THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, November 17, 1995              TAG: 9511170254
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: By KATRICE FRANKLIN, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Medium:   55 lines

AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE TEACHERS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY, BUT HAVE A BIG INFLUENCE

Dennis Thomas can't walk down the halls of Newtown Road Elementary without being encased by children, all vying for his attention.

The 41-year-old Thomas, who teaches fifth grade, is a rare commodity. He's an African-American male teacher.

Minority teachers make up 13 percent of the nation's teaching force, according to recently released report sponsored in part by the National Education Association, detailing a nationwide shortage of black male teachers.

There is one minority teacher for every 32 minority students nationwide, compared to one teacher for every 12 white students. Of the estimated 1,300 students enrolled in Norfolk State University's undergraduate education program, 219 are African-American males.

African-American teachers, administrators and students gathered at Norfolk State University on Thursday for a forum discussing the shortage. The conference hoped not only to analyze the problem but encourage African- American men of all ages to join the teaching ranks. In the end, the high school and middle school students who attended the seminar were the target of the message.

A panel made up of local teachers and school administrators from Norfolk and Virginia Beach preached one major message: students need African-American males as teachers and as role models.

``We make a difference in a lot of these students' lives,'' said Bernard Morgan, principal of Tallwood High School. ``Young people like to see role models that look like them. I'm not saying that white teachers can't teach our students well. But for most black families, the head of the household is a woman. So we're the only black males that many of them see.''

Elaine Witty, dean of education at Norfolk State University, said the focus of the conference was to pique the interest of young students to enter the teaching profession and fill the nationwide void.

``We have an imbalance in the overall percentage of teachers who are minority to the number of minority students,'' said Witty. ``We want to even out the balance and take advantage of having a diverse society. It can only help us all.''

Thomas, who was part of Thursday's panel, spoke from experience.

``I grew up in a single-family household,'' said Thomas. ``I know how difficult it was for me to identify with female teachers.

``I'm seeing some of the evidence of it now,'' he added. ``About 70 percent of the kids in my school are African-Americans. All the kids run up to me. The boys especially. They need someone they can identify with. A role model. I'm the only one. I have to be a father to a whole lot of boys and girls.''

KEYWORDS: MINORITY TEACHER MALE TEACHER by CNB