When Tammy Goldberg talks about math, it’s with the conviction of someone who has watched confidence rise and anxiety melt away in real time. That is what happens at Mathnasium, a learning center uniquely and specifically dedicated to math. For more than a decade, Tammy and her husband, Marc Goldberg, have been running multiple branch locations of Mathnasium in both New York and Pennsylvania.
A former high school math teacher, Tammy took a path into supplemental math education in New York City in 2008, during a season of transition. After leaving classroom teaching to pursue acting, she tutored math on the side. What surprised her most wasn’t just how much demand there was—but how deeply she enjoyed helping students one-on-one. Still, she wanted a more targeted, systematic approach. “I was helping kids with current homework, but I couldn’t reliably fill in the gaps that caused the struggle in the first place,” she says. She saw students earning acceptable grades while missing foundational skills—especially fact fluency—that would eventually come back to haunt them.
That search for a better approach led her to Mathnasium, then a relatively new math-only learning center. What convinced her wasn’t the franchise model, but the philosophy behind the math. The founder’s emphasis on mental math, reasoning, and clear, efficient strategies resonated deeply. “I wanted to truly understand how young kids learn math—and teach it well,” she says.
Marc, with a background in business and accounting, became an essential partner in turning that vision into a sustainable business. Together, the couple navigated rapid growth, especially in New York City—an environment very different from the franchise’s Los Angeles roots. Over time, their deep understanding of instruction led them to an even larger role: Tammy and Marc were contracted to help write significant portions of Mathnasium’s curriculum for the entire franchise system. Eventually, the Goldbergs moved to Buckingham, seizing the opportunity to open another Mathnasium location in Bucks County.
The core principles of the Mathnasium method revolve around truly understanding essential foundational concepts. At the same time, it’s not just about math - teaching students how to think logically and critically while offering encouragement and boosting their confidence offers long-term success.
“People who are good at math are efficient, reliable thinkers,” Marc says. “They know which tools to use and when.” Instead of relying solely on rote algorithms or endless drilling, students are taught frameworks—ways to reason through problems even when the answer isn’t immediately obvious. If mental math is efficient, they use it. If not, they apply a standard algorithm with understanding and purpose.
At the center level, this philosophy comes to life through the Doylestown Mathnasium Director, Taylor Berkeley. Taylor plays a critical role in shaping the daily experience for students, and his impact goes far beyond instruction. He is known for building strong relationships with each child, helping them feel seen, supported, and comfortable making mistakes.
That emotional safety matters. Many students arrive believing they’re “not math people.” Taylor helps change that narrative by creating an upbeat, welcoming environment for students needing help as well as those seeking enrichment. Here, effort is celebrated, and progress is visible. Students work in small groups with peers of varying ability levels, which helps remove stigma. Kids who need remediation see that strong math students are there too—and that math support isn’t a punishment, but a shared space for growth.
Motivation is woven into the culture as well. Taylor oversees reward systems like mastery checks, stamp cards, and the prize wheel—not as bribes, but as recognition of earned progress. Taylor also helps families understand one of Mathnasium’s hardest truths: there is no quick fix. Parents often arrive desperate for immediate results, but real improvement takes time. “You may lose a couple of battles to win the war,” he explains. Filling gaps—especially those created in elementary school—requires patience, consistency, and trust in the process.
For Tammy, Marc, and Taylor, math is about far more than grades. It’s about building problem solvers, logical thinkers, and confident learners who won’t be held back by fear or self-doubt. Not every child needs to love math—but with the right foundation, math can become an asset rather than a liability, for school and for life.
For more information, visit mathnasium.com/math-centers/doylestown