Call Me MiSTER® Program Brings Academic Support and Mentorship for Future K-12 Educators

GRAMBLING, La. – September 21, 2020 – Grambling State University’s Black Male Teacher Initiative has joined forces with Clemson University’s nationally known Call Me MiSTER® program to aid in the recruiting and development of more Black men into the teaching profession.

The program addresses the alarming statistic that less than 2 percent of teachers in the U.S. are Black men. Grambling State’s Call Me MiSTER® initiative aims to increase the pool of diverse teachers who will serve the state’s schools.

The Call Me MiSTER® (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program was founded originally at Clemson in 2000. Call Me MiSTER® is a teacher leadership program that provides the participants, who are entitled “Call Me MiSTER® Scholars,” with the tools necessary to succeed as teachers.

“Increasing the number of Black men leading in the classroom is an essential step in impacting the dramatic racial disparities in the national K-12 learning space,” President Rick Gallot said.

Grambling State’s program aims to engage and recruit Black male students into the teaching profession and see them through graduation in teaching degree programs significantly over a five-year period. Students in the program will receive scholarships, academic coaching, and post-graduate mentorships, among other benefits, to effect short-term sustainable improvement in the state education system.

Grambling State’s education department, currently offering Bachelor’s, Master’s, Post-Master’s Certifications, and Doctoral degrees is led by Dr. Cheryl Ensley, who has worked closely with President Gallot to enroll the first cohort.

“In many cases, underrepresentation leads to underperformance,” said Ensley. “Study after study demonstrates that students who have teachers of the same racial identity have increased success rates in education and that having a diverse teacher group benefits children of all backgrounds. Our program gives GSU students an incentivized pathway to fill those roles and make change in classrooms across the nation.”

“Clemson University is proud to partner with Grambling State University and their strong commitment to provide leadership in establishing a sustainable pipeline of Black male teachers to serve in Louisiana public schools” said Dr. Roy Jones, Call Me MiSTER Executive Director.

Grambling State’s Call Me MiSTERâ initiative targets the eleven Teacher Preparation programs currently offered by the University. The first cohort consists of seven students, 3 from Louisiana, and 1 each from Texas, Florida, Nevada, and California.

For more information about Grambling State’s education programs, visit gram.edu

About Grambling State University 

Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901 that combines the academic strengths of a major university with the benefits of a small college. This combination enables students to grow and learn in a serene and positive environment. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate academic programs. A member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling State University has been accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. With a longstanding tradition of excellence, Grambling State University continues to emphasize the value and importance of each student, exemplified by our motto: Where Everybody Is Somebody. For more information, visit gram.edu.