Maryland launches 'Feds to Ed' push to recruit recently separated federal workers into teaching

Kelly Meadows, director in the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Division of Educator Effectiveness, told the Professional Standards and Teacher Education Board on May 1 that MSDE is leading a “Feds to Ed” recruitment initiative aimed at former federal workers recently separated from the federal government.

Meadows said the effort responds to a March 13 special staffing collection showing “there are still 1,627 teacher vacancies across the state,” and to Department of Labor data showing many former federal employees live in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. She said the governor charged MSDE, the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the Department of Labor and the Governor’s Office for Children to develop the plan, which was submitted April 14.

The initiative emphasizes reducing certification barriers and expanding flexible preparation routes. Meadows described possible local pathways: hire career changers on provisional contracts with conditional licenses while they enroll in traditional programs; use alternative resident teacher programs and resident licenses to place career changers quickly; and employ adjunct licenses for part‑time content experts. Meadows also described existing financial incentives managed by MHEC — the Teacher Fellowship Scholarship, workforce development sequence scholarships and a student teacher stipend launched under the Governor’s Educator Shortage Reduction Act of 2023 — and said the Teacher Fellowship application window remains open.

Meadows said MSDE will expand a TeachMaryland.gov landing page targeted at former federal public servants, attend Department of Labor recruitment fairs with LEAs, and run targeted digital outreach to areas with concentrations of former federal workers. She noted the Blueprint raises the teacher minimum salary to $60,000 effective July 1, 2026, and urged that recruitment messages emphasize both pay and nonmonetary benefits (mission, working conditions, professional growth). “This is an opportunity for us to recruit from this pool,” she said.

Board members asked about mid‑year entry, program deadlines and supports for hires who take a year in the classroom before enrolling in a preparation cohort. Meadows and other MSDE staff said some LEAs and alternative providers are discussing rolling admissions and mid‑year cohort options, and that induction, mentoring and job‑embedded coaching will be critical to retain recruits. Dr. Matthew Duque, MSDE’s director of research, later presented data showing high attrition among some conditionally licensed cohorts (see separate article on data discussion).

Meadows said MSDE and MHEC are working with provider institutions to develop flexible programming geographically and by subject area, and that MSDE plans a searchable directory of teacher preparation programs and short videos to support outreach.

MSDE staff said this is an active, multi‑agency effort and invited LEAs and institutions to participate in upcoming recruitment events.