<p>Hey CC! I'm a high school junior looking at a major in Elementary Ed and I have a few questions.</p>
<p>I'm a white male who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina</p>
<ul>
<li>How hard will it be to get into the market?</li>
<li>What can I do to make myself more marketable?</li>
<li>What kind of minors would be most beneficial? </li>
<li>How hard of a time will it be to find a job?</li>
<li>Will my gender pose any problems? (many elementary teachers are not male)</li>
<li>Or could it perhaps be beneficial?</li>
</ul>
<p>Hello there! It’s getting pretty competitive these days to be an elementary teacher. I’m not positively sure about this, but it could be easier for you to find a job if you’re bilingual. Communication between elementary teachers and parents is key, and it would be so much easier to be able to communicate with parents in a language that both of you are comfortable in. I know parents who are discouraged to attend their childrens’ parent teacher conferences or back to school nights, because they are not fluent in English and are not able to understand things clearly. There are more and more immigrants in America now, and so being bilingual could make you stand out. Sorry I can’t answer the remaining questions, because I am unsure and don’t want to give out misleading answers. Good luck!</p>
<p>It is a positive that you are male and interested in elementary education. Leaders throughout the field know that a more balanced gender representation among teachers is beneficial to students and schools. At Wheelock College, we are working to recruit more males to the elementary education field, so please let me know if you are interested in exploring our programs.</p>
<p>Best,
Alex Powell
Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Wheelock College, Boston, MA
<a href=“mailto:apowell@wheelock.edu”>apowell@wheelock.edu</a></p>