Multi-pronged Approach Helps District Increase Applicant Diversity as Teacher Shortage Continues

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) has released new teacher hiring data for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 that show a continued increase in diverse hiring since 2015. Of the 903 new teachers hired by Montgomery County Public Schools for FY 2019, 38.8 percent were non-white, representing an 11.5 percent increase since FY 2015, when 27.3 percent of the 907 new teachers were candidates of color.

As noted in a September 2018 New York Times article, research shows that students, especially boys, benefit when teachers share their race or gender.

"This progress represents an important strategy toward improving outcomes for students of color, stated Superintendent Jack R. Smith. “As our county becomes more diverse, it is imperative for us to be more vigilant in our recruitment of diverse teacher applicants."

Of all 13,698 MCPS teachers: 72.76 percent are White; 12.35 percent are Black/African American; 7.08 percent are Hispanic; 6.02 percent are Asian and less than 2 percent are American Indian, Pacific Islander, or of two or more races.  

The increase stems from a multi-pronged approach to hiring that includes:

• Presence at events hosted by Historically Black Colleges and Universities
• Expanded recruitment through online venues that target minority teachers
• Targeted teacher recruitment in Puerto Rico
• Development of and continued support for the BOND Project, an initiative focused on the recruitment and retention of male educators of color in MCPS
• Investment in pathways program for supporting services employees to assist those interested in becoming teachers

This increase in teacher diversity is particularly significant as data show fewer students enrolling in teacher preparation programs and the growing interest in building a diverse teaching workforce by school systems across the region. Comparison data from FY 17 shows the percentage of Black/African American and Asian teachers in MCPS was higher than in the national average, but below the state average.

As MCPS' diverse teacher workforce grows, data also show that the district continues to maintain a teaching staff that is among the highest educated and experienced in the nation. MCPS teachers are more likely to hold a master’s degree or equivalent (87 percent), compared with teachers across Maryland and the U.S. (57 percent). Forty-two percent of MCPS teachers have more than 15 years of experience.