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1.	How long have you been teaching special needs children?

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1.	How long have you been teaching special needs children?

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18 years. I’ve been here at Benton 11 years. Started out in Andover at Sunflower.

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2.	What made you choose the teaching profession and, in particular, teaching special needs children?

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2.	What made you choose the teaching profession and, in particular, teaching special needs children?

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My daughter. When she came home from kindergarten and I tried helping her with a worksheet writing the letter “A” and she told me I didn’t know what I was saying. So I went back to school learn how to write and teach it. Then later she struggled with math and her dad thought she was stupid so I wanted to figure out how to help her so I went into special education to help my kids. I started out teaching elementary at a private school where they allowed special ed kids in the classroom. Because the at risk program and subbing for a special ed teacher I found out I liked the kids and liked helping them learn.

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3.	How have your ideas toward teaching changed with each passing year of experience? Can you recall your ideas about teaching when you were a teacher education student like me? What were they? What are they now?

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3.	How have your ideas toward teaching changed with each passing year of experience? Can you recall your ideas about teaching when you were a teacher education student like me? What were they? What are they now?

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When I started teaching in the Special Ed program there were no materials. I started in a completely empty room. Throughout the years I have gotten materials specific for a type of child and I’ve learned that it doesn’t work for all children. I love what I do and each year is so different that I never get bored. When I first started into teaching it was a way to stay with my kids and do things for my personal kids and have a job. I now don’t have any kids that need my help so now I get to focus more on the kids I have in my classroom.

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4.	How does teaching children with special needs differ from teaching other children? What are some challenges you face in teaching special needs children? What are some rewards in teaching special needs children?

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4.	How does teaching children with special needs differ from teaching other children? What are some challenges you face in teaching special needs children? What are some rewards in teaching special needs children?

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I don’t think it does. That’s changed since when I first started teaching even special Ed we didn’t have standards. You could do more fun things and I could teach around things. I’ve worked with the lower kids who aren’t in special ed. When I first started we pulled all special ed kids never had them in the classroom today the idea is to push them back into the classroom. So other than making modifications to help the special needs kids there is nothing really different. The challenges are modifying things for that specific child. There are things that work for one child that doesn’t work for another, so it gets challenging finding what works for who. This year my challenge is having a lot of special ed students and finding the time to pull them and work with all of them the way they need it. I am short a para and could actually use a couple more so I feel like this year has been a challenge. The rewards are endless. The things I love the most is when I see them get what they are working on and their light bulb goes off they just get giddy and I love that. I also love hearing about my kids in the upper grades. Seeing where they are at now and how far they have come is so rewarding to me.

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5.	What advice can you give me for teaching children with special needs in the regular education classroom?

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5.	What advice can you give me for teaching children with special needs in the regular education classroom?

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Always have open communication between the support staff you have in your room, and the special education teacher. Work together as a team. If you can keep that communication open and always look at best for the kid you will be successful.

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6.	What changes, if any, would you make to the educational system with regard to special needs children? Consider such aspects as inclusion, funding, state assessments, etc…

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6.	What changes, if any, would you make to the educational system with regard to special needs children? Consider such aspects as inclusion, funding, state assessments, etc…

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I think there needs to be more funding, however the funding needs to be more mandated to where it needs to go. I feel the money isn’t going solely to the education it’s going to administration I don’t think we need as many as we have. I think when it comes to special ed it needs to be funded a different way I don’t know how, but something different. I wouldn’t have to spend my own money to get materials for my own kids. We would be able to get more para support that is needed. For inclusion I think it is getting where it needs to be and has the flexibility that it needs.

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7.	If you could choose another career field, would you? Please explain your answer in detail.

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7.	If you could choose another career field, would you? Please explain your answer in detail.

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Yes, but not because I don’t like working with the kids. As a sped teacher you have to deal with the adults more than the kids and sometimes you get frustrated at the lack of personal skills some adults have or how immature they can be. Some people are set in their own ways that they won’t budge or be open to others ideas. I’m getting old and don’t want to fight anymore. I just want what’s best for my kids and that’s all I worry about. I don’t know what career I’d choose.

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8.	Are there any comments you wish to add to close this interview?

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8.	Are there any comments you wish to add to close this interview?

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No, just Good luck!