Teacher Shortage: AACPS Will Start Year With About 170 Teacher Vacancies

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD - Anne Arundel County Public Schools will start the year with a teacher shortage.

There are still 168 teacher vacancies, Wednesday's AACPS hiring update said. The school system has hired 23 teachers in the past week.

This is still an improvement from the 300 teacher vacancies reported this time last year.

AACPS spokesperson Bob Mosier said families shouldn't be worried.

"Even before COVID, we opened schools with teacher vacancies," Mosier told Patch in an email. "Most school systems do. We have a large cadre of substitute teachers (including permanent subs, who are full-time employees at a given school who fill in where there are vacancies)."

Teacher Pay Raises

Mosier said the recent pay raises contributed to AACPS's improved teacher outlook this year.

Last year's starting salary for AACPS teachers was 19th out of 24 jurisdictions in Maryland. This year's starting salary for AACPS teachers is 4th in the state, the school system said.

Teacher salaries were raised by nearly $5,000 to $58,161 in Anne Arundel County's budget for Fiscal Year 2024, which started on July 1.

All AACPS employees got a 6% cost of living adjustment to counter inflation. Eligible staffers tacked on a 2% step increase. Substitutes also collected a raise of $5 per day, and special educators welcomed a $2,000 bonus.

Mosier cited additional factors like a pair of $1,000 bonuses, a virtual workday in November and the expansion of the Triple E Program to all elementary schools.

"It's a combination of things," Mosier said. "There is no question that employees feel more valued now than they did a year ago. That is conveyed to [Superintendent] Dr. [Mark] Bedell during visits, community events, forums, etc."

What Vacancies Remain

Despite this improvement, teacher vacancies remain.

There is a big need for special educators, which follows a nationwide trend. Outside of that, the vacancies are evenly spread across AACPS. 

Mosier said there is no school, grade or subject with the most need.

"We are continuing to recruit and hire around the clock," Mosier said. "We have held multiple job fairs in the last few weeks and we're continuing to interview and onboard in all job positions as quickly as we can."

Related:

• 2 Pasadena Residents Running For School Board In District 3
• Bus Driver Shortage Improving: All AACPS Routes Will Be Staffed This Year

Though the teacher shortage is a lingering problem, AACPS has no bus driver vacancies for the first time since 2021. 

Every bus route will be staffed this year. Families no longer have to check this list daily to see if their student has a bus.

Anne Arundel County has also improved its vacancy numbers for these other school jobs:

• Crossing Guards: 41 vacancies (57 last year)
• Food Service Workers: 98 vacancies (222 last year)
• Custodians: 23 vacancies (81 last year)
• Athletic Trainers: Two vacancies (Five last year)

The latest staffing update is posted here. Interested applicants can apply at aacps.org/joinourteam.

Back To School

AACPS students start class the week of Monday, Aug. 28. The first day varies by grade. The school calendar is viewable at this link.

Bus schedules and disruptions are available here.

School supply lists are posted at aacps.org/schoolsupplies.

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