When Jahmes Hamilton enrolls at Claflin University this fall, he will participate in the “Call Me Mister” program, which trains Black men to be educators in South Carolina. Through the program, Jahmes will participate in coursework to become a music educator. Jahmes says that he didn’t initially want to become a teacher, but that the staff at Eastern High School transformed his idea of what it meant to be an educator, starting with his interactions with Principal Brown on the first day of school. He says his teachers at Eastern really cared about him and were focused on providing everything that their students needed. “That’s what I want to do with my students, be somebody they can come to.” This summer, Jahmes will have an opportunity to arrive on campus early and participate in a 6-week program to earn 9 credits and get acclimated to his new environment. Jahmes says that he wants people to realize the opportunities that Eastern offers for both extracurriculars like the choir as well as academics through the International Baccalaureate program. “Really, this is one of the best high schools in DC.” #DCPSGoesToCollege
