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Our Mission
Our Mission
Welcome to our G.A.M.E!
Welcome to our G.A.M.E!
We are the founders of Get Ahead Math & Engineering, Maria and David. Our journey began in the professional world of engineering, science, teaching and construction, and we both stepped away from our corporate careers to become the main caregivers to children in our families. This experience transformed our perspective on education. Parenting made us realize how crucial foundational learning is. We found great joy in sharing our knowledge and wonder for the world around us with children.
As parents with kids in our local public schools, we deeply appreciate our teachers. Every day they perform an incredible balancing act to support so many different learners. It is a beautiful mission to ensure no child is left behind, but we also recognize how difficult it can be to provide every student with the specific pace they need to thrive.
Sometimes, curious and motivated students find themselves ready to leap ahead into new challenges, but the standard classroom rhythm requires them to wait. For these children, that waiting can lead to a quiet sense of boredom or a fading of that natural spark of motivation. We created our programs for children who are simply hungry for more. We want their curiosity to be met with new challenges, helping them reach their full potential.
While we were fortunate to be in a position to give our own children an early start with advanced math and science concepts at home, we know that not every parent has the time or specialized background to do the same. Now we use our technical expertise to bring high quality, individualized, hands on academic enrichment to other kids in our community. We love what we do, and we are so happy that our students enjoy the classes!
Let your kids explore the fascinating worlds of mathematics and engineering with us!
Let your kids explore the fascinating worlds of mathematics and engineering with us!
We design our courses to introduce advanced topics in math and physics with fun hands-on experiments and engaging activities for the children. We use math as a mental game and a tool to solve interesting problems rather than make students go through worksheets. This approach helps children to view math as a key to science, technology, and analyzing the world around them — not just to pass tests. Igniting their curiosity and inspiring them to try new things is the biggest challenge and the most rewarding part. And when kids are motivated to learn, it's amazing how far and fast they go!
Our Team
Our Team
We have a mix of in-classroom and practical hands-on industry experience, are background checked via Live Scan, have Pediatric first Aid training including CPR & AED, and love working with kids!
David Holl, Ph.D.
David Holl, Ph.D.
I enjoy a broad range of interests across math, science, and engineering and apply those interests to tackle challenges like tracking firefighters lost within burning buildings, making 3-D images from radio and sound reflections, optimizing Internet protocols over satellite links, and designing my own radio signal processors. I’m adept at software engineering and freely mix & match different tools to resolve challenges at hand, such as decades-old shell scripting and compute clusters, to modern Python and C++ template metaprogramming with computer graphics cards for ridiculously fast math processing.
Over the years from most recent to least, I currently serve as a science instructor and a substitute teacher for the Lafayette School District. I have also run my own company, worked as a member of the technical staff of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory, taught as an adjunct assistant professor at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, had internships at Intel Corporation with their chip architects to work on encryption & data compression, and single-handedly administered 300 lab & office computers at a university engineering department while supporting their 800 students and 25 faculty. I hold a Ph.D. degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
My long-term love is teaching, and aside from raising 3 daughters, my happiest endeavors are sharing the fun of learning. Whether I am leading a specialized LPIE science module or stepping into a local classroom to support our district's students, I love the challenge of breaking down complex ideas into simpler pieces. I focus on motivating kids to have fun learning, because once they’re fired up, they’ll teach themselves far faster than anyone else could!
Maria Williford
Maria Williford
My professional background is uniquely diverse, rooted in both technical precision and creative restoration. I hold a Master’s Degree in Engineering and Art (with honors) from Saint-Petersburg State Marine University, and I am a certified specialist in artistic plasterwork restoration. For years, I worked within the architectural and construction industries as a manager, drafter, and architect, focusing on the restoration of historical buildings.
Beyond the world of construction, my hands-on expertise was forged on the open ocean. As an ASA-certified sailor with over 5,000 nautical miles of offshore experience, I’ve gained a deep, practical mastery of applied physics, navigation, and meteorology. Whether it’s woodworking, metalworking, or maintaining complex mechanical and electrical systems, I’ve spent my career solving real-world problems with my own two hands.
My transition into education was a natural evolution of my role as a mother. While I’ve spent years volunteering in our local schools as a room parent, helping in a library, and making school events decorations, my favorite moments were always spent in the science classroom.
The definitive turning point came during the 2023-2024 school year. Our family embarked on a sailing voyage from Northern California to Central America, during which I successfully homeschooled my children for their 2nd and 5th-grade years. It was the final push I needed to officially become an educator. I love encouraging children’s natural curiosity, sharing my knowledge with them, and helping them to grow academically and personally!
Currently, in addition to developing and teaching our own programs, I serve as LPIE Science Instructor and substitute teacher within our school district, working with students from TK through 7th grade. If your children attend an elementary or middle school in Lafayette, there is a good chance I have already met them in their science classroom!
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