MD needs graduating teachers to stay in-state

With only a few weeks left before colleges hold their winter graduations Maryland wants students graduating from state schools with education degrees to consider staying in state to teach, because the state needs their help.  

According to Bill Reinhard, director of communications for the Maryland Department of Education, Maryland needs about 1,500 new teachers each year to fill positions throughout the state. The problem is only about 900 students graduate with teaching degrees from state institutions each year.

Because of that Reinhard said  Maryland schools have to try hard to rkeep those graduating potential teachers in-state along with recruiting from places like Delaware, Pennsylvania and Virginia to fill those voids.

"We've had situations when we had more dire teacher shortages in Maryland where both Baltimore City and Prince Georges County would recruit as far away as the Philippines in order to get some teachers," Reinhard said.

Reinhard said the biggest shortages are for special education teachers  and high school math and science teachers.