Special Education Teacher In A City School

How I Got The Job

My Education: BA, Education, Westfield State College (Westfield, MA) M.Ed., Special Education, Lesley University (Cambridge, MA)

My Prior Experience: I had a job teaching swimming lessons for ten years before starting my job in the public schools.

My Job Profile

My Company: I work for a city school district teaching children with special needs.

Job/Career Overview: I am a special education teacher and have been for 17 years. I started out as a teacher in a separate room for students ages 5-8. These student were placed in my program because they had behavioral and emotional disorders. They had legal documents (IEP'S) that called for educating them in a small group due their defiant, angry and hyperactive personalities. I was responsible for their emotions, behaviors and education in all academic areas. It was a difficult job with high stress and high burn-out. Swearing and physical restraint were daily occurrences.

Afterwards I was transferred to the inclusion position I've had for the past 12 years or so and where I'm in charge of about 10-17 students in one grade level and fulfilling their academic needs. All of these students have IEP's because they qualified for special education services (developmental delays or a diagnosed learning disability). They are mild to moderate in the severity of their learning needs. Therefore, their educational needs can be met in the least restrictive environment: the regular education classroom. Each day I go into the classroom with specifically designed lesson plans that teach reading, writing or math in a way that they can understand. I am also in charge of developing lesson plans for two assistants who help me out. Another part of my job is testing, diagnosing special needs in children and writing reports and IEP's.