Elementary, Middle, or High School Special Education Teacher
Teach school subjects to students with identified educational, cognitive, medical and/or physical challenges. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students with various levels of deafness or visual impairments, as well as those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to students with cognitive disabilities.
Annual openings
718
BLS median wage
n/a
Typical education
A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university, including completion of an approved program for the preparation of special education generalists, is required. Completion of an appropriate Master’s degree is required for the specialist licenses/endorsements.
10-year growth
+12%
Career requirements
What does this career require?
The education, credentials, and on-the-job competencies Colorado employers expect for this role.
Typical education
A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university, including completion of an approved program for the preparation of special education generalists, is required. Completion of an appropriate Master’s degree is required for the specialist licenses/endorsements.
Credential requirement
No specific credential listed yet
Credential detail
An initial Teacher license is required as well as a Special Education Generalist (ages 5-21) endorsement or a Special Education Specialist (ages 5-21) endorsement.
Experience detail
No previous work experience is required. Completion of a student teaching/practicum/internship is required to obtain an initial Teacher license.
Employer competency information
- ● Communication - Be perceptive and responsive listeners, able to communicate with students in a variety of ways; help students to articulate their thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively ● Instruction - Know and demonstrate knowledge of the content being taught, making the instruction and content relevant to students while fostering a positive learning environment and adjusting instructional approaches as needed ● Teamwork - Working collaboratively with other educators, the students, and the families to achieve learning outcomes ● Psychology - Engage students with different learning styles and abilities by using a variety of models of inclusive and effective practices ● Reading - Able to develop reading skills in students while also utilizing these skills to facilitate their own lifelong learning
Is this work a fit?
What the work actually feels like
How people in this career tend to spend their time, the interests it draws on, and a look at a typical day.
Work style
- With kids/peopleOccasionally
- On a computerOccasionally
- Outdoors / on-siteOccasionally
- With your handsOccasionally
Interests it draws on
- Education
- Teaching
Automation exposure
Low exposure
Tasks here lean on judgement and people skills that are hard to automate.
A typical day
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
- Modify the general elementary education curriculum for students with disabilities.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
- Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
- Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.