Teacher Shortages Across the DMV Threaten Class Sizes
As the new school year approaches, districts across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) region are working to fill open teaching positions. This effort is critical, as unfilled roles could lead to larger class sizes and fewer qualified educators for students.
In Maryland, every county is experiencing teacher vacancies, according to Paul Lemle, president of the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA). He emphasized that these shortages could mean students may not have access to qualified teachers in the fall. “We don’t want that,” he said. The situation is exacerbated by tight school budgets, which have led some districts to avoid hiring for certain positions, resulting in bigger classes.
Lemle also highlighted the need for more people to enter the teaching profession. He encouraged federal workers who may have been displaced by policy changes to consider teaching as a career. However, he stressed that the shortage is real, with thousands of open positions across the state. Special education teachers, in particular, are in high demand.
To attract educators, Maryland has implemented several strategies. These include offering a starting salary of $60,000 per year and allowing provisional hires—where individuals can begin teaching with a bachelor’s degree and then complete their certification while on the job.
Recruitment Efforts in Virginia
Moving to Virginia, Stafford County Public Schools is actively seeking to fill nearly 100 teaching roles and 20 specialist positions, such as counselors. Teacher salaries start at around $50,600 annually. Superintendent Dr. Daniel Smith noted that the district has focused on improving recruitment and retention efforts this year. Last year, there were 139 open positions, but the situation has improved significantly.
“We’re feeling actually really good about where we are right now,” Dr. Smith said. “We’ve known about the national teacher shortage—it’s not a surprise to us. We’ve done a number of things with recruitment and retention, and taking care of our people here has helped. Our retention rate is up.”
In Prince William County, there are currently 184 open teaching positions, though the number continues to decrease as more employees are onboarded. The county’s media relations coordinator shared that PWCS remains committed to proactive recruitment. Their efforts include:
- Expanding outreach across Virginia and the DC Metro area through innovative strategies like gas station and television advertising.
- Hosting both in-person and virtual job fairs.
- Participating in recruitment events at colleges and universities.
- Partnering with universities to provide pathway programs for aspiring teachers.
These initiatives have contributed to significant progress in teacher recruitment over the past few years.
Hiring Events and Initiatives in Prince George’s County
In Prince George’s County, a major hiring event called the “Hiring Palooza” took place on Wednesday, July 9, at Henry Wise High School. The event aimed to attract a large number of candidates to fill open teaching positions. A spokesperson for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) stated that each year, the district aims to hire approximately 1,000 educators to support its 200 schools and 10,000-member teacher workforce. Over 3,200 candidates registered for the event, showing strong interest in joining the team.
District of Columbia’s Approach
In the District of Columbia, DC Public Schools (DCPS) reported approximately 147 vacancies out of 1,146 positions ahead of the 2025–2026 school year. Under the leadership of Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chancellor Dr. Lewis D. Ferebee, DCPS has worked to ensure that educators are motivated to teach in the nation’s capital. The district maintains a high retention rate and consistently ranks among the highest in the country for teacher compensation. The mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget includes a 3 percent raise for teachers, reflecting a continued commitment to supporting educators.
