By Angelia Davis
STAFF WRITER-- The Greenville News

Before Kanithia Dean even met Mark Joseph, she had heard students at Westcliffe Elementary School raving about him.

Then Dean offered to tutor her daughter in math, and she quickly learned firsthand what all the excitement was about.

"He wasn't even her teacher," Dean said. "But he stepped up to the plate so that she not only began to excel in math, she overachieved."

Joseph is one of the first graduates of the Clemson University-developed "Call Me Mister" program, which recruits, trains, and certifies black men as teachers in South Carolina elementary schools.

Joseph's passion for educating children and his status of being one of the state's 150 black male teachers has put him in the January/February 2006 issue of Instructor magazine.

Joseph, who teaches fourth grade, said people don't have to look far to find other Call Me Mister graduates who share his love for educating children. Classmates Zebulun Dinkins and Cedric Thompson are at Welcome Elementary, Damon Qualls is at Alexander Elementary and Dewain Fludd is at Cherrydale Elementary.

Call Me Mister stands on the principles of servant leadership and being positive role models, Joseph said.

"We are leaders, and as leaders we happen to be teachers and we happen to be African-American males. But we can have a positive impact on students, not just by playing athletics or making music. We can have a positive impact on the world of education," he said.

Thus, each day Joseph dons a suit and a tie to give children a view of black men they don't often see on their television screens.

"When they look at me, I want them to see an African-American male is a leader and he can dress like this," he said. "When they see me in my suit and tie, I can tell them about when I was at Claflin University. I graduated with honors, and I've been able to fly across the United States because I was so passionate about my education."

A graduate of Wade Hampton High School, Joseph said he searched long and hard to find God's purpose for his life. Being a teacher, he said, has given him that peace or assurance that he is where he belongs.

He extends that peace to his 17 students, who enter his classroom only after receiving a hug or a handshake.

"I believe this is all a part of education. With children, it's important for them to know and understand that someone cares about them, as opposed to someone just teaching math, science and reading. We go through our curriculum, but we have a great time during the day."

Westcliffe Principal Carolyn Morgan says Joseph, who is also a middle school basketball coach, is a "wonderful" role model for her male and female students of all races.

"He teaches respect and responsibility for yourself, first, and to give respect and show responsibility to others," Morgan said.

Joseph, she said, is dedicated, caring and a team player. He goes beyond the call of duty by tutoring students and serving as a mentor.

"He takes a very serious interest in his students and what they do in and outside of the classroom. He feels that in order to help children, he must know the children, where they come from, and he builds on that," Morgan said.

"He cares about the children, and if you care about them and they know you have their best interest at heart, they're going to work very hard for you."

Parent Kim Walker, like Dean, sees the enthusiasm Joseph has brought to Westcliffe. As with other children, Walker said, Joseph saw a strength in her daughter that other teachers had perceived as a weakness. Then he turned it into something productive, giving her child a new love for school and learning, she said.

"He's awesome, and the kids just love him. He's so positive. He takes an actual interest in the children. He has a genuine concern."

An emphasis of Call Me Mister, Joseph said, is that "life is not just about me. It's about making life better for someone else."

"That's one of the very important principles that we constantly discuss with Call Me Mister -- what can we do as young African-American males to make life better not just for black kids but for all kids," he said. "That's what we're all about. We're here to make a difference."