I disagree with all the articles I have read and the State of Texas’ Education Board when they say school districts do not have enough men applying for elementary school positions.
I think there are plenty of male applicants. Men generally wait till their later years before deciding to teach.
My older brother is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has accumulated over 400+ college credits from A&M, Alvin Community College and Stephen F. Austin University. Almost two years ago he obtained his 4-8 grade teching certificate and has substituted at numerous elementary schools in the Pearland/Alvin area for more than 5 years. He also has experience tutoring elementary, high school and college students in Math, English and Science.
He is continuously called for sub positions daily but as soon as he obtained his certificate and began applying for full time teaching positions the schools in this area ignored him, yet they have continued to call him yearly for sub positions.
I tend to agree with him that if you are not a young female, schools will not have anything to do with you. So much that for 2 years now (since he obtained his cert.) no school has even called him for an interview, which is really frustraiting since the principles at these schools know he has applied for numerous teaching opportunities and have personally told him they would see what they could do.
I have two very young children and he is very patient with them and explains everything they ask about in great detail. So much they run out of asking “why, why, why”. He and I both agree that the schools in this area are blackballing him because of his age (mid 40’s).
I always wanted to say something to an organization about this misconception surrounding grade schools acting like they were looking for male teachers in Texas.
Thanks,
Gregory S. Hay
Alvin, TX.