Special Education Teacher

What a Special Education Teacher Does

Special education teachers educate children and teens with physical and mental disabilities, i.e., special education students. Most of these teachers work with children with mild or moderate disabilities, providing remedial or specially-tailored instruction to compensate for the child's special needs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some special education teachers, however, work with children who have severe physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities, and focus their instruction solely on teaching them basic life skills and literacy, the Bureau states. Special education students might include children with autism, speech or language impairments, blindness and/or deafness, mental retardation, various physical disabilities, or emotional problems. Special education teachers are trained to adapt available curriculum to meet each student's needs, and deliver instruction accordingly. The program developed for each student is called an Individualized Education Program (IEP), in which personalized learning goals are established. Special education teachers must develop lesson plans, teach these plans with student disabilities in mind; assign and grade class work; assess students' progress; and work closely with parents.

How to Become a Special Education Teacher

All special education teachers must be licensed to teach in their particular state, and most become certified after completing a bachelor's degree in education. A few states require teachers to have a master's degree before they can be licensed. Certified teachers who did not specialize in special education in college can transition into this career by completing an approved training program in special education and becoming special education certified. College programs in special education are offered at the baccalaureate, master's and even doctoral level, and it is often offered as a concentration area under a broader Bachelor of Education program. In a bachelor's program, the last year is often spent doing student teaching in special education under the watch of a certified special education teacher, according to the Bureau. Bachelor's programs typically last four years, and states that require a master's degree in special education will require you to complete at least one additional year of graduate study.

Career Outlook for Special Education Teachers

Special education teachers can expect excellent job prospects upon graduation. Employment of special education teachers is projected to grow by 17 percent in the 2008-2018 decade, according to the Bureau. School districts in some regions of the country report shortages of special education teachers and often offer attractive signing bonuses and higher pay to draw in qualified teachers. Demand for special education teachers will be spurred by an increasing number of special needs students who require the skills of special education teachers. Not only are disabilities being diagnosed at earlier ages in students, but legislation has emphasized higher graduation standards for special education students, increasing the need for qualified special education teachers, the Bureau explains. The average annual salary for special education teachers working in preschools and elementary schools was $50,020 as of May 2008, the Bureau shows. Those who worked in middle schools earned slightly more on average, at $50,810. Special education teachers working in high schools earned the most on average at $51,340.