Op-Ed: MCPS’s CREA Program Faces Resource and Staffing Shortages

The Career Readiness Education Academy (CREA), designed as Montgomery County Public School’s lifeline for older English learners, finds itself at a crossroads. While the program promises valuable opportunities such as GED preparation, work skills training, and industry certifications, severe resource constraints are undermining its ability to fulfill this crucial mission for many students. 

Operating from Thomas Edison High School of Technology, CREA offers both full-day and evening programs to accommodate student’s complex schedules. As many of these students are ages 18 and older, who have been referred to the program because they’re unlikely to meet traditional graduation requirements before turning 21. 

However, there is a troubling reality behind this program. Currently, almost 50 students languish on a waitlist because MCPS’ central office hasn’t provided adequate resources. The program, which typically serves 140-155 students annually, has been forced to pause enrollment entirely. Last year alone, they lost 40 students during the graduation period. 

Despite its status as a full MCPS program, CREA operates without a principal, an administrative secretary, a dedicated school nurse, its own facilities, or reliable transportations services. Tanya Fuentes manages the program and ensures the students have all they need to the best of her ability, yet she only holds the title of “paraeducator” while performing duties beyond the scope of her job description. She reports feeling like the program is “under a magnifying glass” while lacking fundamental support. 

These aren’t just mere inconveniences, they're critical failures that directly impact student success. When three teachers and two security guards were absent on Halloween of 2024, classes had to be canceled completely. Even basic food services were absent at the beginning of the school year.

According to Tanya Fuentes, transportation barriers have effectively blocked access for students from Poolesville, Damascus, Paint Branch, and Sherwood. The situation is particularly problematic given that 70% of CREA students live independently from their parents, many juggling work and family responsibilities alongside their studies.

Student council President Steven Avalav represents a student body determined to succeed despite these challenges. But determination alone cannot overcome such a grand systemic issue. The contrast between CREA’s mission and its reality raises urgent questions about MCPS’s commitment to alternative education. While the program promises career readiness, the current crisis threatens to turn this into empty words. 

Written by Brainy Akpala (MCR-SGA Press Deputy)

Published by the MCR-SGA Communications Department