The Mathemagicians program was founded five years ago by Sanjana Kumar, a now 12th grader at Francis Parker School with an instinctive love of all things STEM. Her long-time involvement at the Elementary Institute of Science in San Diego sparked the realization that a strong understanding of mathematics is necessary for high levels of achievement in science and engineering, and she sought to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the foundational tools they need to pursue their aspirations through the enrichment program. From lengthy conversations with the Institute’s board and careful planning, Mathemagicians was born. 

The program meets twice a week, once in-person and once virtually. Through a team of volunteers that has grown rapidly over the years, dozens of students learn collaboratively through curriculum specialized to their needs each Saturday. 

To  encourage remote practice for younger students, Sanjana also created the Mathemagicians web and iOS app (available on the Apple App Store). These tools allow our elementary schoolers to practice their math fundamentals outside of our classroom and are used each Saturday as well! 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, although our program could not be run in person, we continued to hold virtual classes weekly to support our students through online learning.