SPED Teacher Interview by William T. Setser

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

wsetser — 2024-10-27 22:08:48 UTC

-Eighth year as an IR teacher

-Taught for 8 years in regular education setting before moving to interrelated

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

wsetser — 2024-10-27 22:41:54 UTC

-"I enjoyed working with their families and becoming part of their team in supporting their child."

-Frequently volunteered to take on students who required extra accommodations/ services as a Gen Ed teacher

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?

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:02:11 UTC

-First learned about SPED in college

-Overwhelmed when first starting to work as a SPED teacher, realized teamwork is key

-"Developing and building a support or scaffold for a student is often impromptu because you can’t always foresee how it will be received by a learner."

-Adapt, Adapt, Adapt

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?

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:12:14 UTC

-Very little difference teaching Reg Ed vs SPED

-"Sometimes the challenge is getting parents to recognize this, it is okay to have some struggles and to learn when it is okay to ask for help."

-Rewarding to see students become self advocates and proud of their abilities

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

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:26:26 UTC

-"Don't hover, let them try"

-Be encouraging but also give students the opportunity to be independent when possible

-When helping an IR Sped student, be willing to help all students who may need help in the classroom

-"Normalize for students that it's okay to need support and ask for help sometimes."

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…

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:46:03 UTC

-Full-time support at all schools for SPED services like speech, counseling, social worker, etc.

-"Schools need to advocate for greater family involvement in the school day and its processes."

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

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:52:16 UTC

-IEP's and other paperwork can be challenging and tedious

-Loves career but dream role is a reading interventionist

- "It would be so rewarding to help adults become literate."

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

wsetser — 2024-10-27 23:58:59 UTC

-Acknowledge that bad days are going to happen no matter what

-Any work in public education is highly meaningful and and SPED teachers are crucial to students and families