LA PLATA, Md. — The Maryland Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) has The Maryland Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB) has officially approved Charles County Public Schools’ (CCPS) 2025 Career Ladder Plan, marking a major milestone in the county’s ongoing efforts to elevate teacher leadership and align with the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future. The plan, revised Oct. 10 and approved Oct. 23, requires no further revisions before implementation.
AIB Commends Charles County’s Commitment To Teacher Leadership
In its feedback, the AIB praised CCPS for creating a comprehensive framework that supports professional growth, leadership development and instructional excellence among teachers. The board highlighted the county’s focus on structured professional learning opportunities and its dedication to preparing educators for leadership roles within their schools.
Rachel Hise, executive director of the AIB, noted that the Career Ladder reflects “a commitment to elevating the teaching profession and fostering teacher leadership,” calling the plan a model of collaboration and intentional design.
Details Of The 2025 Career Ladder Plan
The revised plan was the product of extensive collaboration between CCPS, the Education Association of Charles County (EACC) and local government partners. Teachers, administrators and union leaders worked together to align the plan with state Blueprint mandates while ensuring clear career advancement pathways.
Key highlights include:
- Defined Career Levels: The plan introduces four advancement levels, from classroom teachers (Level 1) to distinguished educators (Level 4b), recognizing both experience and professional credentials.
- National Board Certification (NBC): Educators earning NBC receive a $10,000 salary increase, with an additional $7,000 for those teaching in low-performing schools. The plan also includes a tiered Maintenance of Certification (MOC) structure, awarding $8,000 for the first renewal and scaled increases thereafter.
- Leadership Roles: Level 4 designations include lead teacher and distinguished teacher roles, offering $5,000 and $15,000 respective pay increases, along with expanded mentoring, instructional leadership and data-driven responsibilities.
- Equity-Based Placement: The superintendent will prioritize placing Level 4 teachers in schools serving high concentrations of poverty and diverse student populations to address opportunity gaps.
Professional Development And Access
The plan emphasizes equitable access to professional learning for all teachers. Training opportunities will focus on leadership development, culturally responsive instruction, data-driven decision-making and coaching skills. Teachers can participate through district sessions, school-based cohorts or one-on-one mentorship, both in person and virtually.
To support educators pursuing National Board Certification, CCPS has established a National Board Academy with mentorship, writing workshops and individualized coaching — including an affinity cohort for teachers of color — funded through the Maryland State Department of Education’s NBC Support Grant.
Looking Ahead
The AIB’s approval allows CCPS to move forward with implementing the next phase of the Career Ladder, including continued expansion of National Board Certified Teacher support and preparation for the introduction of Level 4 positions in a future submission.
The board encouraged the district to continue expanding its pool of NBC teachers as these leadership roles become available.
The full 2025 Career Ladder Plan and supporting documents are available here.
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