Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) is 98 percent staffed and is working diligently to be fully staffed for the start of the 2022-2023 school year. 

“We are doing a great deal of work to fill every position and to be 100 percent staffed on the first day of school,” Superintendent Dr. Monifa B. McKnight said during a media briefing today. “We deeply value our employees, their work and their professionalism. It is because of our excellent employees that students will thrive in their futures.”

As of today, MCPS has 246 full-time teaching positions open, with 89 candidates in the background screening and onboarding processes, essentially leaving 157 openings. 

Dr. McKnight talked about the district’s recruiting, marketing and outreach efforts to fill the open positions, ensuring the system will be sufficiently staffed for the upcoming school year.

MCPS is also working to hire for critical support professional positions. For these jobs, the district is seeking:

• Fifty bus operators. MCPS has 34 drivers currently in training, essentially leaving 16 openings.
• 450 support professionals, which includes paraeducators, office workers and building service employees. Eighty-three candidates are in the background screening and onboarding processes, essentially leaving 367 open support professional positions.. 

Staffing for a school system as large as MCPS is complex and nuanced work. Like many school systems across the country, MCPS is facing a challenging and competitive hiring environment. Decisions for positions are based on enrollment projections, actual enrollment numbers that frequently change, and other programmatic and student needs. Within a school system, many jobs require not only experience and knowledge, but also licensing and credentials. . 

MCPS has made immense efforts to hire staff, including:

• Recruiting at colleges and universities across the country and attending job fairs and hiring events coast to coast.
• Hosting in-person recruitment events throughout Montgomery County, including with partners such as Montgomery College. 
• Establishing a recruitment table at the Office of Human Resources and Development. This ongoing effort allows candidates to ask questions and get help with the application process from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at 45 W. Gude Dr. in Rockville. 
• Marketing and recruiting online, such as with LinkedIn.
• Hosting community popup shops at neighborhood events. 

MCPS is the largest school system in Maryland and one of the largest employers in Montgomery County The district provides excellent employee benefits, including healthcare, retirement, and mental health and wellness supports. MCPS also provides competitive pay, professional development opportunities and career pathways for all employees. 

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