About MIND
Math Is For Everyone.
At MIND Education, we see math as more than a subject—it’s a way of thinking. It’s how we make sense of the world and unlock every student’s limitless potential.
All of us have an extraordinary asset—the human brain—with a natural capacity for learning, discovery, and creative problem-solving. That’s why we bring math to life through experiences grounded in how the brain learns best.
All children are smarter than we think.
Dr. Gordon Shaw, Co-Founder of MIND Education
How Neuroscience Changed Math Learning
In 1998, researchers at the University of California-Irvine made a breakthrough: the brain’s natural spatial-temporal reasoning could revolutionize math education. By engaging students in game-based, visual first learning—removing language barriers—mathematical thinking became more accessible and meaningful for all learners.
This discovery laid the foundation for MIND Research Institute. Guided by an extraordinary team that included Nobel Prize winners, members of the National Academy of Sciences, and esteemed mathematicians, we turned cutting-edge neuroscience into classroom-ready solutions. Today, as MIND Education, we continue to redefine how students experience math—with programs that build deep understanding, curiosity, and confidence from the start.
Our Approach
We don’t just teach math—we change how students experience it.
Our programs are built on neuroscience and powered by visual, game-based learning that makes abstract concepts tangible. Students don’t just solve problems—they make sense of them. They explore, justify, and revise their thinking. They learn math the way the brain is wired to understand it: through perception, interaction, and play.
This approach fosters meaningful engagement, deep conceptual understanding, and confidence that lasts. Students don’t just learn math—they become mathematical thinkers.
Our commitment to rigorous research and data-driven innovation ensures that our programs evolve to meet the needs of today’s learners. From fostering curiosity to building confidence, our approach boosts math skills and empowers students to embrace challenges and think critically.
Transforming Outcomes. Reaching All Learners
MIND Education programs consistently deliver results that go beyond scores. Backed by decades of neuroscience research and real-world classroom data, our solutions lead to higher state test scores, significant growth across all demographics, and a deeper conceptual understanding of math.
This isn’t just improvement—it’s transformation.
Partnering for Impact
We’re grateful to the visionary foundations, donors, and partners who share our belief: that all students deserve a meaningful connection to math. Their support fuels our research, drives innovation, and helps bring ST Math into classrooms across the country.
Leadership
We are educators, researchers, mathematicians, game designers, and business leaders—with one shared mission: to ensure every student becomes a confident problem solver through the power of math.
We’re united by purpose. Grounded in science. Driven by outcomes.
Board of Directors
Terry Crane, Ed.D.
Chairman of the Board
President
Crane Associates
Dr. Terry Crane is a business leader and educational consultant who works with corporations and institutions that are seeking to move through the 21st century with real solutions for challenging educational issues. Previously, she served as Vice President for Education and Family Products at AOL, President of Jostens Learning Corporation, and Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Strategic Marketing, among other roles. Dr. Crane has a doctoral degree in educational leadership and a master’s in early childhood education from the University of North Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas at Austin.
Chuck Amos
Vice Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
GuideK12
Chuck Amos is Chief Executive Officer at GuideK12, the only geovisual analytics company serving the education market. For many years, Chuck has been an independent consultant with educational technology companies globally. Prior to consulting, he served as the CEO of Atomic Learning where, under his leadership, the company grew to become the world’s leading provider of web-based software training serving schools globally. Before joining Atomic Learning, Amos worked as the Central US education regional manager for Apple Computer. Amos holds a bachelor of science degree in business with an emphasis in finance from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.
Ellen Bialo
President & CEO
Interactive Educational Systems Design
Ellen Bialo devotes much of her time to the management, implementation, and analysis of education market research. Prior to founding IESD, she spent almost a decade in the classroom, teaching mathematics at both the junior and senior high school levels. Bialo has served the education publishing community as chair of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) Education Section board of directors, an advisor to the National Science Foundation, an industry awards judge for EdNET and the Association of Educational Publishers, and a member of the School Tech Exposition & Conference advisory board. She earned her graduate degree at Teachers College, Columbia University and is a certified educational psychologist.
Mark Bodner, Ph.D.
Cofounder & Research Scientist
MIND Research Institute
Dr. Bodner is one of MIND’s co-founders. He is an adjunct professor of mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh and visiting professor at the Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience at the East China Normal University. He formerly held faculty appointments at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Neurosurgery and joint faculty appointments at UCLA’s Neuropsychiatric Institute and UC Irvine’s Department of Physics. Bodner received his Ph.D. and Master’s degrees in theoretical high-energy and mathematical physics from UCLA, and his Bachelor of Science in physics and chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He has served on the board of directors since 1998.
J. Weili Cheng
Associate
Laguna Strategic Advisors
J. Weili Cheng serves as an associate at Laguna Strategic Advisors where she offers consultation on operations, management, and strategic planning in the hospitality services industry. She has over three decades of experience in hospitality and has served in a variety of leadership positions. Cheng holds a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Yale University and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center. Cheng joined MIND’s board of directors in 2022.
Donald E. Garcia
Founder & President
Pinnacle Consulting Group
Donald Garcia is founder, owner, and president of Pinnacle Consulting Group, a financial planning firm located in southern California. Previously, he was among the top investment advisors for John Hancock. He has been recognized by the Million Dollar Roundtable, a trade organization for financial professionals, and has served as president of the National Association of Professional Insurance and Financial Advisors of Orange County. Garcia earned his Bachelor of Arts in speech communication at California State University, Long Beach. He has served on the board of directors since 2014.
Tiffany Kuo
Director of Product Management
Teledoc Health
Tiffany devotes her time to building products for mission-driven organizations and products. She has held strategy and product management roles at multiple companies, large and small, including Microsoft, Deloitte, Teladoc, the global health nonprofit PATH, a Y Combinator-backed startup she co-founded, and others. She has deep expertise in launching and growing products, including those born out of research organizations.
Tiffany also serves on the board of directors for Boxlight, a NASDAQ-listed edtech company. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, as well as an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
David Solomon
Chief Executive Officer
Lightspeed Learning Technologies, Inc.
Jeannette Wistner
Partner
KMPG
Jeannette is a CPA and tax partner at KPMG, LLP, with over 29 yrs of experience in the area of Global Mobility. She serves as KPMG’s Global Mobility Market Leader for the West Coast & has developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by both mobile employees & their employers, gained through her work experience in Miami, Seattle, Philadelphia, Paris, & now SoCal. Her extensive professional experience encompasses intl. income tax compliance & advisory services, cross-border tax, payroll delivery, expatriate policy development, & process admin. support. She has served clients across a wide range of industries, incl. Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Mining, Media & Entertainment, & Education. She holds an undergraduate degree in accounting from PA College of Textiles & Science & a Master’s in Taxation from PA University.
Brett Woudenberg
Chief Executive Officer
MIND Education
Brett Woudenberg is a veteran entrepreneur of the education technology industry. Prior to his leadership at MIND, he served in various C-level roles for a top publisher and several high growth education technology companies in K-12 and higher education. Woudenberg holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance, and received an MBA from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management.
