Words for teacher

Question

I have always used the words profesor, and maesto for teacher. I have recently heard that maestro isn't commonly used. Today I was on a college's website in the Dominican Republic and I saw the word docente for teacher. Is docente used differently that maestro or is it regional?

Answer 1

Are you familiar with the English word docent?

docent

profesor vs maestro (this can be regional in meaning)

this one contains a few more titles

Answer 2

in Mexico it goes this way:

maestro(a): all kinds of teachers, from kinder garden to university. it also can be use for those who have a master degree

docente: they're teachers seen from an administrative view. let's say: they ones who are in the payroll.

profesor(a): is the more polite way to call them.

hope this information is useful for you.