RSHS Teacher Cadets impress at state level

HAMLET — Richmond Senior High School has had two of its students representing the Raiders at the state level through the Teacher Cadet program.

Senior Jaiden Tillman, Beta Club President, and underclassmen Cyncere Bell served for the 2020-2021 school year as state officers for Teacher Cadets, which is funded by the North Carolina Foundation for Public School Children (NCFPSC).

Only four students in North Carolina hold a statewide position.

“These young men have not only served North Carolina’s future teachers, they have led conferences,” said Marca Hamm, Director of the NCFPSC. “They’re already advocating for the teaching profession.”

Hamm said that North Carolina is dealing with a teacher shortage, especially for male teachers. NCFPSC is looking for ways to recruit, but also retain, homegrown teachers.

The Teacher Cadet program at RSHS has been such a success that individuals from the state Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction have been meeting with some students to replicate a model for statewide success.

“Folks are watching Richmond Senior Teacher Cadets,” Hamm said.

Jaiden received a $1,500 scholarship for his advocacy for teachers. Hamm said that his name is going to be well-known in the future.

“He has so eloquently led this program as Vice President and served us in many wonderful ways,” Hamm said.

Vice Chairwoman Bobbie Sue Ormsby said that she’s going to miss Jaiden because she’s so used to seeing him everywhere. Ormsby shared Jaiden’s response to her with the Board.

“He said, ‘Don’t worry, give me four years,’” Ormsby said.

Cyncere is the first underclassmen to serve as a Teacher Cadet state officer. He received $500 for his leadership.

“He is an incredible young man,” Hamm said. “He is committed to whatever he is a part of.”

Hamm said that every individual she has spoken to has been impressed with every meeting with Jaiden and Cyncere.

“For both of these young men, I was told by a DPI staff person — ‘Do you tell these guys to show up in suits and ties everywhere they go?’” Hamm exclaimed.

Beta Club recognized for their effort

Beta Club Director Suzanne Hudson applauded the club for all of their work through the pandemic at the Richmond County Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday night.

“At the beginning of the year we started everything virtually,” Hudson said. “These students never quit.”

The club has completed 41 group projects this year, including making videos for the Stuff the Bus school supplies drive, preparing goody bags for teachers and participating in the Place of Grace blanket drive and Push Up-A-Thon.

The Beta Club will be heading to Florida this month for the National Beta Club Convention.

“It’s all them,” Hudson said. ”I wouldn’t go to these things if these kids didn’t show up over and over again. They show up — that’s just what our kids do.”