MANSFIELD — Nikia Fletcher has seen a mindset shift among students at Mansfield Senior High School. For years, school district staff have been encouraging students to think about their future. They’ve urged students early and often to think about the four ‘E’s — enrollment, employment, enlistment and entrepreneurship — and which might best fit their […]
Effie James
Posted inNews
Informal memorial service to honor former Hedges administrator Terese Terrell
MANSFIELD — Terese Terrell didn’t let obstacles stand in her way when it came to helping struggling students. If she had to go to their house and wake them up, she would. Effie James, who worked with Terrell during her days as an alternative school administrator, still remembers waiting outside in the car while his boss […]
Posted inEducation
GEAR UP: What happens when college readiness grant runs out?
MANSFIELD — The number of students applying for college and federal financial aid is on the rise since Mansfield Senior High Schiool launched its GEAR UP program. But federal funds to keep the program going will run out in a few more years. Mansfield City Schools’ Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) […]
Posted inFootball
COMMENTARY: Replacing Bradley won’t be easy for Mansfield Senior
MANSFIELD — The search for Chioke Bradley’s successor is ongoing, but one thing became abundantly clear during a ceremony in his honor last week in the Mansfield Senior High School commons. There’s no replacing the Tygers’ wildly successful former football coach on the field. His desire to help young people will be sorely missed, too. […]
Posted inSolutions
Tomorrow’s Talent: Is college worth the cost?
MANSFIELD — Effie James’ college journey was far from traditional. A graduate of Mansfield Senior, James began his postsecondary education right out of high school, attending Bowling Green State University on a football scholarship. Halfway through his sophomore year, he suffered a career-ending injury. So he went home. He got a job and started a […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Manfield’s Juneteenth parade & festival set for June 15
MANSFIELD — The general public is encouraged to join in celebrating the annual Mansfield Juneteenth Parade and Festival on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free, day-long celebration will kick-off with the parade at 10 a.m. at Marion Avenue and Park Avenue West featuring marching bands, drumlines, and dance groups from […]
Posted inEducation
Tyger Signing Day celebrates seniors’ plans for the future
MANSFIELD — Effie James told parents not to hold back when they heard their child’s name. “We pride this ceremony on being the kind of anti-graduation,” said James, GEAR UP coordinator and emcee at Mansfield Senior High School’s Tyger Signing Day. “When you hear your child’s name, don’t be quiet. We invite you to scream and […]
Posted inLife and Culture
Culture Blind: Effie James pens book on healing divided communities
MANSFIELD — Effie James Jr. wants us to get back to a place where we can respectfully disagree. Like many Americans, the Mansfield man has watched the country appear to become more and more divided in recent years. These observations prompted the local educator, business owner, playwright and Richland Source columnist to pen his first book, […]
Posted inColumns
Effie James: College IS still worth it
Effie James is a columnist for Richland Source. The value of a college education has been under attack recently. Many feel that rising tuition cost and unforgiving student loan debt have caused more harm than good for those that want to get a degree and make themselves more hirable in today’s job market. Even with […]
Posted inEducation
Mansfield Senior High FAFSA completion doubles in first year of GEAR UP program
MANSFIELD — In December 2021, just 10.3 percent of the senior class at Mansfield Senior High School had completed their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. A year later, that figure jumped to 23.1 percent. Now, with about two and a half months until the application deadline, the application rate continues to […]