| Because a special education teacher's job requires far | | | | regular education teachers. They'll also be |
| more than just teaching, administrators will seek | | | | communicating regularly with special education |
| candidates who are true specialists in the field. If you're | | | | administration, social workers or counselors, PT/OT |
| hoping to be hired as a special ed teacher, you need | | | | teachers, and resource teachers. There's a lot of |
| to be an expert at the art of adapting lessons, an | | | | specialized teamwork involved in educating children |
| active advocate for student needs, a professional IEP | | | | with special needs. You need to understand your role |
| writer, a wealth of information on student disabilities, | | | | in acting as an advocate for each of your students |
| and a dedicated individual who is 100% committed to | | | | and in meeting their social and academic needs. |
| doing whatever it takes to help all students reach their | | | | 4. Know how to utilize support staff. Oftentimes |
| fullest potential. | | | | special education students will have teachers' aides or |
| As with any teaching interview, I recommend you | | | | assistants. Be sure you know how to use the support |
| familiarize yourself with possible questions beforehand. | | | | staff in a professional way the benefits the student. |
| This will make the interview questions seem familiar so | | | | You don't want the child to become dependent on a |
| you'll be more comfortable answering them. You will | | | | teacher's aide for doing simple tasks that he/she can |
| be asked a series of general teaching questions as | | | | perform himself. On the other hand, you want to be |
| well as questions that specifically relate to special ed. | | | | sure the student is receiving the full support he/she |
| Below are a few thoughts on ways to be prepare for | | | | needs. |
| the special education questions that will be asked. | | | | 5. Be sure you're an expert in differentiation. While all |
| | | | teachers should differentiate their lessons based on |
| 1. Be prepared to comprehend and respond to all of | | | | their students' needs, special education teachers need |
| the jargon, acronyms, and special requirements of | | | | to be especially confident in their ability to adapt |
| special education. You should know exactly how an | | | | lessons to meet the very unique needs of their |
| IEP and/or CSE meeting is conducted. You need to | | | | students. You simply can't teach a concept and |
| speak and act as though you are very familiar with | | | | expect every child to be doing the same work, the |
| IEP meetings, CSE meetings, child study meetings and | | | | same way. You need to individualize instruction so that |
| any other special education committees the school | | | | it is presented in a way that all of your students can |
| may have. Understand how least restrictive | | | | learn. You will not be able to look at the school's |
| environment works. Know what services and support | | | | curriculum or instructional materials and use them as-is. |
| the school district does and does not offer. | | | | You'll need to show that you can adapt your |
| 2. Be sure you understand and are able to talk about a | | | | resources to meet the learning needs of your students. |
| wide range of disabilities. Familiarize yourself with | | | | Final thoughts: To succeed in a special education |
| Asperger's/autism, ADHD, emotional disorders, | | | | interview, you need to be able to talk-the-talk, |
| processing delays, speech disorders, physical | | | | understand how to be an advocate for special needs |
| handicaps, and every other common disability children | | | | students, fully understand responsibilities associated |
| may be classified with in the district. | | | | with the job, and be willing to go above and beyond to |
| 3. Emphasize your ability to work cooperatively with | | | | meet the unique instructional needs of classified |
| colleagues. Special education teachers are usually | | | | students. |
| required to work closely with and/or team teach with | | | | |