Special Education Teachers focus on educating students with special needs through planning, evaluating, and implementing individualized education programs. They work with students with various disabilities, teaching basic academic and life skills. To become a Special Education Teacher requires a four-year degree in Special Education and state certification. The career offers growth opportunities with average salaries increasing from $34,363 starting to over $82,556 with experience.

1. By: Aaron Kaplan Special Education Teacher

2. A Special Education Teacher’s focus is to educate students with special needs. They are responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of the students specialization. Job Overview

3. Special Education Teachers also specialize and work with audibly, visually, emotionally, educationally, and physically handicapped students. They teach basic academic and life process skills to the mentally impaired. Job Overview Continued

4. To be a Special Education Teacher one must complete a four year degree program in Special Education. If they choose they can earn a B.S. in Education. All U.S. states require a teachers certificate in order to teach in a public school system. Education

5. It is important to have a well developed knowledge of basic school subjects. Special Education teachers often co-teach in a main stream class like math. Extra Training

6. Adapt curriculum to meet the needs of each Special Ed student. Modify tests based on student needs. Write yearly plan (IEP) and conduct meetings on IEP’s. Monitor yearly progress of individual goals. On the Job and Behind the Scenes

7. I enjoy helping Special Ed students and think this career would be a good fit for me. My mom was a Special Education Teacher for nine years and because of the experience with her students I know I am good with Special Ed students. Why I chose this career

8. Salary: Beginning Maryland salary is $34,363 Average Maryland salary is $59,306 Potential Maryland salary is $82,556 Outlook: Growing faster then the average occupation Qualified Special Ed teachers are valuable Growth Potential: 18% to 20% increase within the next eight years Salary, Outlook, and Growth Potential

9. School Psychologist Responsible for the diagnosis of a school aged child School Counselor Daily contact with student to work on behaviors Occupational Therapist Work with children with physical disabilities Speech Therapist Work with children who have speech difficulties Related Careers

10. Do not make yourself low. People will step on your head. (Yiddish Proverb) Thought About Sucess

11. T he Career of a Special Education Teacher. Career One Stop . Ed. Infobase Publishing. 2010-2011 ed. Infonet, 2010-2011. Web. 10 Jan. 2011. <http://www.careeronestop.net>. T he Career of a Special Education Teacher. CX Online . 2010-2011 ed. Access Bridges, 2010-2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2010. <http://www.access.bridges.com>. S pecial Education Teacher. Fergusons Careers In Focus . Ed. Infobase Publishing. 7th ed. Vol. 2. New York City: Infobase Publishing, 1998. 166-173. Print. 8 vols. Fergusons Careers In Focus. US Government Bureau of Labor Stastics. Bureau of Labor Stastics. S pecial Education Teacher. Occupational Outlook Handbook . By US Government. Washington, D.C.: US Government, 2010-2011. Occupational Outlook Handbook . Web. 28 Jan. 2011. <http://www.bls.gov>. Citations