Breaking the Cycle: Why Male Educators Matter

Jan 13, 2026 | podcast

Host: Dr. Scott McLeod, PDK Distinguished Educator Fellow
Guest: Owen Elsasser, Educators Rising National Vice President of Communications

In this episode, Dr. Scott McLeod, PDK Distinguished Educator Fellow and Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Colorado Denver, sits down with Owen Elsasser, National Vice President of Communications for Educators Rising. Owen shares his journey from high school leadership roles to college, and why he’s passionate about increasing male representation in education—especially in elementary and middle school classrooms.

Together, they explore:

  • Why male educators are so rare and why that matters
  • The statistics behind gender representation in teaching
  • How early exposure and role models influence career choices
  • Misconceptions about teaching as a profession
  • Practical strategies for recruiting and supporting future educators

Key Takeaways:

  • Only 23% of K–12 teachers are male, and that number has declined since the late 1980s.
  • Male teachers are concentrated in high school; only about 2.5% teach kindergarten or early childhood.
  • One in four U.S. students grows up without a male figure at home, making male role models in schools even more critical.
  • Early classroom exposure and leadership opportunities through programs like Educators Rising can help break the cycle.

© 2026 Educators Rising • PDK International