Each day in our schools, teachers are making learning possible and helping our children to prepare for their future. The quality of instruction is directly dependent on the quality of the teachers that our school system is able to recruit, hire, and retain. The Worcester County Public School System is very fortunate to have great teachers. We want to keep our schools strong for our children by continuing to recruit, hire, and retain the very best teachers.
The Teacher Shortage
Maryland graduates about 2,500 newly certified teachers each year. However, Maryland schools need about 7,500 to 8,000 new teachers each year. Because of the shortage of teachers, school systems must compete for new graduates, as well as go across state borders to seek new teachers.
The teacher shortage does not affect every teaching area. In fact, there is an abundance of elementary education teachers. The shortage, however, greatly impacts areas of specialization such as mathematics, science, special education, technology education, foreign language, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages). These areas that are the hardest hit by the teacher shortage are referred to as "critical shortage" areas.
School systems must be increasingly innovative in attracting new specialized teachers.
The Teacher Scholarship Fund
Worcester County Public Schools has created a Teacher Scholarship Fund in an effort to "grow our own" teachers for the future. The initiative works like this:
1. Members of the community donate funds to the Teacher Scholarship Fund, maintained and managed by the Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore.
2. Graduating seniors are eligible to apply for the Teacher Scholarship from Worcester County Public Schools if they:
- Will attend a college/university and pursue teacher certification in a critical shortage area; and
- Agree to apply for a teaching position in our school system.
The initiative will help our school system to attract high-quality candidates into the teaching profession. It will also assure that these high-quality candidates come back to Worcester County and apply for teaching positions with Worcester County Public Schools.
Getting Involved
If you would like to make a donation, please make your check payable to:
Community Foundation of the Eastern Shore, Inc.
c/o Teacher Scholarship Fund
1324 Belmont Avenue, Suite 401
Salisbury, Maryland 21804
All donations are tax-deductible. Download and print the Teacher Scholarship Fund Brochure here.
If you are a WCPS twelfth grader and wish to apply, click on the Scholarship Application.