Meet Jaliyla Fraser | CEO – Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaliyla Fraser and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaliyla, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind the success of my company, first and foremost is God.  My faith carries me through the ups and downs of life on this entrepreneurship journey. It helps me to create a vision of how my company will impact educators, parents, and students globally in the future. I see smiling faces when students open up their Dope Math Notebooks in another country, translated in their language. I hear the, “Oh I get it” from parents learning how to help their kids with math at home. I see myself in meetings with my team figuring out how we will continue to make an impact in math education.

My success is also connected to my why. Although I graduated valedictorian of my elementary, middle, and high school class, I failed my first math class in college, lost all of my academic scholarships, and had to transfer schools because I could no longer afford it. As a declared math major, I learned very quickly that this was going to be a lonely journey as I was the only black girl in my math classes. Not to mention, my Discrete Math professor did a great job of making me feel small as he casually solved permutation and combination math problems on the board while saying, “you should know this” or “why don’t you know this.”  Now coming from a Caribbean household – as I was born in Trinidad and came to the United States when I was a baby – feeling small is indirectly proportional to my culture. While I didn’t know it at the time, the low self-esteem that I felt started my rebirth into the best math educator that I’ve always wanted to have. I transferred schools, redeclared my major, earned my B.S. in Secondary Math Education in 2008 from Temple University, my M.A. in 2009 from Columbia University in Math Education, and my certificate to teach physics in 2011. I vowed that my students would never say that their teacher “didn’t teach me this.”  My vast experiences as a high school math and physics teacher, K-12 district Math Supervisor, math professor, math textbook editor, mathematics advisor, computer science advisory board member, and co-author of nationally recognized math guidance documents has fully prepared me to be the CEO of my own disruptive math and STEM educational company. Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions is for every child that was told they couldn’t do math.

Since I have a real passion for this work, I can clearly see where my journey will take me. I make strategic decisions in the present to ensure that my company is already operating as a global force. I am a slave to having systems in place, documenting everything as I go and turning them into repeatable processes. Scaling takes strategy; you have to find a way to replace yourself. Most importantly, you have to invest in and trust your team. I’m learning so much as I grow and I am proud of the business owner that I am becoming. The success of my company is anchored by my why, having a vision for the future, and operating as if we are already there.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the proud CEO and founder of Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions (FMS), where we provide comprehensive training around high-quality mathematics teaching and learning, create innovative STEAM and math Programs, and produce innovative math tools to help students ILLUMINATE in the math classroom.  At Fraser’s Mathematics Solutions, we believe that providing students with challenging and engaging math instruction begins with ensuring that all stakeholders in a child’s K-12 school journey are strengthened. We provide deep support in three ways: (1) through our FMS Math Institutes for our 5 stakeholders (administrators, math coaches, math teachers, substitutes, and parents) where we provide professional development to help educators and parents increase their math content knowledge, confidence, and capacity; (2) through our innovative and customizable STEAM and math after school and summer programs outfitted with a standards aligned math curriculum, culturally relevant real-world applications, daily math affirmations, targeted small group instruction, and consistent training for school staff; and (3) through our Dope Math Notebooks for students in grades 3-Algebra I, outlined with Illuminating Math Tips, Kool Math Facts, lined and graph paper, Spanish translations, and a grade appropriate reference sheet, all wrapped in a sleek math design to help improve students muscle memory in math. We are simultaneously distrusting the professional development and school supply industry and have no plans on stopping.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I moved to Houston from East Orange, NJ almost a year and half ago and I am loving every bit of it.  Make sure to go to Graces for Sunday brunch and Chapman & Kirby for after brunch. On any given day, make sure to try Traveller’s Table for cuisine all around the world, ACME for their chargrilled oysters & Bungalow downtown for a great ambiance and amazing food. Do not pass up on Mo’ Betta Brews, Green Seed Vegan, Cascabel Mexican Vegan, and Sixty Vines. If you’re looking to sight see, go bike riding with Let’s Do This Houston or get a little “spirited” with Trills on Wheels. If you’re feeling low key and just want to take in nature, visit the Arboretum. Now if you’re trying to turn up, definitely go to Clé for the pool parties or Kamp for real vibes. Then hop on over to Five Central or Bar 5015 to end the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The warmth of my family, my friends, and my colleagues are the only reason I am able to say I run a successful company. More specifically, my mother’s support is unmatched – she’s seen me at my lowest and always had encouraging words and suggestions on how to help. My sister always prayed with me and for me. My father was always there to talk business and strategy with me, as he too was an entrepreneur, and my brother always kept me in check. When I first started my “side hustle” in 2017 all the way to when I resigned from my six-figure career, sold my home, and bet it all on this dream, my friends and colleagues showed up for me in so many ways. They’ve helped me pass out flyers, referred me clients, donated time and resources to my business, purchased products and services, talked to their networks for me, sent email introductions for me, proofread documents, loaned me money, enrolled their children in my programs…the list goes on. I am forever grateful and hope they are proud of the seeds that they helped to grow. Today, I am blessed to say that I have solid family, dope friends, and a devoted partner on this entrepreneurship roller coaster with me. 

Website: http://www.fmsolutions.site/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f_m_solutions/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frasers-mathematics-solutions/

Twitter: @f_m_solutions

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frasersfractions

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@frasersmathematicssolution9013

Image Credits
Stephen McFadden Lyn Morton