Meet the 10X Team!
James Sago - Founder and STEM Guru
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James Sago is an educator and mentor with over 14 years of experience teaching students from elementary school through the university level. He holds a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and completed his studies at the University of Oxford, UC San Diego, and the University of Florida. Throughout his career, he has remained passionate about helping students build confidence, think critically, and develop a genuine love of learning.
Prior to founding 10X Learning Center, James spent over a decade teaching and leading academic programs at Fusion Academy, while also supporting university-level instruction as a teaching assistant at UC San Diego. He later served as a STEM Director and Robotics Coach, where he overhauled their STEM curriculum. His innovations helped students achieve academic growth on national assessments at nearly three times the national average.
As founder of 10X Learning Center, James believes every student learns differently. His approach to teaching is rooted in the belief that education should inspire confidence, curiosity, and long-term success.
Aidan Gilmore - Public Speaking
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Aidan Gilmore is a public speaking educator, entrepreneur, and founder of Gilmore Speaks, an organization focused on developing communication and presentation skills in students and professionals. As a former homeschool student himself, Aidan developed an early passion for debate and public speaking competitions, experiences that ultimately inspired him to start his own business centered around helping others find confidence in their voice. At 10X Learning Center, Aidan teaches Speech and Debate, Shark Tank, and Intro to Storytelling, helping students build confidence, strengthen critical thinking and persuasive communication skills, and develop practical abilities that extend beyond the classroom.
You can find out more about his program here: https://www.gilmorespeaks.com/
Jason “Jay” Russo - Improv
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Jason (“Jay”) Russo is an experienced actor, improviser, and teaching artist with a background in theater, performance, and youth education. Trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, Jay has spent years performing in theater, improv, and entertainment while continuing to develop his craft in both Los Angeles and San Diego. At 10X Learning Center, Jay teaches Improv Comedy for Kids, providing students with a fun and engaging environment to develop creativity, communication skills, public speaking, confidence, and collaboration. In addition to his work at 10X, Jay serves as a Teaching Artist with Oceanside Unified School District, supporting enrichment programs that reach hundreds of students across multiple schools.
You can find out more about his program here: https://www.thejrussoworld.com/
Create Circle - Art and Design
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Jessica Ostrander is an artist, storyteller, educator, and honorary Disney Imagineer with more than 20 years of experience in the visual and performing arts. As founder of Create Circle, she brings together professional artistic expertise and a passion for cultivating creativity through hands-on learning experiences.
At 10X Learning Center, Jessica teaches classes that integrate art, storytelling, movement, and creative exploration, including offerings such as Watercolor Nature Journals and character design. Her programs help students develop creativity, observation skills, visual communication, and confidence.
You can find out more about her program here: https://createcircleinfo.wixsite.com/create-circle
Code with Nano - Coding Classes
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Monica (“Nano”) Say is a computer scientist and founder of Code With Nano, an organization dedicated to introducing students to computer science through engaging, hands-on learning experiences. As the first woman in her family to graduate with a Computer Science degree from Cal Poly Pomona, Monica developed a passion for making STEM education accessible and inspiring for young learners. At 10X Learning Center, Code With Nano provides coding opportunities through programs such as Python, Roblox Studio, and Minecraft Education, helping students build programming skills, creativity, and critical thinking.
You can learn more about Monica and her program here: https://codewithnano.com/
Henry Doktorski - Chess
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Henry Doktorski is not only a musician, he is also a Chess4Kidz instructor, tournament director, and trophy-winning chess player. He began playing the game at the age of three, he was president of his high school chess club, and today he is a member of the the United States Chess Federation, the Temecula (California) Chess Club, and a former member of the Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) Chess Club.
Mr. Doktorski plays in about a dozen tournaments a year Currently he is ranked in the 92nd percentile among 61,668 USCF-rated players in the U.S. He taught Chess4Kidz classes in Allegheny and Butler Counties (Pennsylvania) from January 2007 until December 2015, and since February 2016 has been teaching classes in Riverside and San Diego Counties, California.
Design with Laura - Sewing
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Laura Fruzyna is an educator and entrepreneur. Through Design with Laura, she is passionate about passing on the valuable skill of sewing to the next generation through hands-on instruction. At 10X Learning Center, Laura teaches machine sewing courses where students learn practical skills such as pattern selection, fabric design, machine operation, and project creation from start to finish.
Amy West - Drama, PE, Enrichment
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I have been teaching and working with kids since 2017. I have a passion for teaching and creating safe places where children can grow beyond where they thought possible. I studied Early Childhood Education, which further grew my love for making learning fun and finding new ways to promote engagement. I am an experienced school teacher, coach, choreographer, and art/dance instructor.
I also have experience serving both verbal and non-verbal children with special needs, such as visual impairments, autism, ADHD, and multiple disabilities. I have been an artist and dancer all my life, so I love to incorporate creativity into all my lessons.
You can learn more about me and my work here:
Sensei Michael Masso - Karate
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My name is Michael Masso—Sensei Michael to the students. I’ve been training in martial arts for just over 20 years and have spent half of that time teaching. Like many kids from my generation, I got into martial arts because I grew up on Avatar: The Last Airbender, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Dragon Ball Z (if you know, you know).
I hold a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Karate and have trained in styles like Judo, Kickboxing, and Baguazhang. I earned my B.A. in Media Communication from Point Loma Nazarene University and went on to work in the media industry as a fight choreographer and stuntman. That experience naturally led me to make teaching a central part of my life—both as a martial arts instructor and a film educator.
Whether I was holding a sword or a camera, I’ve always loved teaching kids how to wield it with purpose and confidence.For me, the true honor lies in helping young people grow stronger, more confident, and more compassionate—on and off the mat. I’m excited to get started and be part of their journey.
Andrew Luria - Kids Broadcasting Academy
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Broadcasting classes are taught by Andrew Luria, a news anchor with more than 20 years experience in TV news. He has been a part of more than 14,000 newscasts and has won ten Emmy Awards. He is also a father of three kids (13, 11 & 8), a children's book author and has led his broadcasting class to multiple awards as well as selections in major international film festivals.
Kathleen Parra - Kids Broadcasting Academy
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Kathleen Parra co-teaches alongside Andrew Luria, bringing her expertise to classes in broadcasting, creative writing, and sports math lab. She is an Emmy Award-winning, two-time nominee Automated Newscast Director with over four years of experience in the industry, as well as an associate faculty instructor in Media Design at MiraCosta College. Her real-world experience helps guide the next generation of creators and storytellers.