Name of business: Mathnasium
Type of business: Tutoring center
Location: 2842 Geer Road in Turlock
Hours: 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Contact information: 209-348-6284
Specialty: One-on-one math help for students
History of business:
After Mathnasium’s original plans to open last year were put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, Turlock’s newest tutoring center is now serving the community during a time when students may need services the most.
Mathnasium has over 1,000 locations nationwide, and owner Ramona Eshagh wanted to add another in Turlock in order to provide more science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, opportunities for local students. The Turlock resident had originally hoped to have the new tutoring center up and running by April 2020, but COVID made it difficult to obtain permits in a timely manner, she said. Those working on the project even came down with the virus, causing a delay in construction and ultimately pushing the new Mathnasium location’s opening to that fall.
Since November, students have been able to receive help with their math homework in a safe, sanitized and socially-distanced environment — services Eshagh believes to be vital in the age of distance learning.
“Unfortunately with COVID...most kids are either at grade level and just need help because distance learning isn’t helping them in terms of the material they need to learn, or they're really behind and have emphasized it to their parents,” Eshagh said.
While Mathnasium solely offers math tutoring at the moment, Eshagh originally wanted to open the center in order to provide STEM opportunities like coding camps, chess clubs and robotics classes to students. The pandemic has put a hold on those plans for now, but she believes that more chances to host STEM-related activities will arise as conditions change for the better.
“I wanted to start with a math model and help kids with that, and then build off of that with robotics, coding, chess or whatever it is,” Eshagh said. “For now, we’re helping them master the math they need to know and helping them build that foundation.”
Tutors at Mathnasium include seasoned tutors from other franchise locations, as well as math majors from the University of California, Merced, and Stanislaus State. Safety measures in place at Mathnasium include mask wearing, plexiglass barriers, air purifiers and more. All new students receive a free assessment in order to determine their grade level and package pricing and options are then provided to prospective families.
“I want to know what they know, what they've mastered and what they are struggling with, because at the end of the day, I want to help them get their confidence back,” Eshagh said. “My one and only goal is to see that ‘aha’ moment when it clicks for them...That, to me, is music to my ears.”
