; lifting weights; reading; and learning about linguistics and improving his German and Korean speaking skills.

Sinan Kanbir, Ph.D.

Dr. Kanbir is an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He teaches elementary and middle school mathematics pre-service teacher courses. He is the author and co-author of six research/teaching books and several publications about teaching and learning mathematics.

He inspirationally identified and coached middle school students who later participated in the national level math olympiads and International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO). Dr. Kanbir also taught contest math courses at MathPath and other summer camps. He is an item writer for Central Wisconsin Math League (CWML), MathCON, and the Wisconsin section of the MAA math contest.

Mr. Hakan

Mr. Hakan taught at the high school and college levels in several nations, including those in Europe, for more than 25 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Education, and he specializes in taking students from the basic ideas of Algebra 1 to the more complex subjects of Calculus.

Mr. Hakan is committed to giving children the analytical skills and problem-solving techniques they need to succeed pursuing an interest in STEM. In addition, he also prepares students for the ISEE Math, SAT Math, and Mathematics Olympiads. His method combines theoretical knowledge with real-world applications to help students develop a strong love of mathematics and the skills they need to succeed in both academic and competitive environments.

Shazeen Rashid

My name is Shazeen Rashid. I am from Sugar Land, TX and attended local FBISD schools. I earned my undergrad in Finance and graduate degree in Secondary Mathematics Education from the University of Houston. I worked for 12 years in private schools as a math teacher and in various roles before joining Dulles High School as a Geometry teacher.

I have helped prepare students in AMC 10/12, Noetic Math, Mathcounts, and PSIA competitions. In the classroom, I promote a positive growth mindset and believe every student can learn math. Outside of school, I love spending time with my two daughters and reading. I look forward to helping students here at Momentum Learning.

Dana Godfrey

Mrs. Godfrey has a Bachelor’s degree in Communications from The University of Texas at Austin. Later she obtained a Master’s degree in Education.

Mrs. Godfrey has 20 years of experience teaching various high school English classes. She is certified to teach English Language Arts 8-12th grade, English as a Second Language 7-12th grade and Speech 8-12th grade. Mrs. Godfrey has taught SAT and ACT preparation courses as well as ISEE, PSAT, SSAT preparation courses for 10 years.

Teaching is Mrs. Godfrey’s passion. Her goal is to prepare students to get into the top colleges in the state and country.

Dr. Kuchina

Dr. Kuchina holds two Ph.D. degrees: one in Physical and Mathematical Science from Kazakh State University and another in Physics from Old Dominion University.

With a wealth of experience working at research facilities worldwide, Dr. Kuchina has been teaching for two decades. Currently, she leads the Physics Department at a local college and mentors gifted students at the Governor’s School for Science and Technology in advanced math, physics, and computer science. She has many years of experience teaching AP Physics 1 and AP Physics C, as well as coaching students for physics competitions such as the F=ma exam and the Physics Bowl.

Dr. Kuchina is passionate about teaching and inspiring students. She encourages them to become lifelong learners and creates opportunities for them to participate in competitions and scientific research projects. Many of her students have gone on to pursue physics majors at prestigious universities and work at renowned institutions like NASA and the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility.

Adam AbuShaer

I am a Stanford University graduate with an MS in Bioengineering and a BS in Chemistry. I participated in several research experiences during my years at Stanford, including work as a medicinal chemistry intern at Theravance Biopharma.

I began tutoring my peers in high school and have not stopped teaching others since. I worked as a Stanford VPTL tutor in mathematics and chemistry and was a teaching assistant for CHEM 31X: Chemical Principles Accelerated and BIOE 51: Anatomy for Bioengineering. In the last few years, I have taught high school math and AP chemistry.

In high school, I participated in math and chemistry competitions and ranked nationally for both. I have a strong belief that competition math and science were essential to helping build my technical foundation to excel in college, so I love having the opportunity to do the same for younger generations.

In my free time, I enjoy practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and listening to history and science podcasts.

Tugba Sahin

Mrs. Sahin attended Texas A&M and got her bachelor’s degree in Math and Science in Education. She started her teaching career as an Honors Math teacher who teaches the higher level of Pre-algebra, Algebra and Geometry.

Due to her enthusiastic and determined personality Mrs. Sahin has grown tremendously in a very short period of time and has become one of the most valuable and prolific Math teachers in her school. Later she became the Department head and she is about to get her new title as the Instructional Coach this year. She holds Master Teacher Designation from Texas Education Agency and she is a Texas certified teacher.

She uses her communication skills to bring enthusiasm and rigor to her classrooms to inspire young learners.

Ms. Yozgatli

Ms. Yozgatli earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematical Engineering, providing her with a profound grasp of mathematical concepts and their practical applications. With over 24 years of teaching experience spanning Europe and the U.S., Ms. Yozgatli has also instructed Math Olympiads. Throughout her career, she has taught a diverse range of math courses, from middle school mathematics to AP Calculus, tailoring her approach to meet the unique learning needs and abilities of her students.

Presently, Ms. Yozgatli serves as a middle school math teacher in a Texas middle school, specializing in 8th-grade Algebra 1. At the core of her teaching philosophy is the creation of a nurturing and interactive learning environment aimed at fostering curiosity, cultivating critical thinking skills, and promoting a growth mindset.

Briana Collins

Briana has a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Engineering from Louisiana State University. She has worked extensively with students tutoring math and science from pre-K to 8th grade and enjoys being a positive and fun role model.

Briana has always had a passion for math and science and has successful experience in getting her students excited about learning. Her favorite subjects include Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Mathematics.

Mike Winer

In high school Mike participated in the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) and won first prize in the Intel Science Talent Search for a project in condensed matter theory. Later, he obtained a Physics degree from MIT. Mike is currently pursuing a Ph.D. studying quantum chaos and glassy dynamics. Mike is a coach on the U.S. Physics Team and has significant experience teaching F=ma and USAPHO.

In addition, Mike enjoyed Math Olympiads and Science Bowl. His favorite physics textbook is Div Grad Curl and All That by h.m. schey.

Mr. Akpinar

Mr. Akpinar obtained a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education with a minor in Science. Moreover, he also earned certifications as an IB DP Math teacher from Toronto University and as a Teacher Trainer from Nile-Elt UK.

Mr. Akpinar has over 16 years of teaching experience. Throughout his career in education, he dedicated most of those years to full-time classroom teaching, spending 4 years in a middle school setting and 12 years in a high school environment. Currently Mr. Akpinar is teaching Algebra, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus in a public school in Austin, TX. In addition, he taught contest math to students participating in local math Olympiads, BIMO, MathCounts, and AMC8/10/12/AIME. Beyond his teaching roles, Mr. Akpinar also served as the Head of the Math Department and Vice Principal at various times.

Apart from his professional pursuits, he enjoys engaging in activities with his family, watching movies, reading, and solving logic puzzles. Mr. Akpinar eagerly anticipates an incredible year ahead, where he can foster meaningful connections and surpass expectations at Momentum Learning.

Jason Gorgia

Jason has spent his career developing the talents of willing and able math students. After winning state and regional championships in math contests as a competitor, he was assistant coach for Longfellow’s particularly successful Mathcounts teams in the Virginia suburbs of DC.

Jason earned his master’s degree in Mathematics Education, and he has taught every level of honors and regular math from Prealgebra to Calculus. Jason recently was honored with the Virginia Governor’s School Outstanding Educator Award in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

His PhD coursework is from Columbia University’s Teachers College where he co-taught Probability and Statistics. His work with gifted math students includes serving as Assistant Director of APA’s Center for Gifted Education Policy and as Program Coordinator/Instructor at Marshall University for their gifted education degree programs. He finds joy in tackling cool content and problem-solving with students eager to gain creative insight into real math.

Jason is the only instructor who teaches the full slate of contest prep courses in the Art of Problem Solving (AoPS) Online School — both levels of AIME, AMC 12, AMC 10, and AMC 8.

Dr. Karakus

Dr. Karakus has been teaching Mathematics for 20 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Math and a PhD in Economics. Addition to teaching middle and high school students, he also taught math in college where he did his doctorate studies. He has served as the head of the math department and academic coordinator in a large education network.

Although he has played different roles in education, there was something that doesn’t change in his life; his passion to coach students for Math Olympiad. During his career in education, he trained highly talented students and mentored them to achieve their goals.

In his free time he enjoys cycling and taking long walks in the woods with his beloved sons.

Victoria Chadwick

For over 30 years, storyteller Victoria Chadwick has brought her language-arts-based classes/concerts into schools and has often been invited to provide creativity workshops for teachers. She has taught standard and AP English classes to middle and high school students and ESL at all grade levels, including adults. She has conducted SAT/ACT exam preparation classes and offered private tutoring sessions throughout this time.

Victoria attained her bachelor’s degree in Professional Writing and, in addition to storytelling and teaching, works as a free-lance writer, poet, musician and composer.

Mr. Oksuz

Mr. Oksuz holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree in Mathematics and brings over 12 years of teaching experience focused on high school math classes such as Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus, and AP Statistics. Throughout his teaching career, he also coached competitive math teams for Mathcounts, AMC 8, and the AMC 10/12.

In addition, Mr. Oksuz serves as an adjunct professor at a community college, where he continues to share his love for mathematics with students. Whether through mentoring students, contributing to math-related initiatives, or exploring real-world applications of mathematical principles, he is committed to fostering a love of learning that extends well beyond traditional teaching hours.

Benjamin Wright

Ben Wright is currently a student at MIT. As an 8th grader, he got 5th place individual in National MATHCOUNTS in middle school.

Ben went to Phillips Exeter Academy for high school and attended MOP twice, in addition to being invited to Physics Camp. Ben did research with MIT PRIMES, and placed 12th place overall in HMMT February.

Ben was also a tournament director and head problem writer for EMCC across his various years in Exeter. Ben has worked as a teacher and teacher assistant for classes from both IDEA Math and Momentum Learning.

Jarrod Fredericks

Mr. Fredericks has been teaching for more than 10 years after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in History from Florida State University. He is certified in Social Studies (8-12) and English as a Second Language.

Before entering education he earned a certificate in Museum Studies and worked at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History. He has taught World Geography, AP US History and dual credit US History. Mr. Fredericks was named the Campus Teacher of the Year twice and finalist for the ISD Teacher of the Year. He currently teaches dual credit US History and AP Comparative Government & Politics at the Woodlands College Park High School. He is an AP Reader for Comparative Government and is APSI-trained in US Government.

In addition to teaching, he has been a sponsor of the Student World Affairs Council, coach for Academic Decathlon, and is currently a mentor for a FIRST Robotics Competition team.

Abby Jones

My name is Abby Jones and I am a proud math nerd who absolutely loves teaching! Few experiences with challenging students and seeing them overcome hurdles and excel beyond what they ever thought possible.

My teaching career began in 2007 working for a high school in Fort Worth, TX as an SAT prep teacher, but I have spent the last decade teaching Algebra 1 to every kind of students imaginable at FBISD and other school districts. I work hard to help students build a strong foundation that will make them ready to tackle the classes that follow.

My goal is to help students learn how they learn math and build strong problem solving skills rather than just memorizing and regurgitating processes and procedures for tests.