Regional Spotlight: Southern California

This blog highlights the RSM locations in Southern California and will introduce you to the Regional Director, Principals, outstanding students in the region, and showcase recent events.

Meet the Regional Director of RSM Southern California: Olga Voronel

Olga Voronel was introduced to RSM when her daughter began attending RSM classes. She immediately admired RSM's logical approach to teaching mathematics. “I loved that RSM's method of teaching emphasized connections between various math concepts,” Olga said. “I appreciated how RSM empowered students to view math problems from different perspectives and taught them how to solve problems in different ways.”

According to Olga, RSM was incredibly similar to the math education she had as a child, and she was thrilled that her children now had the opportunity to experience the same math education that she received.

“As a parent of two RSM alumni who are now successful adults, I experienced firsthand how their RSM education gave them the freedom to choose their paths in life,” she says. 

Olga joined RSM as a teacher in 2015. The following year, she became the principal of RSM South Orange County and was later promoted to her current role as the Regional Director of the Southern California region.

“In my current role, I combine my expertise in math instruction and operations to ensure we are providing excellent math education across all of our branches in Southern California,” Olga said. “However, my greatest passion will always be teaching and working directly with students in the classroom.”

Read a recent interview with Olga in Parenting OC Magazine about her experience with RSM. 

Meet the RSM Irvine Principal: Alla Korinevskaya

Alla Korinevskaya has been part of the RSM team since 2012. She helped open the first RSM branch in Southern California, RSM Irvine. Prior to joining RSM, she taught mathematics, trained math teachers, wrote math curriculum, and helped students prepare for national and international math competitions. 

Alla’s impact as a teacher has been recognized through numerous awards, including “Most Influential Teacher of the Year” by MIT,  “For Fostering Excellence in Mathematics” from UC Irvine, and “For Outstanding Leadership and Expertise as a Teacher Consultant” for UCLA. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys photography, swimming, snorkeling, gardening, and cooking.

Meet the RSM Irvine Woodbury Principal: Ljupka Kostov

Ljupka Kostov is the principal of RSM Irvine Woodbury. She received a B.S. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Entrepreneurship from Macedonia. 

As a teacher, she enjoys working with students and families who share the same love of math. “My favorite thing about being a teacher is seeing the spark in a student’s eyes and witnessing the excitement when they solve a challenging problem,” Ljupka said.

She enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and her dog and watching her children play basketball and soccer. 

Meet the RSM Pasadena Principal: Inessa Grigoryan

Inessa Grigoryan has been with RSM since 2018. Her lifelong passion for math and science, coupled with a strong desire to share her knowledge, led her to pursue a fulfilling career in teaching. Inessa earned a B.S. in Physics and Pedagogy and an M.S. in Physics from Yerevan State University. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Physical-Mathematical Sciences with a specialization in Biophysics.

“As a scientist and an educator, I experienced the transformative role that math teachers play in shaping students’ futures and understand the importance of building a solid foundation in math,” Inessa said.

Inessa enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and loves discovering new places while traveling. She believes that spreading knowledge and kindness, especially to younger generations, is the key to making the world a better place.

Meet the RSM San Diego Principal: Dimitry Artamonov

Dimitry Artamonov joined RSM in 2013 and spearheaded the opening of RSM’s San Diego branch four years later. He earned an M.S. in Business Management from the University of San Francisco and continues to leverage his academic background and managerial expertise to cultivate a dynamic learning environment for his students.

Dimitry is passionate about mathematics education and believes in empowering students with the critical thinking skills necessary to excel academically and beyond. 

“At RSM San Diego, I envision a future where every student can master complex mathematical concepts while preparing for success in an increasingly competitive world,” Dimitry said.

Dimitry is also passionate about professional development for educators and regularly conducts workshops where teachers can collaborate, sharing best practices and innovative teaching strategies to facilitate their mutual growth. 

Meet the RSM San Fernando Valley Principal: Marina Soderstrom

Marina’s journey to becoming the principal of RSM San Fernando Valley began with a deep passion for math and chemistry, which soon evolved into a love for teaching. Her first teaching experience, helping a friend’s son with his 3rd grade math homework, marked the beginning of a 20 year teaching career, during which she mentored countless students in math and science.

Driven by a desire to understand how children learn, Marina pursued a Ph.D. in Neuropsychology, focusing on how children process and retain information. This research has informed her approach to education, enabling her to help educators adjust their teaching methods to each child’s learning style.

As the principal of RSM San Fernando Valley, Marina and her dedicated team of teachers work collaboratively to create an environment where students can excel in academics, math competitions, and develop strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Marina believes that with the right support, patience, and effort, every child can fulfill their potential.

Meet the RSM South Orange County Principal: Natalie Yampolsky

Ever since she was a student, Natalie Yampolsky, principal of RSM South Orange County, knew she wanted to be a teacher. Natalie graduated from Moscow State University of Transportation Engineering with an M.S. in Economics. Before emigrating to the United States, she worked in economics and finance. 

After moving to the United States, Natalie rediscovered her love of teaching while working at a Montessori school. Five years ago, Natalie joined RSM and brought her experience in elementary school education to her current role. 

In her spare time, Natalie enjoys hiking, reading, traveling, and spending time with her family and friends.

Outstanding RSM Students in Southern California

Neil Iyer is a 7th grader from RSM Irvine with a deep love for math and science. Neil has performed exceptionally well on math competitions; earning a perfect score on the AMC 8, ranking 16th in Math Kangaroo, earning a MOEMS Div E/M Lenchner award, and participating on the RSM Berkeley Mini Math Tournament team. Neil wants to work in quantum computing and data science when he grows up. His hobbies include playing chess, piano, improv, and he loves eating Italian food.

Rabtej Kalra is a 5th grader from RSM Irvine Woodbury who has been an RSM student for the past three years. He appreciates RSM for its supportive and engaging environment which has allowed him to improve his mathematical abilities. He has earned several awards from math competitions, including a bronze and silver medal on the IMC, he received a National Honor Roll achievement on the NOETIC, and was in the top 20 in Math Kangaroo. Outside of academics, Rabtej enjoys playing chess, music, and solving Rubik’s Cubes. When he grows up, he wants to be an engineer where he can leverage his analytical skills and invent new things.

Robert Agapie is a 7th grader from RSM Pasadena. He likes how his RSM teachers explain things which allow him to quickly understand challenging topics. When he grows up he wants to be an engineer and build inventions that help people around the world. Outside of school, he enjoys playing soccer, violin, trying interesting foods, playing video games, and spending time with his family.

Kiran She is a 9th grader from RSM San Diego who has been an RSM student for the past nine years. He likes RSM because the teaching style promotes understanding through solving problems. Kiran received the AMC 8 Honor Roll of Distinction by scoring in the top 1% and qualified for the AIME two years in a row. Kiran enjoys participating in math competitions, exploring National Parks, and running cross country. He also enjoys cooking, playing video games, competing in Quiz Bowl, and playing tennis. Kiran wants to work in logistics management. 

Advik Basu is a 5th grader from RSM San Fernando Valley who has been with RSM for four years. He likes RSM as he gets to explore math problems. Advik’s achievements include placing first on Math Kangaroo, earning the Lenchner Award for a perfect score on the MOEMS, and receiving the Certificate of Achievement for the AMC 8. When he grows up, he wants to be either a mathematician, a doctor, or an astronaut. Advik enjoys playing chess, video games, piano, spending time with his grandparents, and working towards his black belt in Karate.

Stepan Shuruev is a 9th grader from RSM South Orange County. He likes RSM because it is more challenging than his regular school. He achieved Honor Roll status on the AMC 8, earned a place on the National Honor Roll for NOETIC. When he grows up, he wants to be a computer programmer. Outside of school, he enjoys playing tennis and chess and eating sushi.

Recent Events in RSM Southern California

Grand Opening, Irvine, CA, May 2024

After 12 years, RSM’s first Southern California branch, RSM Irvine, outgrew their first location and celebrated this milestone with a grand opening event at their new location at 3975A Alton Parkway, Irvine, CA.

Grand Opening, San Diego, CA, August 2024

RSM San Diego also celebrated their move to a larger location, and is now serving students at 17085 Camino San Bernardo, Suite 120, San Diego, CA.

Stay tuned as we feature more RSM regions across North America this year!