Mothusi Diseko is inspired to help others succeed in life.
Catching up with Diseko on his daily walk in DW Park in Boston, Massachusetts, the Business Administration doctoral scholar downplays his remarkable achievements and success and simply refers to them as “country duty”.
Diseko is also is the Founder & CEO of the Non-Profit Organization, Batho- Rutanang Inc in USA. He established Batho-Rutanang Inc., (from a phrase “Each One, Teach One”) two years ago after identifying an opportunity for local educators to benefit from their overseas counterparts. The US terms this “special education”, which includes the “Principles of Applied Behaviour Analysis.” He has initiated discussions with the North-West education department to establish an exchange program for local educators, Principals and School District Officials. In order to deliver this exchange programme successfully, Batho-Rutanang Inc. has partnered with USA based ‘Bridgewater State University, May Institute Inc., and Brockton Public Schools.
Diseko also wants to give back to his Alma Mater. “One of my goals is to take advantage of my professional networks in Boston to create a platform where I can collaborate with the University to connect students and academics with international universities, companies and organizations in USA. This will afford them opportunities for In-service Training as Co-Ops and promote Education Exchange Programmes,” he adds.
He enrolled for the National Diploma in Commercial Education in 1994 and qualified in 1997. He also graduated with B-Tech Degree in 1999.
He was a founding member and a former President of the Adventist Christian Fellowship (currently renamed SDASM – Seventh Day Adventist Student Movement) in 1995 and 1996 respectively. He has acquired a Certificate in Applied Business System Analysis from the University of Cape Town, holds an MBA from the University of Phoenix Arizona, USA and is pursuing Doctorate in Business Administration with Walden University in Minneapolis, USA.
At only 28, Diseko was appointed as the Deputy Principal at Masakhane-Tswelelopele Elementary school in Honeydew in 2000. Prior to that, he turned Iterele Zenzele high school, also in Honeydew, around into a functional institution. “When I joined the school in 1997, it was in chaos. This was an opportunity for me to apply the creative organising and leadership skills TUT taught me. To keep learners busy, we introduced extramural activities such as Martial Arts (Kyokushin Kai Kan), gospel singing groups, Student Morning Prayer Assemblies and a Career Exhibition group. The school invited TUT’s (previously TNT) Career Exhibition group to talk to learners about courses offered at the University. That effort yielded a 100% pass rate. In addition students’ self-confidence, self-awareness, hard-work, direction and purpose in life improved,” he elaborates.
From a group of 150 South African applicants, Mothusi was one of six who succeeded in a US recruitment drive to head hunt outstanding school principals to partake in their “special education” training program in May 2001. “Eighteen months of intense hands-on training in Applied Behavior Analysis under the supervision of North Eastern University Education Professors, prepared us to bring the skills back home. However, the May Institute Leadership Team appointed me as a senior supervisor for teachers at one of their specialised school in the US. Part of my responsibilities included developing Individualised Education Plans (IEP) and behavior Support Plans (BSP), using the Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis as well as training and supervision of educators,” he explains.
During his student days, he was a member of a number of singing groups and part of a Karate team. He loves reading, teaching, traveling, singing, soccer, and martial arts (Kyokushin Kae Kan Karate).
For the past 7 years, Diseko has been volunteering at Massachusetts Correctional Centers to help with the rehabilitation of inmates for their successful community re-entry upon their release. He confesses that he deeply misses Mzansi and his favourite meal, pap and boerewors. However, he stockpiles local spices to stay in touch with the South African flavour!
Diseko can be reached on www.bathorutanang.com