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Hailey
Student
Wabash, Indiana
1
Question
Updated
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What is one thing you wish you had done differently while becoming a special ed teacher?
I am a senior this school year, and I would like to attend college to study special education. After that I wish to become a special ed teacher! I am very patient and compassionate.
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Michelle M.
Actress
3276
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Hailey !
It is super awesome that you are thinking about becoming an educator and even though I am not a teacher, I would like to offer some advice. I have had many teachers in my family and only one was a special education teacher. She had absolutely no regrets, was able to obtain work where ever she moved to and was secure and confident as a professional.
The path to becoming a Special Ed Teacher in Indiana is cut and dry, not complicated. You go to college for your Bachelors Degree in Education. You can take single courses in psychology and early childhood development, but you don't need to major in those subjects. If you take the correct "path" you will have no regrets with the work. Your Bachelors path in Education will prepare you for the teacher preparation program you'd then have to take. This teacher preparation program will lead you to licensure or a post-baccalaureate alternative program. These programs include coursework in instructional methods, behavioral management, and special education law. You then do Student Teaching which is like an internship where you teach a class. This is usually for 15 to 17 weeks in your state, under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
You then apply for your Initial Practitioner License through the Indiana Department of Education's LVIS system, and your practitioner license is valid for three years and requires completion of a student teaching internship. You also need to hold valid CPR/AED/Heimlich certification and complete suicide prevention training. These are mandatory for all licensure applicants in Indiana. Once licensed, you then apply for special education teaching positions through school districts, cooperatives, or charter schools. Top employers include Indianapolis Public Schools and Fort Wayne Community Schools. Those are the steps to take that will lead to a career as a Special Ed Teacher in Indiana. If you follow each step in order, you will have or should not have any regrets.
So try not to put the cart before the horse. Also do not compare yourself with others. Their career will not be your experience. You will have a unique experience and being patient and compassionate will take you far for this work. The vast amount of knowledge you will obtain from your academic path will build your confidence, creativity and assessment skills. You'll be fine and there's no need to worry about missing out on anything before you even begin.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in this most important and wonderful career if you choose to pursue it !
It is super awesome that you are thinking about becoming an educator and even though I am not a teacher, I would like to offer some advice. I have had many teachers in my family and only one was a special education teacher. She had absolutely no regrets, was able to obtain work where ever she moved to and was secure and confident as a professional.
The path to becoming a Special Ed Teacher in Indiana is cut and dry, not complicated. You go to college for your Bachelors Degree in Education. You can take single courses in psychology and early childhood development, but you don't need to major in those subjects. If you take the correct "path" you will have no regrets with the work. Your Bachelors path in Education will prepare you for the teacher preparation program you'd then have to take. This teacher preparation program will lead you to licensure or a post-baccalaureate alternative program. These programs include coursework in instructional methods, behavioral management, and special education law. You then do Student Teaching which is like an internship where you teach a class. This is usually for 15 to 17 weeks in your state, under the supervision of an experienced teacher.
You then apply for your Initial Practitioner License through the Indiana Department of Education's LVIS system, and your practitioner license is valid for three years and requires completion of a student teaching internship. You also need to hold valid CPR/AED/Heimlich certification and complete suicide prevention training. These are mandatory for all licensure applicants in Indiana. Once licensed, you then apply for special education teaching positions through school districts, cooperatives, or charter schools. Top employers include Indianapolis Public Schools and Fort Wayne Community Schools. Those are the steps to take that will lead to a career as a Special Ed Teacher in Indiana. If you follow each step in order, you will have or should not have any regrets.
So try not to put the cart before the horse. Also do not compare yourself with others. Their career will not be your experience. You will have a unique experience and being patient and compassionate will take you far for this work. The vast amount of knowledge you will obtain from your academic path will build your confidence, creativity and assessment skills. You'll be fine and there's no need to worry about missing out on anything before you even begin.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best in this most important and wonderful career if you choose to pursue it !