Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Superintendent Dr. Millard House II announced that he is leaving his position, effective on June 18. Shawn Joseph, co-Director of Howard University’s Superintendent Academy, has been named as the interim superintendent by County Executive-elect Aisha Braveboy (D), who will be sworn in on June 19.
Braveboy (D) expressed thanks for his tenure leading one of America’s largest school systems and stated her commitment to the youth of Prince George’s.
“I’m grateful to Superintendent House for his service to our county’s schools over the last two years. Ending his tenure was, as it should be, a mutually agreed upon decision between the superintendent and the Board of Education,” she said.
Members of Prince George’s County Education Association (PGCEA) voted no-confidence in Superintendent House II during a virtual meeting on June 4, citing concerns regarding the lack of support for educators.
“The children of Prince George’s County cannot thrive in a system where the adults responsible for their education are unheard, unsupported, and disrespected,” said PGCEA President Donna Christy.
Dr. House defends his records against PGCEA’s statements.
“For the last 23 months, I’ve focused on the work, focused on students as we think about academic achievement and growth. The Class of 2024 graduation rate rose to 80%,” he said, while also lauding improvements in teacher retention and reductions in contraband seizures.
“I’m proud of the work thus far. It’s unfortunate that politics can sometimes overshadow the positive work.”
Ahead of Summer Break, Teachers Rally to Address Continued Concerns
At a recent school board meeting and amid a protracted closed-door contract negotiation with school leadership, educator Kara Robinson expressed her experiences working within Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and her displeasure with the contract negotiations.
“I teach middle school math. Watching this year’s negotiations and the lack of real response from [Prince George’s County Educators Association (PGCEA)] proposals has made one thing clear: this administration is willing to go to great lengths to devalue and disrespect us,” she said, in a room filled with numerous Prince George’s educators.
Since then, her testimony has been widely shared on social media.
Robinson, who has spent eight years in the school system, explained she only expects to spend two more years teaching in PGCPS. She spoke of the rising expectations for educators, without additional staff support or increased compensation.
Numerous teachers have also stated that outside jurisdictions have higher starting salaries for teachers, making the process of recruiting and retaining young teachers more difficult for PGCPS.
Educators rallied in the rain outside of the Prince George’s County Public Schools offices in early May to demand higher wages and new hires to address ongoing staffing shortages.
Council members Wala Blegay (D-District 6) and Krystal Oriadha (D-District 7) spoke at the rally in support of the teachers’ demands for better working conditions and pay.
Christy said on May 8 that staffing levels were “dangerously low.”
“We are filling the gap now with conditionally licensed educators, which only requires a degree, a pulse, and passing a background check; then you can have a classroom,” she said.
State education officials, including the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland, have stated that existing educational staffing shortfalls have been around for decades. There are an estimated 1,600 teaching vacancies in Maryland, according to a May announcement by Gov. Wes Moore (D).
Moore signed a bill to recruit teachers from across the nation, and Maryland will provide $1 million in grants to 11 colleges and universities to create pathways to teaching for former federal workers. Moore said he refuses to “stand idly by” while federal workers are fired without cause.
“This funding helps our federal workers land on their feet, while also addressing the teacher shortage throughout our state. Together, we will continue to innovate, collaborate, and protect our people in the face of Washington,” Moore said during his announcement on May 27.