Call Me MiSTER

Be the change in South Carolina’s classrooms with Call Me MiSTER

South Carolina and all across America need more Black males at the head of their classrooms. You can become the role models children of color desperately need in school by living and learning with your peers in SC State’s Call Me MiSTER program.
Call Me MiSTER offers tuition assistance and stipends for select qualified participants.
But the program is more than just a financial incentive. It’s a way of life at SC State.

What is Call Me MiSTER?

SC State University is leading the way in recruiting and training more African American male teachers for South Carolina classrooms through its Call Me MiSTER program. Launched in 2000, the program is designed to provide a pipeline of highly effective African-American male educators to South Carolina’s public schools who will serve their communities as mentors and role models.

Less than 2 percent of public school teachers in the U.S. are African-American men and less than 1 percent of South Carolina’s public elementary school teachers are African- American men.

Through Call Me MiSTER, this narrative has already begun to change. Since 2004, over 500 MiSTERs have graduated fully certified and entered the classroom resulting in a 90% increase of Black male elementary teachers in South Carolina.

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply. About three students are added to the program each year, which means the program is highly competitive. 

Bonding, Mentoring & Learning Experiences

Call Me MiSTER cohort members do more than just attend classes. Our MiSTERs are active participants in SC State campus life. They also mentor other potential educators in Orangeburg area schools, volunteer at events and even travel to major conferences to present research about education around the country and the world. Recent excursions have included trips to Hawaii and Jamaica.

Financial Assistance

The Call Me MiSTER (CMM) program is a collaboration between Clemson University and other colleges and universities, including South Carolina State University. The program is highly competitive and provides financial assistance in the form of scholarships towards tuition & fees and a stipend each semester.

There are two levels of funding:

• Pre-Praxis Core Completion — MiSTERs who have NOT passed Praxis Core.

• Financial assistance of $5,000 each academic year.

• Praxis Core Completion – MiSTERs who have passed Praxis Core.

• Financial assistance of $10,000 each academic year.

Please note that these amounts are subject to change from year to year and these amounts include the scholarship and stipend together.

Guidelines & Requirements for Participation

After they graduate, MiSTERs are expected to teach in a public school in South Carolina equivalent to each year they received funding. 

To participate in Call Me MiSTER, you must meet the following guidelines and requirements:

1. Be accepted for enrollment at South Carolina State University.
2. Reside in the designated Living and Learning Community (LLC) dormitory along with the other MiSTERs in the cohort for the entire duration of your academic matriculation.
3. Major in any education degree program offered at SC State University.
4. Complete the pre-application form found at www.callmemister.clemson.edu.
5. Submit a fully completed application. Applications and supporting documents should be received by April 15 of each year.
6. Participate in a virtual or in-person interview.

Please note that applicants who take and pass all three parts of Praxis Core (Pre-Professional Skills Assessment of Reading, Writing, & Math) prior to the selection deadline will be given high priority. For information about this test, log on to www.ets.org/praxis. Praxis Core is a requirement for all education majors in the state of South Carolina.

Contact Us

Have a question about SC State's Call Me MiSTER Program? Our team will be happy to help!

Costonzo Bryant-Martin
Campus Director
cbryantm@scsu.edu

803-536-8490

 

Apply to SC State Today!