Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, §§ 22–206 through 22–208 of this subtitle apply only to: an employee of a day school in the State under the authority and supervision of a county board of education or the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners, employed as: an attendance officer; a clerk; a helping teacher; a principal; a superintendent; a supervisor; or a teacher; a faculty employee of an educational institution supported by and under the control of the State; a librarian or clerical employee of any library that is established or operates under the Education Article; a professional or clerical employee of a community college that is established or operates under the Education Article; or a staff employee of the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, or St. Mary’s College who is a member of the Teachers’ Retirement System as of January 1, 1998. Sections 22–206 through 22–208 of this subtitle do not apply to: an individual who has elected to participate in an optional retirement program under Title 30 of this article; an individual who is employed under a federal public service employment program; a professional or clerical employee of the Department of Public Libraries of Montgomery County who elected to transfer to the employees’ retirement system of Montgomery County; or an employee of the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, or St. Mary’s College who becomes an employee on or after January 1, 1998, in a position as a staff employee of the educational institution that was eligible for membership in the Teachers’ Retirement System or Teachers’ Pension System under Chapter 6, § 8, paragraphs 1(a) and 2(a) of the Acts of 1994.