Call Me MISTER Recruitment Showcase Seeks to Increase the Number of SC Teachers from Diverse Backgrounds
Event is co-hosted by USC Sumter and Morris College
Sumter, SC (03/04/2025) — The University of South Carolina Sumter will host the Call Me MiSTER Recruitment Showcase on Friday, March 7 at USC Sumter. The event will welcome over 300 high school attendees from Sumter, Kershaw, Clarendon, Lee, and Williamsburg school districts who have an interest in pursuing a career in early childhood or K-12 education.
The mister in Call Me MiSTER (CMM) stands for Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models. The program aims to select and support future teachers from socioeconomically and culturally diverse communities. The goal of CMM is to increase the number of teachers from various backgrounds and experiences.
Founded at Clemson University in 2000 to address the significant shortage of African American men teaching in K-8 public elementary school classrooms, CMM is now recognized in two and four-year universities across the United States. In Sumter, CMM is offered at USC Sumter and Morris College. Once students are accepted into the program, they are provided tuition assistance, a cohort system for social and cultural support, academic support, mentorship, and job placement assistance.
"We are building our Call Me Mister program here at USC Sumter because many students go their entire k-12 education without having a teacher who reflects their personal experiences," said Elizabeth Hawkins, CMM Program Coordinator and Instructor of Teacher Education.
At this year's CMM Recruitment Showcase, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the teaching profession and the important role they may play in future students' lives. They will also hear a message from keynote speaker, Mr. Ryan Bethea, a 2015 Call Me Mister program graduate from University of South Carolina Beaufort. Bethea has a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Instructional Design & Educational Technology. Currently he serves as an Instructional Coach at Pee Dee Math Science & Technology Academy. Beyond his professional achievements, Bethea is married to Mahogany Bethea and father to Ryan Jr. & Rylan. He is committed to his community and is an active member in Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
This event is co-hosted by USC Sumter and Morris College.
For more information on Call Me Mister or USC Sumter, please visit uscsumter.edu
Media Attachments
Ryan Bethea will be the keynote speaker at USC Sumter's Call Me Mister Recruitment Showcase.