Walk In The Shoes of Milton McPike
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Dear Madison Community,
I'm reaching out to you because we're all apart of a larger mission to make the Madison community safer and better for everyone. I would like to share my story with you.
Growing up in Madison as an African American male wasn't easy. I struggled to find support from most teachers and lacked the necessary mentoring to realize my full potential.
Going to East High School changed everything. My 9th grade year I had teachers and mentors, who spent the necessary time and helped me find my way, helped to mold me into the man I am today. The mentor who had the greatest impact on me becoming an educator was Milton McPike.
If you don't know who Mr. McPike is, I'll just say he was larger than life. An administrator, father figure, and community activist. He set the bar for principals, not only in Madison, but nationally as well.
Mr. McPike poured into me everyday although there were times I didn't want to hear it. He called me a leader, he pushed me to support my community and focus on becoming a great student. Mr. McPike demanded greatness and wouldn't accept anything less. He told me a lot of things that stick out in my mind, but one stands out the most. He said, "You're a natural born leader. People listen to you and follow. You need to become an educator and lead. This community needs you." Those words set me on my path to becoming both a leader in my community and an educator. I have been called to educate and guide the youth in our community. I want to use education as a tool to support change.
There are many reasons why I want to become a principal in Madison. In this role, I can support my community, mentor, promote change, and educate both staff and students through leadership. More importantly, we as a community can do better. It is crucial for Black children and youth to see educators who look like them.
For Black students, having even one Black teacher can make a huge difference. Being in a principal role would give me the ability to support both students and administrators in a way that’s untarnished by the stereotypes, biases and disconnects that fuel the inequality and injustice that has too often become our norm. The melanin in my skin doesn’t provide me the tools for this job. But seeing my students the same age I once was, I see myself in them. And I see what they are fully capable of. I will embrace this role and do my best to make Madison a better place.
I have had many experiences and taken on many roles that have helped prepare me for this position, but I am missing only one thing to help make my dream a reality. What I lack is the financial support! Although being a teacher is rewarding, it doesn't provide me with the necessary financial means to pay for this specialized license. Madison community, I need your support. I have already invested $2,500 into my first semester courses at Edgewood College. Please consider contributing to my GoFundMe page to help me accomplish my goal of furthering my education and getting my certification in Educational Leadership so I can be better equipped to serve the community of Madison.
If you could support my GoFundMe by making a donation and sharing it with your network, I would greatly appreciate it. I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps me get closer to my goal! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Thornton
I'm reaching out to you because we're all apart of a larger mission to make the Madison community safer and better for everyone. I would like to share my story with you.
Growing up in Madison as an African American male wasn't easy. I struggled to find support from most teachers and lacked the necessary mentoring to realize my full potential.
Going to East High School changed everything. My 9th grade year I had teachers and mentors, who spent the necessary time and helped me find my way, helped to mold me into the man I am today. The mentor who had the greatest impact on me becoming an educator was Milton McPike.
If you don't know who Mr. McPike is, I'll just say he was larger than life. An administrator, father figure, and community activist. He set the bar for principals, not only in Madison, but nationally as well.
Mr. McPike poured into me everyday although there were times I didn't want to hear it. He called me a leader, he pushed me to support my community and focus on becoming a great student. Mr. McPike demanded greatness and wouldn't accept anything less. He told me a lot of things that stick out in my mind, but one stands out the most. He said, "You're a natural born leader. People listen to you and follow. You need to become an educator and lead. This community needs you." Those words set me on my path to becoming both a leader in my community and an educator. I have been called to educate and guide the youth in our community. I want to use education as a tool to support change.
There are many reasons why I want to become a principal in Madison. In this role, I can support my community, mentor, promote change, and educate both staff and students through leadership. More importantly, we as a community can do better. It is crucial for Black children and youth to see educators who look like them.
For Black students, having even one Black teacher can make a huge difference. Being in a principal role would give me the ability to support both students and administrators in a way that’s untarnished by the stereotypes, biases and disconnects that fuel the inequality and injustice that has too often become our norm. The melanin in my skin doesn’t provide me the tools for this job. But seeing my students the same age I once was, I see myself in them. And I see what they are fully capable of. I will embrace this role and do my best to make Madison a better place.
I have had many experiences and taken on many roles that have helped prepare me for this position, but I am missing only one thing to help make my dream a reality. What I lack is the financial support! Although being a teacher is rewarding, it doesn't provide me with the necessary financial means to pay for this specialized license. Madison community, I need your support. I have already invested $2,500 into my first semester courses at Edgewood College. Please consider contributing to my GoFundMe page to help me accomplish my goal of furthering my education and getting my certification in Educational Leadership so I can be better equipped to serve the community of Madison.
If you could support my GoFundMe by making a donation and sharing it with your network, I would greatly appreciate it. I know that money can be tight, so please know that even $5 helps me get closer to my goal! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be happy to answer them.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Thornton
Organizer
Jeremy Thornton
Organizer
Madison, WI