Olga Fridman
B.Sc., B.Ed., M.Ed., M.Sc. (Mathematics – Differential Geometry)
Subject: Math and Problem Solving
What will my child walk away with? A genuine love of mathematical thinking and the critical problem-solving skills that come from being taught by someone with nearly three decades of experience inspiring bright young minds in mathematics. My Masters degrees in Mathematics and Education, including an Honours Specialist in Gifted Education from the University of Toronto, give me both the subject depth and the pedagogical precision to challenge capable students effectively.
What can families expect? A student-centered, inspiring teacher who is genuinely excited by critical thinking and creative problem-solving, and who shares that passion with gusto. I have spent nearly 30 years teaching mathematics in the Toronto District School Board, and that experience has given me a detailed, practical understanding of what it takes to keep bright students genuinely engaged with challenging material.
What does class actually feel like? Energetic, intellectually alive, and full of genuine mathematical curiosity. I believe mathematics is one of the most creative disciplines there is, and I teach it that way. Students who arrive thinking math is about memorizing procedures leave understanding that it is about thinking carefully and originally.
How do you challenge a curious mind? I give curious students problems that require genuine mathematical reasoning rather than pattern recognition. A capable student who can execute standard algorithms quickly needs to encounter problems where the algorithm is not obvious and the thinking has to come first, and designing exactly those problems is where my expertise in gifted education is most valuable.
Credentials and Experience M.Sc. in Mathematics (Differential Geometry), University of Toronto. M.Ed. with Honours Specialist in Gifted Education, University of Toronto. B.Sc. and B.Ed. Nearly three decades of mathematics teaching experience in the Toronto District School Board. Expertise in critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and instruction designed specifically for gifted and high-potential students.
Why Olga? Why Brain Power?
I have spent nearly 30 years learning what it takes to keep bright students genuinely engaged with mathematics, and the answer is always the same: problems that require real thinking, a teacher who loves the subject, and an environment that takes the student seriously. Brain Power provides all three.