Dr. Nataliya Portman

Subject: Math and Problem Solving

What will my child walk away with? A four-part mathematical foundation that my years of teaching and research have shown to be genuinely predictive of long-term success: understanding the structure of reasoning, developing a genuine interest in the subject, learning to acquire knowledge independently, and communicating mathematical ideas with clarity and precision. Together, these four capabilities form the habit of clear thinking.

What can families expect? I bring that extraordinary breadth of applied mathematical experience into how I teach, connecting abstract concepts to the real problems they make solvable. Families can expect a learning environment where students are guided to think deeply, ask questions, and build independence. Lessons are designed to strengthen problem-solving strategies and not just arrive at answers.

What does class actually feel like? Rigorous, interactive, and full of genuine mathematical dialogue. I believe the joy of mathematics lies in students’ ability to correctly state their thoughts, be in constant internal dialogue with the material, doubt something, disagree, and look for rational solutions based on clear understanding. I design every class to create exactly that experience.

How do you challenge a curious mind? I use logic games and tasks to develop genuine interest alongside technical skill, because I know from experience that students who find mathematics interesting learn it at a fundamentally different level than those who merely find it manageable. Developing that genuine interest is not an accident — it is a deliberate instructional goal.

Credentials and Experience I am a Lead Data Scientist at CBC/Radio-Canada with a lifelong passion for mathematics and education. I earned my Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from the University of Waterloo, followed by postdoctoral research at the Neurological Institute in Montreal. I have taken on fascinating challenges throughout my career — from exploring how the brain develops in childhood to building intelligent systems that connect people with meaningful content. Also, I taught Calculus at the University of Waterloo and Machine Learning at George Brown College.