Mathnasium Learning Centers, the iconic math education franchise, is in the business of helping kids fall in love with math. Tim Madden, who served for nine years on active duty in the US Navy, loves being part of educating the youth in a subject so many are afraid of but can master with the right approach.
Madden’s Time in the Military & The Skies
Upon graduating high school, he received a four-year Navy/Marine Corps ROTC scholarship to Villanova University, where he obtained a degree in Engineering. Later, he was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy where he completed flight school in Florida and Texas, earning his wings and becoming a Naval Aviator.
Madden served for nine years on active duty, holding many positions in his time with the military including; Aircraft Commander, Instructor Pilot, and finally, Senior Instructor Pilot. After leaving the Navy, he became an Airline pilot for JetBlue Airways out of John F. Kennedy Airport, New York where he started as a First Officer on the Airbus A320, and, within one year, he became a captain.
At the time, he was one of the youngest Large Commercial Aircraft Captains in the country, but eventually, he left JetBlue Airways to tackle new challenges.
Madden’s Discovery of Mathnasium
Madden had many options available to him when he was transitioning back to civilian life, but he knew that he wanted to go into a business helps other people. Madden had always had a passion for teaching, leading, and helping others achieve their goals, and was eager to find a franchise he could join that would not only coincide with his engineering background, but also help educate the youth. Mathnasium seemed like just the type of purpose-driven business he was searching for.
On his search for a purpose-driven business, Madden and his wife Pamela, who owns the center, learned that as a part of their mission to engage the best franchisees, Mathnasium offers qualified U.S. veterans and active military a full $10,000 off the initial franchise fee, which is a 25% discount. Mathnasium saw the Madden’s dedication to the brand’s mission right away, and knew first-hand that Tim’s military training provided him experience in leadership, time management, adapting to change, and following a process, which all comes down to one factor; discipline.
Over the course of operating his own Mathnasium, Madden quickly realized for himself how well his time in the military had prepared him for running a business.
“The disciplinary culture of the military has definitely transferred over to my leadership style at Mathnasium. There’s a lot to be done in a day; and there is a clear system in place that needs to be followed properly in order to provide the best experience for our students. The extreme focus and attention to detail it takes to be an honorable instructor pilot is very similar to how I like to lead my staff and generally run my center,” said Madden. “Being aware of not only your strengths, but your weaknesses, is key to running a successful business. When you can rely on different individuals on your team based on their specific strengths, well, then you have an unstoppable, well-oiled machine.”
Mathnasium’s Mission
With demand for supplemental education skyrocketing across the globe, Mathnasium Learning Centers has helped hundreds of thousands of students around the world understand, master, and fall in love with math.
The rise in demand can be attributed to many factors; the first and most pressing being pandemic-related learning loss. Students in the United States are suffering from historical setbacks in their schooling and the fear of math is accelerating. According to a recent survey conducted by CueMath, approximately 82% of students between Grades 7 and 10 struggle with apprehension around math learning. This, paired with the results of the newly released Nation’s Report Card from the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), is showing alarming decline in math scores, and has been a huge cause for concern.
As parents look ahead to the future, they want to be sure that their children are getting what they need to fill in any learning gaps, catch up, and get ahead in math.
Mathnasium franchise operators like Madden, who come with the skills to lead a business with a purpose-driven mission, are meeting the surging demand for math tutoring. Using proprietary teaching methods like the Mathnasium Method™, has transformed the way kids learn math. Mathnasium centers build a foundation for math mastery through deep understanding by starting with what students already know, addressing any learning gaps, expanding their mathematical thinking, and adding new concepts in sequence. The method works for kids of all ages and skill levels, whether they’re struggling in math, doing okay but could be doing better, or are already excelling but need more of a challenge.
“If you’re looking at the best career options for students entering college today, going into a STEM-based discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) would be at the top of the list,” said Madden. “My degree in engineering has taken me far past my expectations, and I hope to show students just how valuable learning these key skills are. When parents drop their kids off at our Mathnasium center, not only are they trusting that we are teaching math in a fun and understandable way, but they are investing in their child’s future.”
By helping a struggling student overcome their struggles with math, or helping an exceptional student dream even bigger, Mathnasium franchisees manage businesses that make a world of difference to parents, teachers, students, and families alike. Since the brand’s founding in 2002, Mathnasium has grown to over 1,100 locations around the world and has catered to the high demand for supplemental education in communities everywhere. As the brand keeps growing, so will the inspiring stories and business ventures of its dedicated franchisees like Madden.