HCEA presents job-satisfaction survey showing morale recovery, concerns about compensation and special-education support

The Howard County Education Association (HCEA) presented the results of its 15th annual Job Satisfaction Survey to the Board of Education on March 27, reporting incremental improvements in morale alongside ongoing concerns about pay and special-education support.

HCEA representatives said 4,580 school-based employees participated in the survey. The union reported that overall morale rose 3 percentage points from the prior year to reach the highest level recorded since 2019, while confidence in the superintendent also climbed. Middle-school morale showed the largest year-over-year gain, the presentation said.

But respondents expressed declining confidence in pay: the share of staff who feel they are paid fairly dropped by about 4 percentage points and remains lower among education support professionals (ESPs). HCEA also flagged elementary-school respondents as reporting the highest levels of student misbehavior that interferes with learning and said elementary-level educators reported the lowest levels of perceived adequacy of special-education support.

HCEA said the survey data are shared with site administrators, central office staff and union building representatives to inform local discussions and root-cause analysis. The association asked the board to use the survey data in budget and policy deliberations and to partner with the union on improving professional development. Board members thanked the union for the presentation and asked for the survey dashboard link for further review.