Maestro vs. profesor
The Spanish language has a variety of ways to refer to individuals in educational roles. Two such words maestro and profesor both translate to teacher in English. However, they are used in slightly different contexts and denote distinct branches within the teaching profession.
Maestro
Maestro typically refers to a teacher that specializes in instructing primary (elementary) or infant school students. They generally teach a variety of subjects, as is common in lower grade levels.
El maestro de mi hijo es muy amable.
(My son's teacher is very kind.)
He sido un maestro de escuela primaria durante diez años.
(I have been an elementary school teacher for ten years.)
Profesor
Profesor, on the other hand, usually refers to the teachers at secondary (high school) and tertiary (college/university) education levels. These are instructors who specialize in one or more particular fields of knowledge, teaching specific subjects rather than a broad curriculum.
Mi profesor de matemáticas me ayuda mucho.
(My math professor helps me a lot.)
Es un profesor muy reconocido en el campo de la física.
(He is a highly respected professor in the field of physics.)
Summary
Maestro and profesor both refer to teachers in Spanish, but are often used in different contexts. Maestro is typically used for primary level teachers while profesor is generally used for secondary and tertiary level teachers. These terms highlight the division in responsibilities within the field of education.