Everyone knows that becoming a teacher requires a lot more than smarts; it takes courage, endless patience, a love of learning, and plenty of emotional fortitude. Special education teachers possess these qualities perhaps to an even further degree. Their training is longer, their performance more closely scrutinized, and their relationships with students often affected by physical and mental hindrances unfamiliar to traditional instructors.
It is no wonder, then, that some special educators leave the profession, unable to cope with the stresses of what can sometimes seem like a thankless industry. But those who choose to stick with it can experience personal growth and emotional benefits beyond measure.
Exploring the requirements
All states require special education teachers to be licensed, a process that involves the completion of at least a bachelor's degree and sometimes a master's degree. Among the usual admissions requirements, some special education programs call for a personal statement divulging an applicant's work and life experience, goals within the program, and professional philosophies.
Additionally, PRAXIS scores are required by most states. Delivered in both computer- and paper-based formats, there are two PRAXIS tests. PRAXIS I: Pre-Professional Skills Tests measure basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills while PRAXIS II measures comprehension of specific K–12 subjects as well as general and subject-specific teaching skills and knowledge.
A valuable education
The master's in special education is a serious commitment to:
- learning to recognize and diagnose learning disabilities
- teaching special education students of all ages
- providing special education counseling
- tailoring individual education plans
- becoming familiar with applicable laws and policies
As mentioned previously, the advantages of working in special education are many. Special education teachers have the chance to positively influence not only the lives of individual students, but they can affect change on a larger scale by collaborating with family agencies, community services, and professional organizations to achieve increased integration in schools and continually innovative teaching methods.
The benefits of a graduate degree in special education are more than just emotional. According to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, an increasing number of special needs students will ensure that the special education sector will grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Though teachers in almost every field are underpaid, the security, personal rewards, and relative mobility of the job—not to mention paid summers off work—are attractive features for many.
By Hannah Roberts, staff writer
