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Greg Tang’s passion for helping students learn math began in 1982 as a volunteer with the Higher Achievement Program in Washington, D.C. While in graduate school, he earned a teaching award from the Harvard-Danforth Center for Teaching & Learning and Kaplan recognized him as one of their top SAT and GRE test-prep instructors.
Between 2001 and 2006, Scholastic published eight of Greg’s math picture books, including The Grapes of Math, a New York Times bestseller, and Math Appeal, a gold-medal-winning eBook. In 2006, he wrote the Go Fast, Go Far mental math series for Houghton Mifflin’s textbook program. In 2013, he made GregTangMath.com free for students and it quickly became a cornerstone of school math programs worldwide.
Beginning in 2014, Greg hosted his annual Math Plus Conference – drawing 1,000 teachers to Kansas City each July to deepen their understanding of math content and pedagogy. In 2019, he expanded his efforts by offering free, two-hour Saturday morning workshops to further support teachers.
When the pandemic hit, Greg transitioned from in-person events to virtual workshops. Over the next four years, he led more than 2,000 free online sessions, reaching 140,000 teachers and 2.4 million students, with many more benefiting from his digital recordings.
In 2024, as schools reduced funding for professional development and teaching materials, Greg and his wife, Tammy, started The Fresh Thinking Foundation. Their goal is to support teachers by providing training and resources. Their foundation’s main initiative is The Fresh Thinking Math Conference, a two-day event focused on practical and proven strategies for teaching math.
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Tim Thompson has dedicated 46 years to the financial industry, including the last 21 years as President of Solutions North Bank in Bogue, KS. His commitment to service extends beyond banking, with eight years on the USD 281 Board of Education, where he also served a term as President.
Tim remains deeply involved in his community, serving in multiple leadership roles. He is currently the Mayor of Bogue, Kansas, Treasurer for Wildhorse Township, Chairman of the Bogue United Methodist Church Finance Committee, and President of the Graham County Public Library Board. His past service includes numerous boards, committees, and councils, reflecting his dedication to making a difference.
A devoted family man, Tim is the proud father of two grown children and grandfather to four grandchildren.
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Tammy Tang loves making things work better—whether it’s organizing a system, streamlining a process, or adding a creative twist to something familiar. Over the years, she has developed software programs to help teachers save time, written technology integration books to support educators, and even built a program to score track meets. She enjoys finding practical solutions that allow teachers to focus on what truly matters—helping students succeed.
Creativity plays a big role in Tammy’s life. She loves playing piano, writing music, and trying new things in the kitchen. But her favorite role is being a grandmother, spending time with her grandchildren and seeing the world through their eyes.
At The Fresh Thinking Foundation, Tammy brings her passion for problem-solving, organization, and innovation to support teachers in meaningful ways. With the right tools and fresh ideas, she believes educators can transform classrooms and create better learning experiences for all students.
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As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Zach Thompson brings valuable financial expertise to our Fresh Thinking Foundation. He ensures that we operate with integrity and adhere to all regulations governing 501(c)(3) organizations. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Fort Hays State University and a master's degree in accounting from the University of Kansas.
Beyond his financial work, Zach is deeply involved in his community. He serves on the Chamber of Commerce Board, the Graham County Community Foundation Board, and the Graham County Little Roosters Daycare Foundation Board. Following in his father Tim’s footsteps, he also volunteers as a Bogue firefighter, demonstrating his dedication to keeping his community safe.
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