ScorpioRising007
Platinum Member
- Oct 26, 2015
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The teacher shortage is brutal in Special Education. At present, 49 states report a shortage in Special Ed.
There are many reasons for this: more students with special needs; fewer college students going into the profession; and a high turnover in the field. From my insider's view--I am NOT a special educator but I do work with special needs students and teachers--the field is much too demanding.
Here is what I mean.
1. Working with special needs students is highly rewarding. But federal and state demands and the endless paperwork have made the job administrative as well. So on top of the emotional/mental work of teaching children, add mounds and mounds of (shocker) governmental bureaucracy.
2. Admin, classroom Teachers and Parents of Special Needs children can be highly demanding.The admin wants his building to be compliant with all laws, etc. The teacher wants the child to follow rules, work with others, etc. And the parents can go from uninvolved to too involved and even litigious.
3. On top of managing admin, teachers and parents, Special Educators are also often managing their own staff of paraprofessionals. They can be wonderful coworkers--or not, and this too can be stressful.
4. Special Ed teachers are often physically assaulted at work. This is considered "part of the job". Yes, you understand that your students can't help it. Still, it is not uncommon to hear about Special Ed teachers hospitalized, in surgery, in casts and crutches because of their injuries.
How long are you going to stay in that job? Is it any wonder the turnover is so high?
About the Shortage
DON'T BELIEVE THE LIES THERE IS NO TEACHER SHORTAGE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION !
Believe me I have my Masters in it and licensed in it, been to over 30+ interviews and not hired as a teacher instead I have A CDL and drive a truck. I have 5 reference letters saying how great a teacher would be from teachers and paras. Renewed license several times over like 7 years I gave up last few years got a CDL and drive a truck Instead. Many of my classmates could not get hired in special ed either and have moved to other occupations, one girl I know same problem getting hired went into accounting instead.
There is no shortage but an oversupply of teachers with SPECIAL ED licences and not enough jobs !
Something stinks in Denmark right here.
Nope.
Oh really? You want to talk to the 30+ Schools I applied to for Special Education Teacher jobs that wouldn't hire me? Or ask my classmates why they couldn't get hired either as Special Ed teachers? The competition for teachers is FIERCE even in Special Ed. I would go to interviews and they would have 20+ people interviewing for the job. All had degrees in Education with Special Ed. licenses. Been 7 years or so since got Masters in Ed with Sped license renewed license over at least twice and about to expire...
I gave up and got a CDL and became a truck driver instead because all I was getting was substitute teacher assignments or teachers aid with no benefits that just didn't pay the bills. I would go to teacher interviews be denied teaching position and then they would try to talk you into taking a low pay substitute teacher job or teacher aids job with no benefits. My wife has large medical bills that won't cut it.
Unlike my Masters in Education with teaching license in Special Ed, as soon as I got that CDL I got hired immediately on the spot as a truck driver. Great pay starting out with good benefits and at least with trucking make a good salary and benefits for me and my wife that her medical bills can be covered.
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