Maryland Board Issues Misconduct Charges Against Lankford
The state board initiated a formal removal process for the Somerset County school board chair following misconduct allegations.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Administration
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The Maryland State Board of Education has issued formal charges of misconduct against Somerset County school board chair Matthew Lankford. These charges follow an investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior and a pattern of unprofessional conduct.
Why it matters
The action marks the start of a formal removal process that could ultimately lead to Lankford losing his seat on the board. This procedure highlights the oversight authority the state board maintains over local school district leadership in Maryland.
The charges are based on a 90-page complaint filed by the Somerset Education Association detailing a pattern of improper behavior. This follows a previous warning issued to the chair regarding his conduct last fall.
The players
Matthew Lankford
He is the current chair of the Somerset County school board who is facing formal misconduct charges.
Maryland State Board of Education
This is the state-level governing body responsible for oversight and the removal of local school board members.
Somerset Education Association
This organization represents local educators and filed the detailed 90-page complaint against the board chair.
The details
The state board action initiates a formal process to gather information and assess the allegations stemming from an incident at a local board meeting. Lankford retains the right to contest the charges through a hearing process managed by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Timeline
The Maryland State Board of Education announced the charges on October 29, 2026.
Matthew Lankford was elected to the Somerset County school board in November 2024.
Lankford officially took office in January 2025.
Renee Dixon resigned from the Cecil County school board in April 2025.
The state board removed Allegany County member Wayne Foote in 2019.
Culture Shift
The current proceedings against Lankford follow the precedent established by the state board's 2019 removal of Wayne Foote from the Allegany County school board. This shift reflects a move toward stricter state-level enforcement of professional standards for elected local school officials.
Residents should anticipate that the county will incur legal fees as the removal process moves forward. The status of local school board governance remains in transition while the state-led investigation into the chair's conduct proceeds.
The takeaway
This case emphasizes the high professional standards expected of local school board members and the severe consequences of violating them. Residents are encouraged to monitor future board meetings to stay informed about potential leadership changes in the district.
Further reading
For more on the regulatory processes governing local school leadership, visit the Maryland Administration page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Baltimore Banner.
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