We built Tile Farm to change how students think and feel about math
Too many students experience math as something stressful, boring, or disconnected from their own lives. Tile Farm was created from a different belief: math can be joyful, visual, rigorous, and deeply human.
Tile Farm Academy helps students build number sense, confidence, and problem-solving skills through a simple daily routine rooted in exploration, visual reasoning, and creative thinking. Students notice patterns, share their thinking, build strategies, create mathematical art, and develop the curiosity, persistence, and flexibility they need to thrive far beyond the math classroom.
Built by educators, backed by research
Tile Farm Academy was designed by educators who understand how hard it can be to bring a new program into an already full school day. That’s why we built Tile Farm to be simple for teachers, joyful for students, and meaningful in real classrooms.
With support from the National Science Foundation, Tile Farm is research-informed, classroom-tested, and aligned with ESSA Tier IV evidence standards. Our work brings together strong mathematics, thoughtful design, and decades of classroom experience to help students build number sense, fluency, confidence, and a lasting enthusiasm for math.
The story of Tile Farm
Tile Farm began with a simple idea: we wanted people of all ages to experience how beautiful, creative, and exciting math can be.
Our story started in Albuquerque in the 1990s, when Louis Romero—an applied mathematician with a PhD from Caltech—began exploring how to make math joyful for his own children and students in Albuquerque, NM. Decades later, Tile Farm has grown into a family-built learning platform rooted in our shared love of mathematics, teaching, creativity, and problem solving.
At heart, we are still working toward the same goal: helping students see math as something they can understand, enjoy, explore, and make their own.
Our Team
Louis Romero
Louis has a PhD in applied mathematics from Caltech, has published over 60 peer-reviewed journal articles, and has decades of experience teaching math to people of all ages. He is passionate about showing the world how beautiful and elegant math can be.
Julian Romero
Julian has a PhD in economics from Caltech, and was previously a professor of economics at the University of Arizona where he conducted research in game theory, neuroscience, and political science. He loves computer programming and teaching people, and he combines these passions while developing code for Tile Farm.
Alex Romero
Alex has an MS in biochemistry and molecular biophysics from Caltech, and extensive experience as a research scientist, curriculum developer, and K-12 math and science teacher. He is passionate about art and innovation, and making the math learning experience as beautiful and joyful as possible.
Elia Romero
Elia has a PhD in education from the University of Mexico, and has decades of experience both teaching and providing professional development for teachers at Albuquerque Public Schools. She is community leader passionate about ensuring all students have equitable educational experiences.
Jim Lujan
Jim has worked in the IT industry for over 25 years and is passionate about the ways in which technology can transform classrooms. He is one of the top international ed-tech sales executives at Technology Integration Group, is a STEM advisory board member for Albuquerque Public Schools, and a board member of the Albuquerque Teacher Federation Teacher Leadership Foundation.
Lauren Johnson
Lauren has a degree in communications from Northwestern University, and has been active in Tile Farm’s outreach in Arizona and Southern California.