JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Edward Waters College is offering a scholarship program called, Call Me Mister. The college needs more applicants. It is available for African-American men who want to become teachers.
Here's how it works:
The scholarship program is open to African-American men majoring in elementary education. Students interested must be admitted into the college to qualify for the scholarship. Recipients of the Call Me Mister scholarship must make a commitment to teach in an inner-city elementary school in the Duval County Public School System for at least five years after graduation. In exchange, the student will receive a scholarship that will pay for the last two years of course work.
"In my former life, I saw how important it was for African American males, and males in general, to have positive role models. This program is perfect for that alignment," explained Nat Glover, president of Edward Waters College referencing his experience as the first black sheriff elected in the state of Florida. He served as sheriff in Duval County for two terms.
"Seventy-three percent of babies born in the African American community are born to a single parent and sometimes these kids who are a result of those births don't see a positive role model until they get into junior high school or even high school. We want to bring in some talented students and get them trained up to be teachers in the elementary school," said Glover.
To learn more you can call Charlotte Clark-Rowe with the Department of Teacher Education and Urban Studies at Edward Waters College, 904-470-8064 or 904-470-8125.