Men Wanted: The National Picture for Teacher Grads

Brandon Digiantonio, 22, of Deer Park, says he chose his career because he was inspired by his high school history teacher. He remembers a teacher who served as a mentor to him and helped him get involved in high school.

Chris Smith, 38, lives in Loveland, is a husband and father, and was working in the financial sector before he found his way back to college.

Both men are bucking a national trend as they march at the University of Cincinnati’s Commencement ceremony at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 13, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

The National Education Association (NEA) reports the number of the nation’s male teachers in pre-kindergarten-through-twelfth grade education is the lowest in 40 years. The National Center for Educational Statistics reports the national percentage of male teachers is 24.8 percent – compared with the percentage of women at 75.2 percent of the nation’s three million teachers.

Digiantonio, who’s completing his student teaching experience at Loveland High School, will be awarded his bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis on social studies. He is now working toward his master’s degree.

Smith, who’s also student teaching at Loveland High School, is earning a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with an emphasis on science – a field that’s in high demand in education. Both men earned their expertise in their content area through the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences.

The UC College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) reports that eight men majoring in teacher education applied for graduation over summer and fall quarters, along with 12 women. The college typically celebrates its highest numbers of teacher graduates in the spring. Over the 2007-2008 academic year, the college reports that out of 206 students who completed their undergraduate degrees in teacher education, 21 percent were men.

Teaching has long been considered a female-dominated profession, especially through the preschool-through-elementary grades. “The numbers of men in secondary education increase significantly, compared with the elementary grades,” says CECH Dean Lawrence J. Johnson. “Over the years, teaching elementary school has been equated to childcare, ‘women’s work,’ but I think that notion has been changing over the past few decades as opportunities in the workforce expanded for women. Also, teacher salaries are considered to be lower than other professions, although salaries are improving.”

Smith says he was working as an investment processor when the market took a turn for the worse, and he started looking for a career that was more rewarding personally. His mother had dedicated her career to teaching English. His pursuit of a degree has been an eight-year journey.

“I wanted something that went beyond the office, and this has been nothing short of rewarding and life-changing,” Smith says.

“It’s a high-demand experience and it’s life-consuming – you’re not done being a teacher at three o’clock,” Smith continues. “As a new teacher, it’s been a challenge, balancing the family, school and a career,” says Smith, who also owns his one landscaping business. “There were weeks in a row when I would get four hours of sleep a night. But I think I have grown and matured more than I ever thought possible,” he says. “It’s been a transformational experience for me, and I’ve only just begun.”

“When you see yourself building confidence in a student and helping him or her achieve success, it’s amazing,” Digiantonio says of his career choice. “That’s why I’m in this line of work. It’s certainly not for the pay,” he says, chuckling.

Digiantonio says he remembers being the “quiet kid” in high school, but that his American history teacher at Deer Park High School, Rita Logan, had an impact on drawing out Digiantonio’s more outgoing personality. He says he also found he had a knack for history. “I want to pay it forward,” he says.

A member of the Bearcat Band, Digiantonio, a tuba player, will still be busy over winter break as the band travels with UC’s Big East Champions. He expects to finish his teacher licensure during winter quarter and finish his master’s degree by next summer.

Smith plans to finish his teacher licensure in January and begin work after graduation as a substitute teacher, hoping to land a full-time position as schools begin hiring in the late spring.

On the day of Commencement, UC will also celebrate presenting the fourth-annual Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Awards to honor local K-12 educators who inspired a soon-to-be graduate to achieve a college degree. As the nation marks the largest shortage of male educators in 40 years, each of the four UC awards will go to a man who continues to inspire students to pursue their dreams.

Four Local Educators to be Honored at UC’s December Commencement Ceremony

UC Commencement Web Site