ABOUT US
The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!
ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.
Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.
Job Posting End Date:
07-11-2026Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.
This position is posted to create a candidate pool for Secondary English Language Arts Lead Teacher for vacancies that may occur for the 2026-2027 school year.
DESCRIPTION
Working under the direction of the building principal, the Lead Teacher is an expert educator who serves as a school-based instructional leader, providing both direct instruction to students and instructional support to teachers during additional release time. This role focuses on improving instructional quality by providing job-embedded professional learning, including collaboration, mentoring, and coaching. The Lead Teacher is integral in fostering equity, inclusivity, and reflective practice across the school community, ensuring better outcomes for students and teachers alike. A lead teacher shall Teach in the classroom on average 40% of the teacher’s working time; and spend the remaining time on other teacher activities, including Mentoring newer and struggling teachers; and leading workshops and demonstrations at the school level. This is subject to change based on MD Blueprint legislation and/or at the discretion of the Superintendent.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in an applicable field of education.
Certification/Licensure:
Holds a current Maryland Advanced Professional Certificate or License
Hold National Board Teacher Certification
or
If there is no assessment comparable to National Board Teacher Certification for the teacher’s subject area, hold a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in the teacher’s subject area.
Experience:
Five (5) years experience as an effective PreK-12 teacher
Three (3) years experience supporting teachers in improving teaching and learning.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Holds a Master’s Degree Program in Education, Teaching, Curriculum and Instruction, Administration and Supervision, or related post-graduate program in Education
Licensure in multilingual education, special education, culturally responsive teaching, or administration and supervision
Experience in delivering high-quality professional learning for adult learners
Experience effectively mentoring interns, student teachers, new teachers, and/or developing teachers
Experience leading programs or projects leader
Experience working in schools that represent the demographic and socioeconomic diversity of HCPSS or have worked in Title I, CSI (comprehensive support and improvement), and/or community schools
Has attained or is currently pursuing supplemental credentials related to mentoring and/or coaching
ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.
Demonstrate commitment to inclusive, culturally responsive, and restorative instructional practices
Deliver direct instruction to students, demonstrating exemplary teaching practices that leverage High Quality Instructional Materials for an average of 50% of their working time
Model instructional excellence for colleagues by leading demonstration lessons in their own classroom
Lead collaborative planning to improve teaching practices, including the use of differentiated instruction for students with disabilities and language development outcomes for multilingual learners
Support new and developing colleagues in navigating the school system and implementing HCPSS curriculum and culturally responsive instructional practices
Engage in reflective dialogue with new and developing colleagues by collaboratively examining evidence of teacher practice and its impact on student learning
Partner with new and developing colleagues to establish and monitor instructional goals aligned with school and systemic initiatives
Facilitate a culture of collaboration through peer observations, collaborative planning sessions, coaching, co-teaching, and reflective dialogues
Support new and developing colleagues in establishing restorative, trauma-informed, inclusive classroom environments
Provide formative (non-evaluative) feedback to new and developing colleagues after classroom observations as part of a continuous improvement process
Design, deliver, and evaluate the impact of professional learning grounded in adult learning theory and research-based strategies, that addresses school and district improvement goals through the ongoing use and refinement of evidence-based practices
Participate in job-embedded professional learning to improve instruction, pedagogy, and intervention, while strengthening skills in coaching, consulting, calibrating, and mentoring
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.
Knowledge of adult learning and change theories
Knowledge of Specially Designed Instruction
Knowledge of language development outcomes
Demonstrated effective application of coaching, consulting, calibrating, and mentoring skills
Demonstrated knowledge of the 2022 Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teaching (FFT)
Demonstrated success in building inclusive cultures through collaboration, interpersonal skills, and working effectively with others
Demonstrated success in establishing restorative, trauma-informed, inclusive classroom environments
Demonstrated ability to meet the needs of students with disabilities, exceptionalities, and multilingual learners by adapting the content, methodology, and/or delivery of instruction
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
Supplemental Application Questions
This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental questions section of the application.
1. Please describe your experience supporting teachers in improving teaching and learning. In your response, cite the position and date range(s) for this experience.
2. Please list any credentials you hold related to mentoring or coaching (e.g., ICF, CPM, CCMP), and upload a copy of each along with your responses.
3. Please describe your experience delivering high-quality professional learning for adult learners. In your response, cite the position and date range(s) for this experience.
4. Please describe your experience mentoring interns, student teachers, new teachers, and/or developing teachers. In your response, cite the position and date range(s) for this experience.
5. Please describe your experience leading programs or leading projects. Describe the impact of this experience on student achievement. In your response, cite the position and date range(s) for this experience.
6. Please describe your experience working in schools that represent the demographic and socioeconomic diversity of HCPSS, or in Title I, CSI (Comprehensive Support and Improvement), and/or community schools. Describe the impact of this experience. In your response, cite the position and date range(s) for this experience
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.
Applicants may be required to complete a skills assessment prior to or during the interview process.
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
This is a 10-month per year position in the Howard County Educators Association (HCEA) employee bargaining unit. The current salary ranges for this position are on the NBCT Salary Scale-10 Month Teachers. Actual placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA Master Agreement which considers education and relevant prior experience. In accordance with Blueprint law, Lead Teachers will receive an additional $5,000 stipend on top of their 10-month base salary. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime.
Retirement
Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.
Benefits
HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.
Pre-Employment Requirements
Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.
All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.
Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.
For questions regarding this posting, please contact Rebecca Pfenninger [email protected]
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email [email protected].
HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.