The second cohort of Jackson State University’s Call Me MISTER was officially inducted in the program on Friday, April 25, in front of a crowd of university officials, friends and family.
The program, which originated at Clemson University, was launched at JSU in 2012 with a five-student cohort. It is designed to provide a pipeline for African-American male teachers, mentors and role models to Mississippi’s public schools and communities. Less than 2 percent of public school teachers in the U.S. are African-American men. In Mississippi, the figure is around 2.4 percent.
Members of the second cohort are Everett Anderson, Jr., of Jackson; Markeith Donerson, of Jackson; Deon Holder of Indianpolis; Freddrick Murray of Jackson and Devonte Stewart of Atlanta.
Call Me MISTER immerses students in field experiences, summer leadership institutes and summits, as well as in school and community outreach. JSU received a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to fund the program. Since it began in Clemson more than a decade ago, it has expanded to other states and gained numerous educational partners, including 16 colleges and universities in South Carolina. JSU has the only program in Mississippi.
Dr. Roy Jones, executive director of Call Me MISTER and associate professor of Educational Leadership at Clemson, spoke to the group during the ceremony, calling on them to stay dedicated to a career in education.
“We don’t want you to come in and leave. We can’t afford that. We want you to stick and stay,” Jones said. “We’re developing a lifestyle. We’re developing a culture of commitment to our communities.”
Stewart, a 19-year-old freshman whose known he wanted to be a teacher since he was in the 11th grade, said his goal is to do more than “teach to the test.”
“I want to show children how they can better themselves and how to be respectful,” he said. “I want to keep them motivated to obtain success in life.”