Evelise Mercado & Natalie Joseph, 2nd & 3rd left, were TSTT teachers to be honored as TSTT Perkins Scholars for reaching their 10-year milestone as teachers. other prominent TSTT educators (l-r) Dr. LaTanya Lawrence, Dr. Melissa White; TSTT founder/President/CEO Dr. Bettye Perkins and Dr. Merica
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Distinguished guests including prominent educators, business and community leaders, school district and college partners, local, county, state and federal officials and supporters recently gathered for Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers (TSTT) 30th Anniversary Celebrating the Legacy Recognition and Awards Ceremony Brunch.
TSTT celebrated its 30-year legacy and the significant impact it has made on public education and the promise it holds in continuing to strengthen the ranks of public-school teachers, arguably the key to the nation’s workforce and competitiveness on the world stage.
The acclaimed nonprofit has successfully recruited, mentored and trained culturally diverse and economically challenged high school students to pursue teaching professions and placed them as effective and committed teachers. In so doing, the teachers have strengthened schools and communities and are serving as role models for future teachers.
Among the notable guests who participated in the celebration, held at the Sleepy Hollow Hotel and Conference Center in Tarrytown, were New York State Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins; New York State Senator Shelley B. Mayer, Chair of the state Committee on Education;Westchester County Executive Kenneth W. Jenkins andCongressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, who has served as TSTT’s Honorary Chair for the past 11 years and who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024, the nation’s highest civilian honor. Award-winning News 12 journalist Lisa LaRocca served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
TSTT’s innovative and viable mentoring mode– which has been lauded by the U.S. Department and Education, American Federation of Teachers and United Federation of Teachers, among others– has helped close the critical teacher diversity gap in the nation’s public schools. It is a mission that was begun by Dr. Bettye Perkins in 1995 when she founded TSTT for which she has served as President and CEO.
The nation’s public education is facing an unprecedented crisis. From teacher shortages and a decline in student enrollment in colleges and universities, especially in schools of education, to reduced funding and a decrease in student academic achievement, the news has not been encouraging.
“TSTT’s impressive legacy of achievement and highly adaptable mentoring model in school districts, large and small, is a beacon of hope for the future of public education during this very challenging and uncertain period,” Dr. Perkins declared.
She added: “At a time when the student achievement gap has widened for a variety of reasons including the pandemic, TSTT is very proud that our students have consistently outperformed their peers.”
Dr. Perkins noted that the TSTT high school graduation rate is 95%; college admission rate is 96% and the college graduation rate is 70%. In addition, TSTT has a five-year teacher retention rate of 90%, compared to 50% nationally.
TSTT’s legacy began with a cohort of 7 students, a pipeline that has recruited, mentored and trained nearly 1,700 middle, high school and college students and over 400 teachers and leaders who are helping to shape the lives of students in classrooms across the country.
Underscoring the enduring power of TSTT’s mentoring model, the next generation of aspiring teachers—a group of mentored 60 college-ground high school students and college students—were recognized.
Deeandre Greaves, who graduated from Kingston High School in 2022 and attended Columbia-Greene Community College for two years, received the Annual TSTT Lois Bronz Scholarship Fund Award. He was the sixth consecutive deserving male student to receive the scholarship that will enable him to continue the journey to become a teacher. Currently, he is a Mathematics Education major at Mercy University and plans to earn a certification in Special Education.
The award was established in 2018 to commemorate Bronz’s distinguished career as an educator, math teacher at every level from K-12 to college and in civic activism and politics including becoming the first African- American Woman elected to the Westchester County Board of Legislators.
TSTT also announced the establishment of the new Helen Williams Scholarship to help an outstanding student succeed at college. The late Helen Williams, a former educator for 40 years at Ossining High School, and mother of actress Vanessa Williams, was a long-time supporter of TSTT who helped prepare TSTT college graduates to become teachers.
Veronica Green, who is graduating from Kingston High School, was named the first recipient of the Helen Williams Award. She joined TSTT as a 9th grader and will attend Dutchess Community College where she will pursue Music and Early Childhood Education studies.
In addition, the latest group of TSTT teachers who have reached their 10—year milestone was honored by receiving 2025 Golden Apples from Dr. Perkins. They included Natalie Joseph, a graduate of Ramapo High School and Manhattanville University, is a first-grade teacher at The School at Columbia University and Evelise Mercado, a graduate of Peekskill High School and Pace University, who is a second-grade teacher at Virginia Road Elementary School in Valhalla, NY. Teacher mentors who reached 10 years were also honored and they included Collean Keaveney from Fallsburg Jr/Sr School and Brenda Rivera from Monticello. A special college mentor award was presented to Elizabeth Finnegan, Professor of Education at St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Dr. Catherine Flores, a special education teacher at Scarsdale High School, was honored as the recipient of 2025 TSTT Trailblazer Award, conferred on alumni who are Perkins Scholars and hold leadership positions in education and/or have earned doctorate degrees. Among past recipients are Emerly Martinez, Principal, White Plains High School; Dr. Melissa White, Principal, Mt. Vernon; Jeffrey Cole, Director of Special Services, Mahopac; Dr. LeTanya Lawrence, District Supervisor of Specialized Instruction, Bridgeport, CT; Dr. Tomeka Wilcher, Assistant Professor, Hampton University; Dr. Merica Neuville, Principal, Carmel; Dr. Letitia Payne, Assistant Principal, Putnam Valley and Dr. Mariela Henry, Founder and CEO at EASE Services, New Hempstead.
TSTT also saluted its collaborative partnership with 46 school districts, 23 colleges and universities as well as business partners and other supporters who have provided students with much needed financial assistance by way of scholarships.
Another highlight of the program was the presentation of the 2025 Community Impact Awards to the Greater Hudson Valley and the Westchester County Chapters of The Links Incorporated. Dr. Shuana Tucker-Sims, Chief Talent Officer for the Connecticut State Department of Education and National Vice-President of The Links, Incorporated presented the awards.
“The 30-year legacy is a defining moment for TSTT,” Dr. Perkins noted. “Thanks to the inspired vision, commitment and generosity of TSTT’s extended community, we have emerged as a leader in empowering deserving high school students to pursue the noble profession of teaching who will continue to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children and in the future workforce. That’s our hope for the future of America’s public schools-—from the rural heartland to the inner city.”
About Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers™ (TSTT)
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 and launched in 1995 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 caring, committed and competent teachers, role models, and leaders in their classrooms and communities.”
For more information visit: www.tstt.org.
