Jarius Thompson '06 (center) and Jhiree Davis '06(right) with program coordinator Djanna Hill-Brisbane

Jhiree Davis and Jarius Thompson of Paterson, who earned their bachelor’s degrees on May 17, are the first two students to graduate from William Paterson after participating in the Paterson Teachers for Tomorrow (PT4T) program.  The program, established in 1999, seeks to develop teachers with the knowledge, skills and commitment to teach in Paterson. 

Students are recruited from Future Teacher of America clubs that were created at the three Paterson high schools – Eastside High School, Kennedy High School, and Rosa Parks High School for the Visual and Performing Arts.  They are awarded full-tuition scholarships via a competitive selection process and must seek degrees leading to teacher certification.  Upon graduation from William Paterson, the students are required to teach in Paterson for a minimum of three years.

“Jhiree and Jarius had first-hand experience in the Paterson public schools,” says Djanna Hill-Brisbane, associate professor of secondary and middle school education and coordinator of the program.  “Who better to make changes in those schools than them?  It’s really a wonderful way to give back to the community.”

Davis, who received a bachelor’s degree in psychology with teaching certification, cum laude, is a 2001 graduate of Kennedy High School in Paterson.  She recently completed her student teaching at School No. 8 in Paterson, where she assisted in a bilingual kindergarten class.  Davis continued to attend the University full-time after the birth of her daughter, Zoreya, in November 2004. One of six children, she is the first of her siblings to graduate from high school and the first to graduate from college.  She hopes to teach on the kindergarten level in Paterson. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, since I was seven,” she says.  “Now, I can help kids in my own community.”

Thompson received a bachelor’s degree in English with teaching certification. One of six children, he also is the first sibling to graduate from high school and the first to graduate from college. Interested in teaching since he was in elementary school, Thompson chose to major in English for two reasons: first, the person who had the most impact on him was one of his high school English teachers; and second, none of his English teachers were African American or male. A 2002 graduate of Eastside High School in Paterson, Thompson recently completed his student teaching there. “I would share my story with the students, and found that they respected me for my accomplishments,” he says.  “That motivates me to be a role model for them.”  Thompson looks forward to beginning a teaching position in Paterson on the high school level.

Funding for the PT4T program has been provided by Best Buy Children’s Foundation, Victor Cascella ‘54, Fleet Bank, Henry and Marilyn Taub Foundation, Kajima Foundation, Inc., John Victor Machuga Foundation, KeySkills Learning, Inc., Alice Macaluso ‘57, McDonald’s Corporation, New Jersey Nets Foundation, George A. Ohl, Jr. Trust, The Penguin Group, Eleanor B. Reiner Foundation, Richard Varron ’79, M.A. ‘90, Verizon Foundation, William Paterson University Alumni Association and William Paterson University Foundation.