Southern Maryland Schools Are Taking Different Paths On Maryland’s Teacher Career Ladder

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Southern Maryland school systems are preparing for the next phase of Maryland’s Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, with new teacher leadership roles expected to change how some experienced educators split their time between the classroom and supporting colleagues.

The changes are tied to Level 4 of the state’s teacher Career Ladder, which is designed to give highly qualified teachers a way to advance professionally while remaining connected to students.

St. Mary’s County Public Schools is the only Southern Maryland school system listed among the Level 4 pilot pathway districts for the 2026-27 school year. Charles County Public Schools plans to enter the pilot pathway in 2027-28, while Calvert County Public Schools plans to move into full Level 4 implementation that same year.

Although the choices sound similar, they give the school systems different levels of flexibility as they create new leadership positions for experienced teachers.

What Is Career Ladder Level 4?

Level 4 is part of the teacher Career Ladder created under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

It is intended to give experienced teachers a way to advance professionally without leaving the classroom entirely to become administrators.

Level 4 teachers hold National Board Certification and divide their work between teaching students and supporting other educators.

Their leadership responsibilities may include mentoring new teachers, helping colleagues improve lessons, leading professional development, reviewing student data and assisting with curriculum and instructional planning.

The idea is to keep highly skilled teachers connected to students while also giving them time to improve instruction throughout their schools.

What Does The Pilot Pathway Mean?

A pilot allows a school system to test how the Level 4 position should work before moving into its regular long-term model.

Charles and St. Mary’s have both selected the Level 4 pilot pathway, but they will begin on different timelines.

The Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board approved St. Mary’s to begin its pilot during the 2026-27 school year.

Cecil, Somerset, Talbot and Washington counties will also begin new pilots that year.

Charles will begin using the pilot pathway in 2027-28.

Calvert selected full Level 4 implementation for the 2027-28 school year and must provide more detail about what that implementation will look like in December.

What Have Other Districts Learned?

Howard and Caroline counties shared their early experiences with Level 4 during the July 30 meeting of the Blueprint Accountability and Implementation Board.

Howard County tested a schedule in which participating teachers spent 40% of their time working with students and 60% helping other educators.

The lead teachers worked with intervention groups, co-taught with newer teachers, modeled instructional practices and helped colleagues with lesson planning and student data.

Officials said keeping the lead teachers in the classroom helped them build credibility with other educators because they continued facing the same daily teaching demands.

However, the district also found challenges.

Lead teachers sometimes gave up their own planning time to help colleagues and completed additional work at night. Officials said participants became better at managing the role as the year progressed.

Howard County officials also said they preferred the 40% teaching and 60% leadership schedule tested during the pilot. The regular structure in state law is closer to an even division of time, which officials said may need to be reconsidered.

How Existing Jobs Could Change

Caroline County began its pilot by converting an existing literacy coach position into a Level 4 lead teacher position.

The major difference was that the Level 4 employee returned to teaching students for part of the day.

Traditional instructional coaches may be fully released from classroom teaching. Under the Level 4 model, teachers must remain responsible for students while also providing coaching and leadership.

Caroline County officials said returning eligible National Board-certified educators to classroom teaching for part of the day could also allow them to qualify for a $10,000 Blueprint salary increase that fully released instructional coaches may not receive.

The district plans to gradually convert positions as they become vacant or as employees earn National Board Certification rather than removing current employees from their jobs.

What Happens Next?

Every Maryland school system was required to notify the state by July 1 whether it intended to pilot or implement Level 4 during the 2027-28 school year, under a joint policy adopted by the AIB and the Maryland State Board of Education.

Sixteen systems selected the pilot pathway, while eight chose implementation.

The districts must provide additional details in December explaining how their programs will operate.

State officials said the pilots will help determine what works, how districts can adapt the positions and whether changes should be recommended to the Maryland General Assembly.