Career: Special Education Teachers
The fairy-tale author Hans Christian Anderson had dyslexia, a learning disability that makes reading difficult. Others who have struggled with dyslexia include Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Cruise, and Magic Johnson. If you listed all the people with special learning needs who have made important contributions to society, you'd fill a book.
Do you love to help others? Are you tolerant of people who learn differently and sometimes behave differently? If so, you might consider becoming a special education teacher.
Special education teachers teach children who have special learning needs or problems such as trouble speaking. Most teach students in elementary, middle, and high schools, though some work with infants and toddlers.
Did You Know?
- Special education teachers work closely with a team of professionals (such as social workers and speech pathologists) to provide help to each student.
Are You Ready To...?
- Develop and follow an individual learning plan for each student
- Help identify students who would benefit from special education
- Keep in close contact with parents
- Attend meetings
It Helps to Be...
Patient, tolerant, and flexible. Each of your students will face different challenges. You'll want to help all of them grow and develop -- while making it clear that you accept them just as they are.
Make High School Count
- Do paid or volunteer work as a tutor, camp counselor, or coach, preferably with children who have special needs.
- Study psychology and family and consumer science to develop your communication skills and learn about issues affecting families and children.
- Speak with special education teachers about the joys and challenges of their jobs.
- Visit the website for the National Clearinghouse for Professions in Special Education.
Did You Know?
- A big part of a special education teacher's job is managing the learning plan designed for each student, called an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs in special education to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2014.
The number of students who need special education is expected to grow much faster than the number of students overall. That means schools will have a greater need for special education teachers than for other kinds of teachers. You'll improve your options if you have expertise in severe disabilities like autism or in working with children who have multiple disabilities.
Compensation
Salaries for teachers vary depending on specialty, amount of experience, and geographic location. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates average yearly earnings of special education teachers in 2006 by educational level taught:
- Preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school: $49,710
- Middle school: $52,550
- High school: $52,520
