Elementary Education Applicants, even though we are no longer accepting applications for Elementary Education positions, we encourage you to consider teaching Special Education.  Candidates for Special Education come from varied backgrounds including business and social service.  Even though we do not require a specific background to be considered to teach Special Education, all candidates should be passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of students who need extra attention.  Please read below to gain a better understanding of being a Special Education teacher and the associated benefits. 

What is special education? Special education is a legal definition for programs that provide greater support for certain students. “Special education” does not refer to a specific location or fixed concept but rather includes a broad range of student services from a smaller, more individualized learning environment, to assistive technology, to a modified curriculum that capitalizes on a student’s particular strengths. Under the law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), all students are provided services that support their needs.

Every teacher in the public education system works with children with disabilities and therefore needs a basic understanding of the special education system. “Special education teachers” work largely or exclusively with students who qualify for services.

Phoenix Teaching Fellows who teach in a special education setting with students who have mild-to-moderate disabilities will work with students who have difficulty in areas such as reading, math, writing, or communication. Fellows who express interest may also work in classrooms with students who have moderate-to-severe needs, focusing on the development of their students' academic, social, vocational, and independent living skills.

For more information on the history of special education and the movement to provide all children with a free and appropriate education (FAPE), visit the website for the Council for Exceptional Children.

For resources for teachers, parents, and students involved in the system, visit the website for Learning Disabilities (LD) Online.

What are the benefits of teaching special education? Special education is designed around the concept of individualized curriculum. Classes are smaller, and the teacher has the opportunity to get to know students and their families at a much more personal level. The teacher’s job is to meet educational goals that have been tailored to the needs of a particular student and write new goals each year as (s)he meets with a team that assesses the child’s progress and determines next steps in the student’s education.

One of the most exciting aspects of a position in special education is the opportunity to be both advocate and teacher. While teachers are first and foremost responsible for academic goals, they also work to develop a positive school environment for students with special needs. Teachers encourage students to participate in all aspects of school life and become a liaison to ensure that students receive the same opportunities as their counterparts taking a mainstream course load. As a case manager, special education teachers monitor students’ progress and report to families and other teachers, while at the same time relying on organizational skills to develop individualized tracking systems and manage case-related paperwork.

While there are many challenges in this area—students are often far behind their academic potential, many have internalized negative assumptions about their abilities, many can be very frustrated and skeptical of a teacher who will truly support their development and help them overcome challenges, and special education teachers need to balance the demands of teaching and case management—there are enormous rewards. Teachers in a special education setting have the potential to see significant growth in students’ abilities and join a civil rights movement to ensure that all children have access to an outstanding education.

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