Today's Students Tomorrow's Teachers to Kickoff 20th Anniversary Celebration

April 16, 2014 - PRLog -- Distinguished guests including local, county, state and federal officials, prominent educators, supporters and current and future teachers will join in kicking off the 20^th Anniversary “Living the Vision” Celebration of Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers ™(TSTT) at the organization’s Annual Recognition Breakfast. The event, which precedes Teacher Appreciation Week May 5th- 9^th-, will be held 8:30 AM-10:30 AM, Friday, May 2 at the Westchester Marriott Hotel, Tarrytown.

Dr. Bettye H. Perkins, Ed.D, TSTT’s founder, President and CEO, said that the milestone will be observed with a year-long series of TSTT-sponsored high-profile education forums that will feature addresses by prominent individuals. It is TSTT’s strategy to expand its ground-breaking and successful mentoring program nationally.

“Our theme “Living the Vision”, speaks to the fact that TSTT is fulfilling its mission  to mentor, train and place students of color back in their communities as caring, competent and committed teachers who can help to close the achievement gap and reverse the increasing shortage of teachers of color in our nation’s schools,” Dr.Perkins explained.

She added: “Thanks to our community of extraordinary supporters including leaders in the business, education, non-profit and government sectors as well as individuals, TSTT has become a viable national model to develop tomorrow’s highly effective teachers.”

TSTT began in 1994 with only seven students as part of a strategy Dr. Perkins recommended to the  Ossining School District to help recruit teachers of color to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. “TSTT has grown dramatically. Today, there are over 115 TSTT alumni teachers who are changing the lives of more than 150,000 students in 10 states, and more than 700 high school and colleges students who are on their way to become teachers in four states,” she stated.

Underscoring the critical mass that TSTT has reached in becoming a national model is the recent significant expansion of its program in Greater Boston area and suburbs. “Our program has proven to be relevant in both small suburban school districts and large urban school districts. What they all have in common is a lack of teachers that mirror the diversity of the student population. TSTT is committed to correcting that imbalance.”

As in the past, the Recognition Breakfast will provide an opportunity for TSTT to salute its collaborative partners and supporters, leaders in education, dedicated TSTT teachers and its future educators.

The 2014 honorees are Dennis McDermott, Retired Vice President of JP Morgan Chase Foundation who will be presented with the Legacy Award;

Rev. Dr. Verlin D. Williams of Union Baptist Church, White Plains, recipient of the Leadership Award. Entergy will be presented with the Corporate Award.

In addition, eight teachers will be honored as Perkins Scholars and presented with the 2014 golden apples as they join 14 previously honored Perkins Scholars who have reached the 10-year milestone as TSTT mentored teachers. Among those participating in the awards ceremony will be U.S. Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (17^th District); State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins (35^th District); and Deputy Westchester County Executive Kevin Plunkett.

TSTT partners with  41 school districts that participate in the program and 24 colleges that have partnered with TSTT by providing qualified students with up to 50% scholarships for tuition costs.

The highlight of the program will be the keynote address by U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn, of the 6^th Congressional District in South Carolina and, as Assistant Democratic Leader, he is the third ranking Democrat in the House of Representatives.

Dr. Perkins invited Congressman Clyburn to help kickoff the 20^th celebration because of the inspirational role he played in her life. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.TSTT.org or call (914) 345-344, ext. 18.

About Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers™ TSTT is an innovative career development model that addresses teacher shortages by recruiting culturally diverse and economically challenged high school students, mentors and trains them throughout college, and then helps place them as effective teachers in schools in their communities.

TSTT was founded in 1994 by Dr. Bettye H. Perkins, President and Chief Executive Officer. as an early teacher preparation program.  According to Dr. Perkins, “Our goal is to close the achievement gap and to ensure that these deserving young people will ultimately be equipped to become highly effective teachers, role models, and leaders in their communities.”

For more information visit:  www.tstt.org.