Students in the Claflin University Call Me Mister program attended a summer internship in 2009, which is only part of a curriculum that aspires to build African American male educators who are positive role models for children.

The Call Me MISTER program is designed to improve the low number of African American male teachers working in South Carolina's classroom. At its inception in 2000, the program discovered that number was actually less than one percent.

Claflin University has been at the forefront of trying to raise that percentage. Since 2004, the University has certified 15 African American male teachers through Call Me MISTER, compared to 50 overall statewide.

But Claflin Call Me MISTER Collaborator Mr. Hayward Jean, '04, said the work is far from over. He says being a solid teacher means first having to become a solid role model for children.

“There is an overabundance of negative role models out there today,” Mr. Jean said. “We are creating positive role models for children inside and outside the classroom”

On Friday, Feb. 26, approximately 24 Claflin students will be officially inducted into the Call Me MISTER program. Mr. Jean said the induction is the first of its kind and marks the start of a major push to recruit more minority servant leaders and mentors into education.

Mr. Jean himself is an excellent example of the program's success. A teacher at Marshall Elementary School in Orangeburg, S.C., Mr. Jean won the 2009 NAACP Presidential Citation for Education Advocacy. His unique teaching style – he often encourages his students to rap about lessons they learn in class - has also been reported by local and national media outlets.

But Mr. Jean acknowledges that his path to success didn't come without a mentor.

Years ago, he was watching television one night when Mr. Salome Thomas-El, a national education consultant and accomplished author, appeared on C-SPAN. He was amazed by the consultant's enthusiasm for teaching.

That prompted him to email Mr. Thomas-El for advice. To Mr. Jean's surprise, the renowned educator responded to his overture despite his busy schedule.

Mr. Thomas-El will be the featured speaker on Friday evening where families and educators will assemble to inspire impactful change.

Mr. Salome Thomas-El

“Basically, my mantra is that every child deserves someone that is crazy about them,” Mr. Thomas-El said. “We have to be strong enough to never give up on them.”

While teaching at Vaux Middle School in Philadelphia, Mr. Thomas-El's classes gained worldwide recognition by winning National Chess Champions eight times. He used the game of chess to elevate his students' self esteem and heighten their reasoning skills.

During his time at Vaux, he turned down several attractive offers to make more money elsewhere. Mr. Thomas-El chronicled that experience in his first book “I Choose to Stay: A Black Teacher Refuses to Desert the Inner City.” His second book “The Immortality of Influence” features a chapter on Claflin's Call Me MISTER program.

“Just one program at one university is touching educators and gives them a chance to touch thousands of children,” he said.

Mr. Jean said the Call Me MISTER program is a rigorous but rewarding undertaking for its participants. They are taught essential teaching skills through professional development workshops. However, Mr. Jean noted the Call Me MISTER students are also taught the value of community service and leadership.

He believes that will translate into creating a new generation of students who are inspired to pursue education thanks to having a positive male role model in their lives at an early age.

“One of our mottos is that we build people first and then build educators second,” Mr. Jean said.

The Call Me MISTER program began at Clemson University. Claflin was one of the first institutions in the state to charter the program. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the program on campus.

Mr. Jean has major plans for Call Me MISTER to make even greater strides in the decade to come. For example, he plans to establish youth conferences for students in local school districts.

“The MISTERS are challenging students to become visionary,” Mr. Jean said. “It's not just a job, it's a calling.”

The Call Me MISTER Induction Ceremony will be held on Friday at 6 p.m. in Ministers' Hall.