BALTIMORE – The Maryland State Board of Education announced June 27 that the Maryland State Department of Education has strengthened its staffing infrastructure, resulting in the lowest vacancy rate in a decade. MSDE had 96 job vacancies as of July 1. This number represents an effort from State Superintendent of Schools Mohammed Choudhury and his administration to staff the department with top tier talent while also elevating current employees through financial and personnel opportunities across the MSDE.

“We are in the middle of an historic transformation to education in Maryland and MSDE is continuing to raise the bar on performance,” said State Board President Clarence C. Crawford. “These numbers are a testament to the commitment of the superintendent and the entire department to cultivate a dedicated team of professionals. Our employees are our greatest asset and through their work we are creating a transformative path forward in support of every Maryland student accessing an excellent and equitable education.”  
At the start of his term in July 2021, Superintendent Choudhury inherited 188 vacancies within the department. After the state lifted its hiring freeze in winter 2021, the number of vacancies within MSDE reached a high of 258.

Despite the task of filling these vacancies, coupled with a decade of position reductions to the department leading up to the start of this administration and being tasked with implementing a new, $3.8 billion education reform initiative, the department has developed and retained high-quality talent, a statement from the agency said. The department has cut its vacancy rate by more than 50% and significantly reduced its turnover rate from 22.8% in July 2021 to 14.7% as of May 2023 – a reduction of over 35%.

“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape Maryland’s education system. Transformative change on this scale demands a dedicated and high-quality team of individuals who are committed to the mission and vision of the Department,” said Superintendent Choudhury. “To say ‘it takes a village’ is an understatement. We have reached a milestone with department vacancies and our staff retention efforts, but we will not stop there. Our employees are the spark that makes this organization better every day. MSDE is growing, on the move and leading the charge to bring a world-class education to every Maryland child.”

As part of the effort to grow and strengthen the department’s workforce, Superintendent Choudhury successfully advocated for MSDE employees to receive a number of incentives that recognize the importance of their work.