On Point | Podcast Falling Behind: Where have all the men gone?
Aug 28, 2025
Join Thomas D., a Stanford professor researching teacher gender impacts, Olante Douglas, a kindergarten teacher navigating a female-centric field, and Robert J. Hendricks III, CEO of the He Is Me Institute, as they explore the alarming decline of male teachers in education. They discuss the crucial role of male educators as role models, the challenges faced in recruitment, and how these dynamics affect boys' academic performance. With insights on the cultural implications and the need for balance in fostering self-worth among students, it's a compelling look at education's gender dynamics.
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From Cybersecurity To Kindergarten
- Olante Douglas switched from cybersecurity to become one of nine men on a 100-person elementary staff after substitute teaching during COVID led him to love the work.
- He co-teaches kindergarten, uses a female co-teacher for sensitive tasks, and intentionally brings joy and male presence to students.
Steep Long-Term Decline In Male Teachers
- The share of male K–12 teachers fell from 30% in 1988 to 23% recently, implying tens of thousands fewer men in classrooms.
- Restoring 1988 levels would require adding roughly 230,000 men to U.S. teaching ranks, a large-scale challenge.
Decline Varies By Grade And Subject
- Male representation declined more at secondary levels and varies by subject, with large drops in CTE, STEM, and arts over decades.
- These shifts intersect with efforts to diversify fields like STEM, complicating simple crisis narratives.