ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Governor Wes Moore announced a sweeping set of new initiatives aimed at building a stronger, more diverse teacher workforce in Maryland—while simultaneously uplifting young men and boys across the state. The announcement marks one of the Moore-Miller Administration’s most significant investments yet in educator recruitment, retention, and long-term workforce stability.
At the center of the initiative is the launch of $19 million in expanded Grow-Your-Own Educators Grant Program awards, designed to help non-licensed school staff transition into full-time classroom teachers. These grants will support paraprofessionals, classroom aides, and other school support professionals who already serve within Maryland schools but need financial and academic support to become certified educators.
The impact of the administration’s efforts is already visible. Teacher vacancies have dropped nearly 50 percent in the past year—from 1,619 openings in the 2024–25 school year to 886 in 2025–26.
“Through our strategic investments, Maryland has cut the teacher shortage in half—but we still have work to do,” Gov. Moore said. “Today, we accelerate our push to close the educator shortage by leveraging an untapped resource in our state: Maryland’s young men and boys. By making the choice to invest in our educators and our schools, our administration is helping every educator pursue their dream of teaching and inspiring the next generation.”
Prioritizing Male Educators to Strengthen Classrooms and Communities
A distinctive feature of this year’s Grow-Your-Own awards is a new priority consideration for programs that present strong plans to recruit and retain male educators, who make up only 23 percent of Maryland teachers. Increasing male representation—especially Black and Brown men—has long been linked to stronger academic outcomes, social-emotional development, and mentorship for students.
Governor Moore emphasized that schools are not just places of learning—they are also spaces where boys and young men build identity, self-esteem, and purpose. By increasing representation in the teaching profession, the administration aims to support those developmental needs more intentionally.
“These initiatives will help Maryland recruit and retain the excellent teachers our students deserve,” said State Superintendent Dr. Carey M. Wright. “We are building a stronger, more resilient educator workforce.”
New Partnership to Support Men and Boys Across Maryland
The governor also announced a major three-year partnership between the Young Men and Boys Initiative within the Governor’s Office of Children and the American Institutes for Research (AIR). Through a memorandum of understanding, AIR will provide research and technical assistance to strengthen statewide strategies supporting men and boys—backed by $6 million in philanthropic funding from the AIR Opportunity Fund.
“Teacher shortages and the need for more men in the classroom are real—and solvable,” said Dr. Rashawn Ray, Executive Director of the AIR Opportunity Fund. “This partnership represents Maryland at its best—leaders, educators, families, and research partners pulling in the same direction.”
Part of a Larger Workforce Push
The Grow-Your-Own expansion is just one piece of the Moore-Miller Administration’s broader agenda to stabilize the education workforce.
Recent efforts include:
- Feds to Eds Initiative — offering pathways for federal workers impacted by layoffs to transition into teaching.
- Maryland’s first registered apprenticeship program for teaching — creating a paid, earn-as-you-learn track into the classroom.
- Teacher Quality and Diversity Grant Program — distributing $1 million to strengthen and diversify teacher preparation pipelines.
- A new partnership with Teach.org — boosting Maryland’s national recruitment reach.
Together, these initiatives aim not only to fill vacancies but also to build a workforce that reflects the diversity, creativity, and potential of Maryland’s students.
A Vision for the Future
As Maryland continues to invest in its educators, the governor underscored that the state’s long-term success depends on schools that are stable, well-staffed, and deeply connected to the communities they serve.
“We are not simply addressing a teacher shortage,” Governor Moore said. “We are building a future where every child—especially every boy and young man—can see themselves in front of the classroom and know that they matter.”