OCEAN CITY, Md. — A longtime Maryland public school administrator is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say she carried out a years-long scheme to steal more than $100,000 in education funds—some of which were intended to support low-income students.
Maryland State Prosecutor Charlton T. Howard, III, announced April 14, 2026, that Denise R. Shorts, 40, of Ocean City, has been charged with theft over $100,000, embezzlement, and misconduct in office.
According to charging documents filed in Worcester County Circuit Court, Shorts—who served as Chief Academic Officer and Assistant Superintendent for Worcester County Public Schools—allegedly used a school-issued purchase card to make $118,741.89 in personal purchases between 2019 and 2025.
Investigators say many of those purchases included pool equipment, clothing, cosmetics, home goods, and furnishings for a vacation home in Florida, as well as items used at a private learning center partially owned by Shorts.
Prosecutors allege Shorts went to extensive lengths to conceal the spending by creating and submitting falsified receipts. According to the filing, she would print both legitimate and fake Amazon receipts, cut out item descriptions or shipping addresses, and physically attach false information over real receipts before copying and submitting them for reimbursement.
Authorities say she then coded the purchases as legitimate school expenses—specifically tying many of them to the district’s Title I grant program, which is designed to provide additional resources to schools serving low-income families.
As a result, investigators allege $84,365.82 in federal education funds was improperly diverted from its intended purpose.
The scheme was uncovered during a routine audit conducted by the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits, which found discrepancies between Amazon transaction data and the receipts submitted by Shorts.
According to investigators, Shorts also attempted to cover up the activity by submitting altered personal credit card statements, claiming the purchases had been made using her own funds rather than the school system’s purchase card.
Shorts had been employed by Worcester County Public Schools since 1989 and rose through the ranks to become one of the system’s top administrators. She also served as the district’s Title I grant coordinator, overseeing federal funding intended to support disadvantaged students.
“Officials entrusted with the administration of valuable community resources intended for the education of needy children have a responsibility to act with integrity,” Howard said in a statement announcing the charges.
The Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office is continuing to lead the investigation. A hearing is expected to be scheduled in Worcester County Circuit Court.
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