Alex comes to National Math Stars with extensive experience in mathematics education and community advocacy. Born in California, Alex graduated from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Mathematics and a minor in STEM Education, later earning her M.A. in Mathematics from San Francisco State University. She completed her PhD in STEM Education at The University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on the experiences of elementary Latino mathematics students and creating inclusive learning environments. Throughout her career, Alex has been dedicated to supporting diverse learners and families, drawing inspiration from her own family’s journey and her commitment to challenging barriers in education. Her work spans curriculum development, teacher training, and published research in mathematics education. In her spare time, Alexandra enjoys reading, hanging out with her pets, and crafting.

Marlee brings a decade of international education and math teaching experience to National Math Stars. She began her career as a Fulbright in Azerbaijan and later served as the president of Somaliland’s only women’s university, training future teachers. She holds an M.A. in Education from Stanford University, and a B.A. in International Relations and Plan II Honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Outside of work, you can find her training for her next marathon or hanging out with her two cats.

Zach comes to National Math Stars with over 18 years of experience in education. Born in Miami, Florida, Zach has always taken to helping people. After graduating from the University of Miami, he served as an education volunteer in the Americorps and later the Peace Corps. He has taught in both Austin and San Antonio, earning recognition from the Texas Education Agency as a “Master Teacher.” In his spare time, Zach enjoys reading, cooking, and hiking with his family.

Ambika is a first-generation immigrant who grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and Bangalore, India before moving to New York City for college. She has spent the last decade working in private and public charter schools as a mathematics educator and more recently as the Founder and Superintendent of Promesa Academy, a public charter school in San Antonio. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and an M.A. in Mathematics Education from Columbia University.

Keith brings extensive experience in education and leadership, with his entire professional career dedicated to ensuring students receive outstanding instruction and equitable access to high-quality educational opportunities. Born and raised in Central Texas, Keith began his career as a middle school teacher in Austin, Texas before becoming a founding principal of Austin Achieve Elementary, a Title 1 public charter school. More recently, he led partnerships for a bilingual tutoring organization, expanding educational opportunities for Spanish-speaking students from low-income backgrounds. With a BA in Business Administration from Texas State University, Keith now leads Texas partnerships for National Math Stars, continuing the drive to advance equity in education.

With two decades of experience in education, Kayla has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive and supportive learning environments for K-12 students in foster care and juvenile detention centers. Starting as an instructional assistant, she rose through the ranks to become Head of Schools in non-traditional settings. Kayla holds an MBA, a Master’s in Educational Leadership, and most recently obtained her certification as an Educational Diagnostician. Beyond her passion for education, Kayla enjoys working out, spending time with her family, crafting, working out and exploring various vegan restaurants.

Teresa Lambe brings over two decades of teaching experience, spanning middle and high school, across diverse educational environments. Most recently, she worked for an educational technology start-up dedicated to providing high-quality online classes across the country. Teresa attended the North Carolina School of Science and Math, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a degree in English Education, and UNC Wilmington for a degree in Curriculum and Supervision.

A self-professed math nerd, Alex began his career as a 5th-grade STEM teacher in California before joining Edpuzzle, where he led curriculum development for schools nationwide. More recently, Alex ran an education nonprofit focused on expanding college access for first-generation, low-income students. Alex has a BA in Psychology and Education from Dartmouth College.

Al has worked in advanced math enrichment as an instructor, coach, and curriculum writer for several math camps and programs both in and out of schools. He loves designing new math activities to showcase the beauty and joy in studying advanced math. He holds a B.S. in Math from Iowa State, M. Ed. in Math Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a M.S. in Applied Math from UC Riverside. In his spare time, Al enjoys being active outdoors, playing board/video games, and hanging out with his two dogs.

Born in Santa Ana, California, José graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in Applied Mathematics with minors in Education and Computer Science. In the past, José has worked as both a Teaching and Research Assistant with the aim of making math more enjoyable for students as well as helping first-generation, low-income, and undocumented students. He joined National Math Stars as a part-time Math Mentor in 2024 and transitioned to the full-time Family Advisor role in 2025. In his spare time, José enjoys playing video/board games, watching basketball, and jumping rope.

Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Houston, Texas, Mohammed brings a background in education, consulting, and engineering to National Math Stars. A second-generation Lebanese immigrant, he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Mohammed began his professional journey as a Management Consultant at Oliver Wyman. After a brief but enjoyable stint as a barista, he transitioned into education, teaching math and coaching basketball in Southeast Houston, deepening his commitment to student growth. Outside of work, Mohammed enjoys running, playing chess, and spending quality time annoying his cat, Ube.

Meg brings over a decade of experience in education to National Math Stars. She began her career as a Teach For America corps member in rural Louisiana and went on to teach and lead at high-performing charter schools in New Orleans and Nashville. More recently, she served as an educational consultant in EdTech, supporting school and district teams across the country in using data and curriculum tools to drive student success. Meg holds an M.Ed. in Child Studies from Vanderbilt University and a B.A. in Psychology and Comparative Human Development from the University of Chicago. She currently lives with her family and three cats in Green Bay, WI. Outside of work, Meg loves to read, play tennis, and travel with her family.

Troy is an experienced educator with a background in classroom teaching, tutoring, and educational technology. Passionate about K-12 student success, he has dedicated his career to supporting educators and district leaders nationwide. Originally from southern Ohio, he remains a Buckeye at heart while building lasting partnerships across the country. He holds a BBA in Marketing from Marshall University and a MAT from Morehead State University. Outside of work, Troy enjoys bodybuilding, powerlifting, playing basketball, and cheering on Ohio State football — Go Bucks!

Bilqis brings a blend of experience in education and technology to National Math Stars. She began her career in Dubai, developing and teaching a tech-integrated curriculum at a startup school. Upon returning to the U.S., Bilqis gained experience as an educator and administrator in both in-person and online public charter schools. She has also worked in the technology and business sectors. Bilqis holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Arabic with a minor in International Studies from Dartmouth College.

Ilana founded National Math Stars in 2023. Prior to that, she worked as a management consultant for Bain & Company, advising for- and non-profits in education, climate, and manufacturing. She started her career as a Product Manager at Yahoo!. She holds a B.S. in Engineering from Olin, an M.Phil. in European Literature from Cambridge, and an MBA from Stanford. In her spare time, you’ll find Ilana attending the theater, reading novels, petting her two cats, and solving all sorts of puzzles.

Alex has worked in many different math enrichment spaces, from teaching K-12 electives to creating the Brown University Math Circle program. She especially loves teaching discrete topics like graph theory and number theory. Before joining National Math Stars, Alex taught high school math in Providence, Rhode Island. Alex holds a B.A. in Mathematics, Literary Arts, and French Studies from Brown University. Outside of math, she loves writing poetry and playing music around Providence.