I want to be a special education teacher. Where to start?

It takes a very special person to work with students with special needs. Check out your local university for degree plans. Here in Kentucky there is funding to get your college loans forgiven.. and this may be the case in other states; “Best in Class”. Being a special education teacher is definite job security. Statistically, those that enter the education field do not choose special education because of the demanding nature of it. But if this is the route that you choose, you will find it is the most rewarding career or “calling” you will ever have! In Kentucky I would recommend Murray State University or University of Kentucky. I have also heard U of L is a very good school too. In my area the highest regarding university is in Illinois at University of Illinios for education. But regardless, choose a university that will allow you to gain certification in many states; NCATE certification.

I’m a special education teacher!

If there are schools in your area for autistic children, perhaps you can be a teachers assistant for their afterschool program. If not, maybe you can do respite work on the weekends. If you are not able to find experience with someone whos autistic, look for any experience teaching. Even teaching in your chiurch/synagogue/etc counts. You may also want to read as much as you can on the subject.

I learned I have similar goals, but I was already out of college when I figured it out. I found a position as a teachers assistant at a school for autistic (wait until you finish high school to pursue this – the hours would conflict with high school). I am now working on elementary education teacher certification, and plan on continuing for a masters in special education.

In short, read whatever you can, and look for ways to get experience teaching wherever you can. Oh, and keep your grades up in high school.

Get good grades in high school and decide what college you want to go to. Look on the college website and research the courses and scholarships available for special ed teachers. Also go ahead and start working on essays for scholarships and look up state resources. A good resource is your school guidance counselor and a special ed teacher at an area school, most teachers are more than willing to assist future educators and students in general. I am in FL so we have a few programs for teachers and I am a Senior teacher so I help students write scholarship letters, fill in applications, and work on resume’s as well as general budgets and planning. Best wishes and I am so happy you are starting early. It will be so much easier later!

My mother was a special education teacher! I must tell you it is an honorable and spiritually rewarding job, it is good to see a high schooler with such a mature and motivated outlook.

Anyways, first consider exactly what you wish to do:

Psychology

Speech Therapy/Pathology

Counselors

Teacher’s Assistant

Social Worker

Also think about working in preschool/kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, highschool, or even college levels.

A requirement for licensure is a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education

Good luck!

Working in the classes is great! It’s good preparation for college! My Mom went to Nazareth college in Rochester, NY. She loved it. Now she is working with a group of autistic and lots of other types of mentally disabled kids. She helped out student teaching in a school before she graduated college! Good luck!

There isn’t really any preparation that you need to do specifically. Just make sure that your grades are good so that you can get into a good school. When you get ready for colledge, check the licensing requirements for the state that you want to teach in. In my state, we have a Mild disabilities license. This is the license that they are wanting people to get especially if you want to work with autistic kids. If you want to work with more severe student, then there is a seperate license for that. So, check to make sure which one you want.

I live in AZ. Cost of living is not higher due to low property taxes. Substitute teachers get $60 per day–one of the lowest in the nation. Starting salaries is available online. You need state licensure in any state you decide to teach. Apply across the country and go where ever the job takes you. You will learn a lot from the relocating experience.

it would be really helpful to know what state you live in. each state goes about certification differently and offers different programs. i live in illinois. illinois has a program called the special education tuition waver. essentially it’s a grant with a few requirements. the state paid for my school as long as i teach special education in illinois for at least 2 years. if i don’t, then the money they gave me becomes a loan and i have to pay it back.

volunteer with special olympics. that is fun.

look at the council for exceptional children website and see if your state has a student council for exceptional children website. try and see if the council will fund you going to one of their conferences… you will learn a lot of information and get great hook-ups there.

if you don’t already have a student council for exceptional children at your school or in your area, contact your state council for exceptional children and see if they will help you set one up.

it’s all about educating people about disabilities and going out into the community and volunteering and spending time with people that have disabilities. lots of fun