Why I Want To Be A Special Education Teacher

I've been a special education teacher for seven years. My first three years were spent working in a Title 1 school with some of the most economically disadvantaged children in our area. I call those my "Trial By Fire" years. Almost every child on my caseload had a heartbreaking story attached to their IEP. I cried a lot those years. I quit going to church because it was too hard for me to sit in the sanctuary full of upper middle class people that had no clue of the horrors I was seeing. That will be a good story for another post. It took quite a bit of prayer and soul searching to pull me out of the pit of that heartbreak. I now work 30 minutes away in one of the wealthier schools in my hometown, and guess what? The stories still
Special education is hard journey for everyone involved. It's hard on the kids, the parent, and the teachers that work with those precious souls. Some cases are easy, but some wake you up in the middle of the night with a pounding chest and a hole in your heart. Choosing to be a special education teacher is definitely a calling. No one goes into it for the money or noterity. It's exhausting both mentally and physically. There are days that I have given so much that I barely have anything left to give to my own children. Of course, this could be said for any teacher or person working with children. We all choose this path because we want to be difference makers and find great reward in helping another human grow and succeed. That reward is why I do it. Nothing brings me more joy than seeing a child finally master a concept they've
I run small group resources classes and also work with children in the general education setting. My students have a range of disabilities from specific learning problems, autism, ADHD, emotional disturbances, and severe cognitive disabilities. I get the privilege of seeing these children in small groups and within their classrooms. It gives me a unique perspective as a teacher because I am able to see the students beyond the confines of one setting. The purpose of this blog is to share with fellow educators and parents what I have found has worked extremely well to increase success in all children, but especially our most challenged. There are things we can do as both parents and educators that make a profound difference in the lives our children. My hope is that through this blog you will be inspired to think outside of the status quo. Some things are broken within our system but I truly believe they don't have to stay broken. If enough people come together and collectively embrace new ideas, we not only help shape the future for our children, but also play a vital role in shaping the future of our society. I'm excited to take this journey and collaborate with fellow educators and parents on ways to look beyond the walls of our current system in order to promote effective and meaningful change for our