Call Me MiSTER
Mentoring future teachers and role models
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Call Me MiSTER is a Teacher Recruitment and Retention program open to ALL aspiring Teachers, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. ‘MiSTER’ is an acronym that stands for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models and is not gender specific.
The goal of this program is to mentor and support college students to become effective teacher leaders who will then become mentors to their students. There is an expectation that graduates make a commitment to serve communities experiencing Teacher recruitment and retention challenges for as many years as they received support.
The Call Me MiSTER Program was founded at Clemson University in 2000. During its 25-year history, this program has supported and graduated 409 students who now serve as teachers in South Carolina.
Call Me MiSTER provides multiple levels of support for qualified, aspiring teachers:
- An academic support system to help ensure their success
- A cohort system for social and cultural support
- Assistance with tuition and/or books
- Assistance with job placement
We are recruiting potential students for the fall semester and the ideal MiSTER must possess leadership qualities as well as adhere to the following in academia and program requirements:
- Major in elementary, early childhood education or K-12 certification areas
- Maintain a minimum of 2.5 GPA during the first 60 hours
- Be enrolled for at least 16 hours
- Adhere to attendance policies
- Not drop any class without advisement from the site coordinator
- Take the Praxis I exam by the end of freshman year
- Satisfy all requirements for admission to teacher education program by the second semester of Junior year
- Teach one year in an elementary or middle school for each year funds were received from Call Me MISTER
- Conduct self in a manner that exemplifies values of a positive role model and mentor
- Attend all scheduled Call Me MISTER seminars and activities
- Adhere to the grievance policies of the campus where enrolled
- Develop a plan of action with the site coordinator to assist in academic success
Procedures for admission to the Call Me MiSTER® program must be completed in the following order:
- Apply for and be accepted into Spartanburg Community College.
- Complete the Call Me MiSTER® online application.
- Submit the following items:
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- High school diploma and final transcript or General Education Development (GED) certificate.
- Two letters of recommendation:
- One (1) from a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal at the high school form which the diploma is earned.
- One (1) from a person of the student's choice who can express the student's involvement in the community and/or potential for entering the teaching profession.
- An essay entitled, "Why I Want to Teach," which will address the student's motivation for entering the teaching profession and the contributions he hopes to make to the profession and to the community as a teacher.
- Following the submission of the items above, an interview will be scheduled with the prospective program participants to ascertain their potential for teaching and their motivations for participation in the program, as well as to provide an opportunity for clarification of any information submitted through the application process.
This application will be sent to Call Me MiSTER Site Coordinator Ivory Wilson. Please send your essay and recommendation letters to Mr. Wilson at wilsoni@sccsc.edu.
Please see our policies regarding discrimination, laws and regulations.