Jennifer Snyder

MathematiCUSE creates math community

Kate Hill

Educator Jennifer Snyder founded MathematiCUSE Math Learning Center in Manlius in 2018 with the goal of creating a fun environment where students could enjoy learning and doing mathematics.

Located at 8240 Cazenovia Road #110, MathematiCUSE offers math tutoring and academic support to students throughout the area, including those from the FayettevilleManlius, Cazenovia, and Jamesville-DeWitt school districts, Christian Brothers Academy, and Manlius Pebble Hill.

During visits to the learning center, students can work on current classwork, homework, test prep, or receive extra practice and enrichment to meet their individual needs.

“I want to help build students’ confidence in mathematics,” said Snyder. “The main idea behind MathematiCUSE was the ‘Math Lab,’ which offers flexibility to busy parents and students. Students can ‘drop-in’ by signing up online, and [they] can even come in for same-day math tutoring as needed. [The Math Lab] can offer support for last-minute questions with homework or studying for tests. [It’s] almost like having a math tutor on-call.”

According to the MathematiCUSE website, the math lab’s qualified tutors offer help with any level of K-12 mathematics, including common core math, elementary math K-4, middle school math 5-8, algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2, trigonometry, pre-calculus, statistics, calculus, Regents prep, SAT math, and ACT math.

Each tutor works with only one to three students at a time to ensure that all students receive individual attention. Private sessions can also be scheduled to guarantee one-on-one tutoring.

Snyder noted that the Math Lab currently has three tutors, but more may be added as the business continues to grow.

All MathematiCUSE tutors must pass a math assessment, an interview, a background check, and a tutoring audition to ensure that they are experts in K-12 mathematics, and they interact well with students. During the tutoring audition, the candidate is observed as they work with a student in a trial tutoring session.

Snyder, who holds a New York State teaching certification in secondary mathematics, has experience teaching math in both classroom and private tutoring settings. Originally from Orchard Park, she graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and holds a master's degree in math education from New York University. Snyder said she decided to go into teaching during her senior year of college after doing some tutoring and working with students through the Syracuse University Literacy Corps, which sends SU students to tutor at elementary schools, middle schools, and nonprofit organizations throughout the community. After graduating in 2007, Snyder was accepted into Math for America, a competitive teaching fellowship program aimed at improving math education in cities across the United States. Through the program, she was given the opportunity to earn her master’s degree and teach middle school math in New York City.

“[The program] paid for the master's degree in math education in exchange for teaching in a NYC school for a few years after graduation,” Snyder explained. “They also provided monthly professional development.”

In 2011, Snyder and her husband moved back to Central New York, where she continued working with math students by tutoring privately.

The MathematiCUSE Math Lab is open Monday through Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. To learn more, call (315) 692-4029, email info@mathematicuse.com, or visit mathematicuse.com.

Founded by Jennifer Snyder in 2018, MathematiCUSE Math Learning Center in Manlius offers math tutoring and academic support to students in grades K-12.