COMMUNITY Mr. Phillip D. Ayers, a Washingtonian who, through his ongoing efforts, has improved the lives of students by preparing them for the real world. For more than 35 years as a teacher and mentor in the District of Columbia and Charles County School System, Ayers has changed the lives of more than 5,000 students. While working at LaPlata High School, he was inspired to mentor young African American students both males and females. In doing so, he successfully assisted students with raising their grades and improving their self-image. Mr. Ayers effectively used positive peer pressure and mentoring as tools for bringing about better student behavior. In 1993, at La Plata High School, Mr. Ayers founded The Twelve Good Men Elite Club which was followed by Sisters Unlimited in 2000. The programs significantly changed the lives of over 850 African American males and females by providing them with a source for obtaining answers to personal questions and introducing positive role models into their lives. Many members of these programs have attended college and become positive members of their communities. The Twelve Good Men Club and Sisters Unlimited programs have both received the highest award for Minority Achievement presented by the state of Maryland’s Board of Education in 2002 and in 2005. Pictured: Phillip D. Ayers Mr. Ayers’ road to success started as a graduate of Anacostia Senior High School in 1968. He furthered his education by earning both a B. S. degree in Elementary Education and a B. A. in Industrial Arts Education from Central State University in Ohio. From there he returned to his roots at Anacostia High School where he became an instructor of Woodworking and During 1985, Mr. Ayers became an entrepreneur by starting his own business, utilizing his wealth of skills to help others solve problems in their homes and businesses. He has been married to his wife, Charlotte, since 1975, and they have one son, Allen P. Ayers. “The education of the African American Male is lacking on purpose, because if he is uneducated…then he may have to earn a living by doing something negative. If he does something negative to survive and gets caught, then he can become part of the criminal justice system… and in essence become a legalized slave. Furthermore, it seems to me that one of the best solutions to this problem is positive role modeling and mentoring of young African American males by African American men” - Phillip D. Ayers April 2019 The URBAN EXPERIENCE 23 Technical Education. Mr. Ayers realized that a B. S. degree was not enough, so he decided to enroll in the masters program at Bowie State University. He graduated cum laude in 1977, obtaining a Masters of Secondary Education degree. Mr. Ayers possesses a wealth of knowledge, which he eagerly shares with young people. Students in one of Mr. Ayers’ classes not only learned how to use tools to solve problems, but also learned how to get along with others. In addition, students learned that they have great potential for accomplishing goals, if they put forth the necessary efforts.
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