Special education teachers work with students who have physical or mental disabilities. Some of these teachers work with severely mentally retarded or autistic children, but most teach children with mild to moderate disabilities. Special education teachers are responsible for using and/or modifying the education curriculum to meet a child’s unique needs. Most of these teachers work at the elementary, middle-school, or secondary school levels, but some can be found working with infants and toddlers as well.
Special education teachers perform their duties in a wide variety of environments, including their own classrooms. Some teachers have positions where they serve as special resources and provide individualized help to disabled students in general education classes. Other special education teachers may work with disabled students for a certain period of time every day in a resource room that is separate from the general classroom. Residential facilities also hire special education teachers, and these some of these teachers may work as tutors to hospitalize students or those who are homebound.
Nearly all special education teachers worked in public and private education institutions in 2006. Of the 459,000 special education teachers employed in the U.S. in that year, a few held positions at individual and social assistance agencies, residential facilities, hospitals, or worked with homebound students.
The number of jobs for special education teachers is expected to increase by 15 percent between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the average rate for all other jobs. While student enrollment numbers will grow slowly during this period, increases in the number of students needing special education services will lead to a greater need for these teachers.
All states require a license for special education teachers before they can work in the field. This usually means they must have at least the Bachelor’s degree and have completed an approved training program for special education teachers. Many states require a Master’s, but most states also provide alternative methods for individuals who have Bachelor’s degrees in other fields to obtain the required preparation for teaching.
Many universities and colleges have programs designed for special education teachers. Students pursuing a degree in special education usually participate in longer training periods than other teaching students. Most of the Bachelor’s degree programs for special education include general and specialized courses, and a growing number of these programs are now requiring an entire fifth year of preparation.
In May 2006, the median yearly earnings of special education teachers working in preschools, kindergartens, and elementary schools were $46,360. The median yearly earnings of those working in middle schools totaled $47,650, while earnings for special education teachers working in secondary schools were $48,330.
I am interested to apply as Special Education Teacher in New Jersey but I don’t know how to start with.. I am a Master O f Education major in Special Education Graduate and I am willing to handle students with disabilities…