PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — Director of Special Education Dr. Kendy Anderson presented a staffing plan that calls for creating an additional six special education teacher positions, six positions for instructional assistants, plus one behavioral technician and one occupational therapist for the 2025–26 school year.
The district already has 14 vacancies in special education that aren’t part of this plan — the district is still working to fill those vacancies.
Dr. Anderson highlighted success stories in recent years, including Calvert’s above-average graduation rate of students with an IEP (81.2% for Calvert vs. the state target of 70.75%). She also called out some of the challenges of serving unique student populations and working with teachers and planners to find the best solutions. Special education programs encompass a variety of services ranging from pre-K to 12th grade. Students may participate in general classrooms full or part time, or be in a special education classroom full time, and access services during their school day.
Cutting specialized services or pulling back on staff may wind up putting students back into general classrooms when those classrooms aren’t able to accommodate their needs. The proposed plan pulls mainly from grant money while reducing the amount of Medicaid billing. Dr. Anderson’s plan aims to use the available grant money before it expires.
However, she said the Special Education Department will likely need more local funding for 2026–27.
Calvert special education teacher and Huntingtown High graduate Ashley Allen spoke about her experience. “When teachers and assistants leave due to excessive stress, we are left with gaps in training, gaps in consistency, gaps that students feel the most.”
Board member Paul Harrison commented that they had to think carefully about the FY26 budget because “it’s going to be less than we thought,” while expressing concern about educators burning out or being overworked.
Public commenters echoed the concern about burnout and teachers being pulled in too many directions.
Lindsee Harrell, a special education teacher and mother to a child with a disability, cited dedicated collaborative planning time with general education teachers, more support structures, and experienced mentors as just some possible resolutions for staffing issues.
Another parent spoke about the strides her son has made in the Calvert school system and the stress of not knowing what the future holds for a child with an IEP. “His success is due in large part to the educators and staff he’s been exposed to. Educators like these need to be respected as the experts they are. Their voices should hold significant weight when making decisions.”
The staffing plan is posted for 30 days so the public can review and comment.
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