Kelly
Is the job of a Special Education Teacher thankless and tiring?
I'm asking this question because I realize that this career can be difficult sometimes, and I want to make sure that I will be able to handle the pressure put on me every day. #teaching #special-education
5 answers
Sonja Santana
Sonja’s Answer
I've just finished a masters in special education for grades 1-6 and had the opportunity to teach special education classes and it was a great uplifting experience.
It is true that this is a very involved and dedicated career path. But if you really feel passionate about teaching these very special kids, go for it because it is a truly rewarding experience.
You will be helping kids with many hardships and disabilities not only to learn basic academic concepts but also life skills with lots of love and dedication. You will be improving their lives for the better and remember you will have a team with you consisting of teacher assistants, paraprofessionals, counselors, speech therapists, occupational therapists so that the child with special needs gets all the support that he/she needs. Hope this helps, good luck!
Thank you very much! Very helpful.
Kelly
Herman Liu
Herman’s Answer
Hi Kelly,
I do not have any experience teaching special education courses, but my brother is special. I grew up going to school alongside with my brother and I can definitely tell you that if you become a special education teacher, you are greatly appreciated. My family and I always thank the people who have helped us. The career will be a challenge, but challenges are often exciting; as opposed to a repetitive job. I would also imagine there to be very high personal high reward in this career.
Hope this helps,
Herman
This story made me smile, thank you for taking the time to respond!
Kelly
Jason Aaron White
Jason Aaron’s Answer
I am currently studying to become a Special Education Teacher by getting my Master's Degree in Special Education. My background was 13+ years in sales, marketing and business management until last year I became a Special Education Paraprofessional for Special School District in my city. Being a paraprofessional allowed me to see the ins and outs of a Special Education teacher first hand while assisting students with learning disabilities on a daily basis. I can tell you from this experience that it is very rewarding and enjoyable to make a difference in the lives of students with disabilities. Working with students on a more intimate level of small groups, or one-on-one adds a level of depth to the position. It definitely requires a lot of communication, follow up and collaboration with parents, students, teacher assistants (paraprofessionals) as well as other teachers. I love what I am doing so much that I continued to do it full-time even though it was a significant pay cut at first for me coming from the business world. However, Special education is a growing field in demand and the pay for a special education teacher is average from 40k-60k a year (and could be more based on education B.A,Masters, Masters +, Doctorate).
This field is definitely not thankless, but rewarding. It can be tiring at times but when you are making a difference in people's lives, you don't even think about that. I would recommend being a special education paraprofessional for a week to see the field would be a right fit for you. This way you will be able to see how truly rewarding it is. I wish you the best and hopes this answers your question. Good luck!
- Jason White
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John McCarthy
John’s Answer
i am a firm believer in persistent pros and cons, SWOT analysis, introspections, and other ways of really truly figuring out yourself and what you want to achieve in this world.
