USC Sumter Introduces Call Me MiSTER Program

by Alethia Hummel

Sumter, SC (10/04/2021) — The University of South Carolina Sumter's Education Program is excited to announce the addition of the Call Me MiSTER program to campus. Last week, the inaugural cohort of MiSTERs officially started their journey with their first seminar.

The Call Me MiSTER program, developed and supported by Clemson University, aims to bring more men of color into the education profession. The program focuses on mentoring, academic support, and financial support for these future teachers. The goal of the USC Sumter program is to also foster a commitment with the students to become educators in the Sumter community.

"We are so honored to have the Call Me MiSTER program at USC Sumter. We need more men and, specifically, men of color in education. Nationally, over half of students are students of color, while approximately 85% of teachers are white women," said Christina Lunsmann, Coordinator & Instructor of Teacher Education at USC Sumter. "It is vitally important for all children to see people like them in professional roles. Call Me MiSTER helps meet that need because it encourages more exceptional men of color to enter into teacher education."

USC Sumter's Education Program offers two degrees, Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. The degrees are offered in partnership with USC Aiken. Students who desire one of these degrees complete all four years of courses on the Sumter campus.

"The USC Sumter education program is an excellent opportunity for students who are interested in earning a bachelor's degree in education but want to stay in Sumter," continued Lunsmann. "Having the bachelor's degree program in Sumter also encourages students to get experience in local schools, and we hope that once they graduate and become teachers, they will stay in our community."

In addition to engaging in professional development, mentorship, and advocacy, the Call Me MiSTER participants will be part of a living learning community. They will live together, study together, and meet with their site coordinator and mentor, local teacher Mr. Micah Vaughn. USC Sumter's Call Me MiSTER program is supported by the Liberty STEAM charter school, which will provide an annual stipend for the site coordinator and a $5,000 scholarship towards housing for each student.

"The Liberty STEAM Charter (LSC) mission is directly aligned with the principles of the Call Me MiSTER program to prepare our scholars for success in college, career, and life," said Dr. Trevor Ivey, NBCT; Chief of Staff Liberty STEAM Charter. "We know the single greatest impact on our scholars' outcomes is the adults we put in front of them. Partnering with these organizations through a combination of financial support and serving as a professional development site, will help to provide a pipeline of talented and diverse adults to touch the lives of the future scholars we will serve at LSC."

For more information on Call Me MiSTER or the education program at USC Sumter, please contact Dr. Christina Lunsmann, at 803.938.3786 or lunsmann@mailbox.sc.edu.

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