MarylandTransformsStrategicPlanningEngagementReport - Flipbook - Page 48
ELEVATING THE TEACHING PROFESSIO
CHARETTE SUMMARY
On May 25, 2023, 32 educators representing five local education agencies (Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles,
Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s counties) convened to discuss their thoughts about the strategies under the
enabler: Attract, recruit, and retain a highly qualified and diverse workforce; setting rigorous standards for
educator preparation programs and induction; implementing a career ladder system focused on development
and growth opportunities for all educators. Participants included principals, teachers, education supervisors,
early college staff, CTE teachers, and other stakeholders.
“
The collaboration between our post secondary and
secondary and the development of the needs in our system
is nonexistent…So they’re working, in my experience, in
isolation, creating the supports for our system.”
EXPRESSED THAT IT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR LOCAL EDUCATION
A NUMBER OF
PARTICIPANTS
AGENCIES TO FORM AND MAINTAIN PARTNERSHIPS WITH HIGHER
EDUCATION
One obstacle is that partners such as local community colleges do not have the capacity, partly because
some postsecondary institutions have changed their credentials for who can teach the coursework and
thus have a hard time finding professors. Another obstacle is that some institutions are hesitant to partner
with LEAs that aren’t geographically close to the institutions. They reported that hands-on experiences with
children within programs should begin earlier. Participants described several barriers or shortcomings of
educator preparation programs, such as not presenting the most current practices, no courses on behavior
management, and limitations such as GPA requirements for hands-on learning. Participants raised the
question of alternative pathways to certification and tuition reimbursement as strategies to solve these issues.
INTEREST
KEY
TAKEAWAYS
WAS SPARKED
AROUND THE TOPIC OF GROW YOUR OWN STAFF STRATEGIES TO
INCREASE THE TEACHER AND SCHOOL LEADER PIPELINES
Some participants mentioned that students in their LEAs wanted to be teachers, but there were many
barriers to higher education. Other participants described an interest to revamp resident teacher programs
because there is a need due to teacher vacancies. Participants indicated that a number of new teachers
feel they don’t receive the support they need. For those who have mentors, the mentor may be someone
who is retired or experienced, and it has been awhile since they themselves went through the mentoring
experience and cannot necessarily share relevant experiences about what “potholes” to not step in.
Teachers need to have a supportive environment and be able to build relationships, collaborate, and
observe others; this would make them feel more integrated.
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MARYLAND TRANSFORMS - ENGAGEMENT REPORT
