MISTER: Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role-Models
The mission of the Call Me MISTER initiative is to increase the pool of available teachers from a broader, more diverse background particularly among the state's lowest performing elementary schools. Student participants are largely selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.
I am a dedicated Servant Leader who is perpetuating a sorely needed concept, Servant Leaders as role models in elementary schools. I am devoted to planting seeds of dignity and respect in children, and inspiring them to cultivate those seeds that will produce a crop of unprecedented success. I will teach reading, writing and arithmetic and progress to self-esteem, imagination and determination. Because of my immeasurable promise, not only have I earned your respect but I demand it! A title is only important if one's character and integrity dictate its use. So, when you address me, please verbalize my destiny, please do not call me by my first name, in reference to my great vision ... Call Me MISTER.
Call Me MISTER is a scholarship teaching program developed to build leadership and meet the shortage of available teachers from a more diverse background in South Carolina's elementary schools. The program recruits, trains and certifies individuals to become elementary school teachers in the state's public schools.
Source: Call Me Mister
Clemson University National and State Program
After earning an associate degree at GTC, the MISTER transfers to a participating four-year institution to major in early childhood education, elementary education, or music, art or physical education for grades K-12.
Greenville Technical College (GTC) works in partnership with other colleges and universities in South Carolina to support the Call Me MISTER program. The participating four-year institutions are Anderson University, Benedict College, Claflin University, Clemson University, College of Charleston, Morris College, South Carolina State University, University of South Carolina at Beaufort, Coastal Carolina University, and Newberry College.
Students participating in GTC's Call Me MISTER program receive
Call Me MISTER received national recognition upon its inception when the first wave of MISTER participants were featured on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" and selected to be a part of Oprah's Angel Network.
National partners include North East Florida Educational Consortium, Albany State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Metropolitan Community College, Cheyney University, and Longwood University.
GTC prepares and enhances the academic skills of MISTERs to achieve success at four-year institutions.
Qualifications
To qualify for the Call Me MISTER program at Greenville Technical College, the student must
After transferring, the student must
Financial Assistance
When a student transfers from GTC's Call Me MISTER program to one at a four-year institution, the MISTER can receive up to $7,500 each year in tuition assistance packages. SC Student Loan Corporation and Call Me MISTER are partnering to ensure that all MISTERs can afford a college education by providing loan assistance packages with forgiveness benefits. The forgiveness benefits apply each year that participants teach in specified South Carolina elementary or middle school.
Student Leadership/Call Me Mister Coordinator
Richard Dawkins
Richard.Dawkins@dos5.net
864-250-8561
Associate Vice President for Executive Affairs
Wendy Walden
Wendy.Walden@dos5.net
864-250-8125