Personal Narrative: A Career As A Special Educator

Time is passing and opportunities are opening for more students with special needs. Many students in college are getting more interested in Special Education as career that will allow more organization to have more workers with a big potential that will have an important impact on these kids with disabilities. However, this will require more training for the students that organizations around the country can give them. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,“the career outlook for special education teachers should remain steady through 2024, with an increase of 6%, the national average for job growth in the United States. The median salary for this position is just over $55,000 annually,” (“Master in Special Education”) The approach the

This semester I am a junior at the University of South Florida and am working to complete a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences. I am seeking a job within a medical related setting, and while searching for opportunities on campus, I found the Teaching Assistant position opening in the Pediatric Department of the Morsani College of Medicine. After reading about this position and its expected qualifications, I feel as though my skills, experiences, and educational background would be fitting to this vacancy.

As an early educator my professional goals and aspirations have change since I read the interview conducted by the author, Denise Scott. As I read this article, I been inspired to reach out to my community, families, students, and peers in order to become a better leader. To make a difference I desire to be a leader in my community. In my community, it is important to connect to students that are entering the childhood field, however to create an atmosphere that encourages mentoring and learning (Rodriguez, 2005). As early educator leaders, we have to promote students by being a positive role model, therefore this would allow them to see the character within us. To work with children, leaders should exhibit good qualities, passion, leadership abilities as well as understanding for others. We have to create an environment that leaders can thrive (Scott, p.1 2005). As educator, we should lead as well as follow to be an effective leader in the early childhood field, however this mean continuing growing. The prospective students need to be aware that this field has no ending. The field of childhood studies is always changing and we have to stay embrace for the future There are challenges and should know where your strengths are as well as your differences (Scott, 2005)

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry B. Adams. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to play a big part in children’s education, which is why I have decided to enroll for an education course. I believe that educators have a lifelong impact on their students and on the development of resilience. Thus, I aspire to inculcate my love for learning into the next generation, by influencing and inspiring children all through their formal education.

My junior year I took Careers in education 1 and this year I am taking Careers in Education 2. I have participated in many activities through Careers in Education. The major activity I participate in is volunteering for a 7th grade math class. I student teach at Akers Elementary School monday through friday during third and fourth period. During my first year of Careers in Education my junior year we did a lot of book work about education and strategies in Mr.Foote's class. This was a very big thing I believe because a lot of the things we learned from the book transfer over to teaching in the classroom. Careers in Education helps students further their knowledge on different career options in education. In this sector

In the career of special education, teachers are trained to work with students who have either a disability, or requires of a unique instructor. However, in order to become a special teacher it has a variety of requirements. For example, some of the requirements that this career requires is of a long term education that includes: schooling , a bachelor and master degree, at least two years of

I always loved working with kids, but I always felt a certain way when I got the chance to work with kids who had some sort of special needs. I don’t know what it was I just felt happier when I got the chance to help someone who could not help them self. So when I saw the job posting for a house parent at the New Haven home for kids with special needs I jumped on it.

My name is Alyssa Fusco and I am on the path to becoming a special education teacher. In the course of my first few weeks in the Special Education course, I am not only learning how to be a better teacher, but training my mind in such a way that I can improve the lives of others. My interest in working with students with disabilities stems from my experience with Senior Experience at Calhoun High School. This program has developed a framework for my future career aspirations by observing how not only the faculty can make a difference in these students lives, but also the teachers facilitate an environment that promotes the integration between students with and without disabilities. Through mainstreaming these students, Calhoun High School showed me what type of difference I could make in the world through combining my passion for teaching and the place students with disabilities hold in my heart.

In the profession of a special education teacher, a person commits to helping children achieve their best and to help “students overcome their obstacles” while finding a way that the child can effectively learn (Hollingsworth). My mom’s career as special education teacher for twenty-two years, allows me insight and experience into the tougher aspects of this career, but also the rewards to the job. My mom helps me understand that a special education teacher guides a child to expand their strengths, develop strategies to overcome weakness, and to make best use of all available resources. Through helping her, and learning from her experiences, she taught me that a career in special education can not only challenge me, but may also become a

People are thought as child to dream big and reach for their goals. Throughout grade school to high school there are often asked what inspires them. Some people dream to become police officers, dancers, lawyers, and doctors. There are some people who chooses to become an educator. As they journey through college, to pursue the knowledge needed for their career, their passion leads them to special education. These teachers fine this career to be job satisfying, have empathy for the children, and the vacancy of the position viability. Not all teacher feel the same however, over time their dissatisfied with their job and leave because their brunt out.

Special education teachers remain in high demand. Although there are numerous special education teaching jobs, there aren't enough individuals in the field to fill these positions. Children suffering from mental or physical disabilities often need special learning method and require more time and energy from their instructors. Currently, approximately ten percent of individuals working in this field lack the necessary credentials, and states are authorizing temporary licenses. Teachers with a temporary license are then given a predetermined period of time to complete their license. As the need for teachers in this field is expected to grow by approximately 35 percent over the coming decade, those wishing to become a special education teacher will find they have numerous job opportunities.

I believe that I would be a good candidate for the Non-Traditional Deaf Education Certification Program through Region 17 Education Service Center and Texas Tech University because I have the inner motivation to be a Deaf Education Teacher someday. This inner motivation of mine is too personal. I have a sister who is deaf and mute who quitted elementary school because her needs were not met in the general public school in my country. Additionally, my parents could not afford to send her to a specialized private school. She was older than me, but she was placed in the same grade level I was in, so she could be helped personally inside the classroom.

In 2004, my teacher sent me to obtain special educational support. As a fourth grader, I was extremely embarrassed when I had to spend more time than other students working on vocabulary, speech, and reading. For years, I would work one on one with public school teachers to improve my knowledge, thus becoming a stronger student. The help of these professionals paid off when I entered high school and was placed in all Honors classes. In 2010, I was finally equal to my peers when I suffered a severe concussion. Doctors at AI Dupont hospital unsure if all parts of my cognitive function would return. With the special assistance from doctors, occupational therapists, tutors, and educators, all cognitive function of my brain returned. Suffering from serious side effects of my concussion, I became a non-traditional student and attended private school, public school, and one year of

A few months ago I worked as an attendant to a 12-year-old boy with autism. I would go to his house and help out his family with anything that had to do with him. Some of the things that I would do were pick him up from school, prepare food him, and help him complete daily tasks. He did not speak at all, so it was really hard for me at first, but as the weeks went by I learned his facial expressions, his chart, and his sign language. Although it was difficult to work with him, I would like to continue working with special needs kids but in another setting.

When I receive my bachelor’s degree in Special Education, I want to teach in elementary schools. I feel as though if you can start teaching the students in an inclusive classroom at a young age, everyone around will understand them more. I believe that if you can get the non-disabled kids to understand that the only thing that makes the disabled kids different from them is their disability, then they will start to associate with one another while their young. By them doing this, they are slowly becoming friends. Getting them to become friends at a young age is really important because it will limit the idea of the child that has a disability being bullied or teased by an individual that does not have a disability because he/she will understand them. While I