Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers (TSTT) is building on a historic milestone—and we invite you to be part of what comes next.

Earlier this year, TSTT proudly established its first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) partnership with South Carolina State University, creating a new pathway for aspiring educators to attend an HBCU, prepare for careers in education, and ultimately return to communities where talented, committed teachers are needed most.

Now, we are ready to expand the TSTT HBCU Initiative by developing partnerships with additional HBCUs and their surrounding school districts.

Why HBCUs? Why Now?

For generations, HBCUs have played a critical role in preparing Black educators and educational leaders. At a time when schools across the country face teacher shortages and an urgent need for a more diverse educator workforce, strengthening the pathway between talented young people, HBCUs, and careers in education is more important than ever.

TSTT is uniquely positioned to help lead this work.

Our nationally recognized “grow-your-own” teacher pipeline begins identifying and preparing students while they are still in high school. Through the HBCU Initiative, we can extend that pipeline by connecting aspiring educators with HBCU Schools of Education and supporting them throughout their journey from high school to college to the classroom.

Your investment will help TSTT:

• Expand our nationally recognized “grow-your-own” teacher pipeline into HBCUs and local school districts through strategic partnerships.
• Provide comprehensive student support, including mentoring, leadership development, academic enrichment, college and career advising, and educator field experiences.
• Provide access to scholarships that reduce the financial barriers to becoming an educator, helping eligible TSTT students cover college costs including tuition, fees, books, and other educational expenses.
• Create direct pathways to HBCU Schools of Education, building upon our historic first HBCU partnership with South Carolina State University.
• Recruit and prepare more young people to become educators, particularly students who can bring their experiences, perspectives, and commitment to the communities they serve.
• Prepare future teachers to return to their communities, strengthening local schools, addressing educator shortages, and increasing teacher diversity.
• Develop additional HBCU partnerships, creating a scalable model that can reach students and school districts in communities across the country.

Your Gift Builds the Pipeline

A donation to the TSTT HBCU Initiative is an investment in much more than a program. It is an investment in a future teacher, a classroom, a school, and ultimately a community.

Your support helps us recruit aspiring educators, provide sustained mentoring and enrichment, develop new HBCU and school district partnerships, and ensure that students have the support they need to persist on the pathway to becoming caring, competent, and committed educators.

South Carolina State University was our historic first HBCU partner.  With your support, together,  we can bring this model to additional HBCUs, reach more aspiring educators, and build a stronger and more diverse teacher workforce for generations to come.

Will You Help Us Grow the TSTT HBCU Initiative?

Make your gift today and help us open the door for the next generation of educators.

Every gift—at every level—moves another student closer to the classroom and moves our schools closer to the diverse, talented educator workforce our children deserve.

Thank you for believing in the power of teachers and in TSTT’s mission to strengthen classrooms and communities.

With gratitude,

Dr. Bettye H. Perkins
Founder, President & CEO
Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers