What is Call Me MiSTER®?
The Call Me MiSTER® (Mentors Instructing Students Toward Effective Role Models) program was founded originally at Clemson University in 2000. The program strives to increase the pool of available teachers from a more diverse background, particularly among the State's lowest performing elementary schools. Student participants are largely selected from among under-served, socio-economically disadvantaged and educationally at-risk communities.
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 pre-service teachers. With the preparation and support from the Call Me MiSTER® program, students will go on to pursue successful careers in elementary and middle schools in Tennessee.
Call Me MiSTER® serves students at 24 participating colleges within South Carolina and 9 national partner institutions, including the University of Tennessee at Martin, which has the only Call Me MiSTER® Program currently in Tennessee.
Mission
Access, affordability and inclusive excellence are central to the University of Tennessee at Martin's mission and are key to the success of UT Martin's Call Me MiSTER® program as the only such initiative in the state. UT Martin's Call Me MiSTER® program will build educational leadership by recruiting and training students from underrepresented backgrounds to become transformational teachers within the state of Tennessee. Our MiSTERs will become Master Teachers who are not only effective educators but valuable mentors for their students as well.
Benefits
Call Me MiSTER® students will benefit from:
- Financial assistance through tuition assistance, housing and/or loan forgiveness
- An academic support system to help assure their success
- A cohort model for social and cultural support within the Department of Educational Studies and through activities specific to Call Me MiSTER®
- Faculty mentorship assistance with job placement
Call Me MiSTER® Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance Data
| 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | 4th Year | |
| Tuition | 25% | 35% | 50% | 70% |
| Housing | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Each Call Me MiSTER® student will be issued a new computer.
Each Call Me MiSTER® student will be given the opportunity to apply for the Hope College Scholarship, Harold Connor Scholarship and Minority Teaching Scholarship.
Vision Statement
Students within the Call Me MiSTER® program are guided by the following vision statement:
I am a dedicated Servant Leader who is perpetuating a sorely needed concept - Servant-Leaders as role models in elementary schools. I am devoted to planting seeds of dignity and respect in children and inspiring them to cultivate those seeds producing a crop of unprecedented success. I will teach reading, writing and arithmetic and progress to self-esteem, imagination, and determination. Because of my immeasurable promise, not only have I earned your respect, I demand it! A title is only important if ones character and integrity dictate its use. When you address me, please verbalize my destiny ... please do not call me by my first name ... call me in reference to my great vision ... call me MiSTER®!
Application Process
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a composite score of at least 22 on ACT, combined SAT score of at least 1100, and GPA of 2.7 or above on a 4-point scale
- Be eligible for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship program
- Be a Tennessee resident
- Agree to teach one year in a Tennessee public school for each year of assistance provided by Call Me MiSTER®
In order to be accepted into the Call Me MiSTER® program, students must complete the following:
- Apply and be accepted to UT Martin
- Complete the Call Me MiSTER® online referral application
- Submit the following items:
- High school diploma and final transcript or General Education Development (GED) Certificate
- Two letters of recommendation:
- One from a teacher, guidance counselor, or principal at the high school from which the diploma is earned
- One from a person of the student's choice who can express the student's involvement in the community and/or potential for entering the teaching profession
- An essay entitled, "Why I Want to Teach," which will address the student's motivation for entering the teaching profession and the contributions he or she hopes to make to the profession and to the community as a teacher
- An essay entitled, "How do you believe the Call Me MiSTER® program will benefit you as a student?"
- A signed statement certifying that the student is from an underserved, underprivileged or economically disadvantaged background or area
Please send the items from step 3 to:
Call Me MiSTER® Program Coordinator(s)
The University of Tennessee at Martin
Gooch Hall 240
538 University Street
Martin, Tennessee 38238
Following the submission of the items above, an interview will be scheduled with prospective program participants to ascertain their potential for teaching and their motivations for participation in the program, as well as to provide an opportunity for clarification of any information submitted through the application process.
Program Requirements
Once accepted into the Call Me MiSTER® Program, students are expected to adhere to the following expectations:
- Major in either Elementary, Early Childhood Education or K-12 Certification areas
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75
- Be enrolled for at least 16 hours
- Adhere to university and Call Me MiSTER® attendance policies
- Not drop any class without advisement from the Program Coordinator(s)
- Satisfy all requirements for admission to a teacher education program
- Maintain weekly communication with Program Coordinator(s)
- Attend all mandated Call Me MiSTER® Program events (that do not interfere with classes), including Summit, Leadership Institute, and other activities as defined by Program Coordinator(s)
- Reside in prescribed CMM Living Learning Community for duration of undergraduate matriculation
Each MISTER is expected to complete his program of study, obtain a teacher certification and assume a teaching position in a Tennessee public school. The Call Me MISTER® Scholar will teach at least one year for each year funds were received from Call Me MiSTER® and/or Teach Grant.
Student Rights and Responsibilities
The “Call Me MISTER®” Scholar must:
Academics
- Major in Elementary, Early Childhood Education or K-12 Certification areas
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75
- Be enrolled for at least 16 hours
- Adhere to university and Call Me MiSTER® attendance policies
- Not drop any class without advisement from the Program Coordinator(s)
- Satisfy all requirements for admission to a teacher education program
- Maintain weekly communication with Program Coordinator(s)
- Attend all mandated Call Me MiSTER® Program events (that do not interfere with classes), including Summit, Leadership Institute, and other activities as defined by Program Coordinator(s)
- Reside in prescribed CMM Living Learning Community for duration of undergraduate matriculation
Program
- Teach one year in a Tennessee elementary/middle school for each year funds were received from Call Me MiSTER® and/or Teach Grant
- Conduct self at all times in a manner that exemplifies values of a positive role model, mentor and tenets of the Call Me MiSTER® Program
- Reside in prescribed CMM Living Learning Community for duration of undergraduate matriculation and do not engage in outside employment that will impair effectiveness in meeting academic and project requirements *Appeals must be made directly to Program Coordinator(s)
- Attend all scheduled Call Me MiSTER® seminars and activities
- Adhere to the grievance policies of the University of Tennessee at Martin (see UT Martin Student Handbook), as well as those prescribed by the Call Me MiSTER® Program (see CMM Handbook)
- Develop a plan of action with the Program Coordinator(s) to assist in academic success, Praxis/edTPA completion, and personal growth
*Retention in Call Me MiSTER® is dependent upon both academic performance, AND consistent participation in scheduled activities, mandatory events, and outreach initiatives (that do not interfere with classes) while maintaining satisfactory progression toward the fulfillment of Call Me MiSTER’s® overall expectations, goals and mission.
Consequences
In the event that a Call Me MISTER® Scholar fails to comply with the preceding stipulations, the following prerogatives will be exercised:
- Forfeiture of all or part of your stipend
- Placement on probation for a semester
- Adhere to prescriptive-individualized plans regarding academic assistance and personal/professional development
- Loss of all or partial CMM financial assistance; participation in CMM events and initiatives at Program Coordinator(s)’s discretion
- Dismissal from Call Me MiSTER®
*Infractions resulting in all or partial loss of stipend may be appealed (review CMM Handbook for grievance/appeal procedures. Such infractions include, but are not limited to:
- Class absenteeism and/or excessive tardiness
- Conduct unbecoming a MISTER
- Continued unexcused absences from Call Me MiSTER® activities or events, improper dress and/or appearance (after being cautioned or reprimanded by Coordinator(s)
- Failure to maintain a 2.75 GPA or above
