The Office of the Presidential Scholar at Towson University (TU) and Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) have created a multi-year new teacher induction program in which TU mentors will support new CCPS teachers. A strategic facilitator from the Accountability and Implementation Board (AIB), which helps ensure successful implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, is also providing support to this initiative.

This new program aims to help new teachers feel empowered as they begin their careers in education, which will increase retention and improve their professional development. TU mentors and staff will receive valuable insight into the transition from teacher preparation to early practice, which will help inform research and curriculum.

Dr. Nancy Grasmick, TU’s first presidential scholar, is a nationally recognized expert in the field of education. She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Towson University, a master's in deaf education from Gallaudet University and a doctorate in communicative sciences from Johns Hopkins University. She served as the state superintendent of top-ranked Maryland Public Schools for twenty years. Dr. Grasmick has provided long-standing visionary leadership in PreK-12 education and in her role as Presidential Scholar, she pioneers programs that innovate both PreK-12 and higher education in Maryland.

“I am excited to partner with Carroll County Public Schools and County Superintendent McCabe to introduce an innovative teacher induction program so new teachers are provided with veteran coaching and receive the mentoring support they need to excel in their early careers,” says Dr. Grasmick. “Teacher induction programs play a critical role in developing confident, skilled educators while strengthening schools and, most importantly, helping students succeed.”

This initiative and partnership are part of the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the Maryland General Assembly in 2021 to transform public education in the state into a world-class education system. The Office of the Presidential Scholar will coordinate and evaluate the program for TU. TU will hire mentors and CCPS will coordinate the mentoring process for new teachers at their schools.

“I am very excited by this partnership between CCPS and TU to provide mentoring support to our newest teachers,” says Dr. Cynthia McCabe, superintendent of CCPS. “I also am appreciative of the AIB for supporting this Blueprint for Maryland’s Future program through their technical assistance program. I especially want to express my gratitude to Dr. Nancy Grasmick for her visionary leadership and help in creating this initiative. We know that both our new teachers and the TU mentors, provided through the Office of the Presidential Scholar, will benefit from this partnership.”

The AIB oversees implementation of the Blueprint for Maryland's Future and the strategic facilitator for this program, Dr. Frank Grossman, will provide technical assistance. He is working with the partners to develop program content, establish guidelines and create program evaluation tools.

“I am both honored and thrilled to be working with Carroll County Public Schools and Towson University on an innovative project to mentor and support the newest teachers in CCPS,” says Grossman. “This partnership between the dedicated educators at CCPS and the mentors provided by Dr. Grasmick in TU’s Office of the Presidential Scholar will serve as a model for districts and institutions of higher education across Maryland and beyond.”

As the program continues to build, the TU and CCPS will continue to seek grant funding to sustain the program and continue to add broader career ladder elements being phased in under the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.

“We are excited to see the collaboration with CCPS and Towson University as they work towards expanding this impactful program in support of educators,” says Director of Policy for AIB Rachel Amstutz. "This is such an important time for this collaboration and focus as we strive to reprofessionalize the teaching profession in order to recruit and retain outstanding educators so every student in Maryland has a top-notch teacher in their classroom. Together, we can strengthen the foundation of education and advance excellence in teaching.”

The mentoring will begin for the 2025–26 academic year.

For media inquiries, .

About Towson University

Towson University is Maryland’s university of opportunities. With more than 150 years of experience pushing possibilities, TU is a nationally recognized leader in inclusive excellence, social mobility, research and discovery. As the largest university in greater Baltimore, TU’s momentum is always accelerating, with nearly 20,000 students and 200 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts, sciences and applied professional fields. Located amid one of the East Coast’s cultural and economic epicenters, TU is a beacon and powerful catalyst in the Mid-Atlantic, partnering with hundreds of businesses and organizations, impacting communities and fueling change. TU meets the holistic needs of each student to achieve success, a result of a deeply inclusive culture with a focus on equity among all students, faculty and staff.

About Carroll County Public Schools

​The Carroll County Public Schools are the 10th-largest school system in the state of Maryland, with over 25,700 students. CCPS ranks as one of the top-performing school systems in the state of Maryland.  Carroll County students consistently score above state and national averages on standardized student assessments. Carroll County also has one of the highest graduation rates and lowest dropout rates in the state. These factors, combined with the success of the outstanding Career and Technology Program, the support of the business community and the involvement of parents in the county, help Carroll County to produce students who are college and career ready.