About Your Instructor
Maria Shin
Maria grew up in New York City and spent most of her career on Wall Street, working primarily in the areas of research, analytics, and market risk. She brings her extensive research and analytics experience to her role as Instructor as she studies each student holistically and designs study plans to suit their individual needs.
James Shin is Maria's husband and runs the Sacramento-Greenhaven Kumon Center. James' career spans two decades in financial services, most recently as Director of Operational Risk at one of the world's largest banking institutions. James assists at the Oakley center and likewise, Maria assists at the Greenhaven center. Maria and James feel fortunate that both Kumon of Oakley and Kumon of Sacramento-Greenhaven students benefit from two Instructors looking after the centers.
Maria and James are also obstacle course racing enthusiasts and runners. In addition, Maria is a certified yoga instructor and James is a black belt in tae kwon do. As active people, they bring a sense of energy as well as a zest for achievement, friendly competition, excellence, and fun to their work. As parents themselves, they understand how to motivate students. As former Kumon parents who have tried many supplemental education programs for their own children, Maria and James believe in the Kumon Program and its ability to bring out the potential in all students. They truly believe that every child is smart and Kumon makes them smarter!