Why is Now a Good Time to Pursue Special Education?
Unfortunately, there seems to be a trend where teachers, including special education teachers, are very hard to find. With such a shortage, now is an excellent time to pursue a special education teaching degree. More now than ever, schools are working tirelessly to fill the learning gaps that students are experiencing, but students aren’t the only ones experiencing tremendous learning gaps.
Special education programs are also experiencing shortages of certified teachers. By earning a teaching degree, you could secure a rewarding job where you affect students’ lives of all ages every single day. Our students need us more now than ever and the amount of support needed is a must for our students to be successful within the classroom. Candidates are limited as school districts continue to seek out qualified educators striving to make a difference.
Educators who pursue a career in special education take pride in knowing that they truly can make an impact on every one of our students. With the right combination of education and classroom experiences, teachers can begin their career feeling equipped with all of the right tools to be the very best that that can be when students walk into their classroom.
Each day you gain new experiences, new encounters, and develop new ways to best communicate with your students and their families. As an educator, each day in the classroom instruction is enhanced. Educators can also build upon student-friendly strategies to help develop success within the classroom.
Financial Aid
It may feel as if taking courses is not financially possible; the good news is there are options to help out with the cost of tuition.
Scholarships and TEACH Grants
Now is the perfect time to take advantage of a TEACH grant. The TEACH grant is different from other federal student grants because it requires you to agree to complete a teaching service obligation. The obligation locks someone into an agreement to serve as a full-time, highly qualified teacher for four?elementary or secondary school?years at a school or educational service agency that serves low-income students.
The other alternative to the TEACH grant is to teach?in a high-need field and complete the required four years?of teaching within?eight years after?you graduate from or otherwise cease to be enrolled at the institution of higher education where you received?your grants. If?you do not?complete?your teaching service obligation, the TEACH grants received will be converted to loans that must then be paid?in full, with interest.?Often the TEACH grant is referred to as a service scholarship.
In regards to scholarships, according to Go College, “The Federal government offers a number of scholarship and grant programs designed to benefit education students.” Explore more about scholarships here.
Loan Forgiveness
There are also several student loan forgiveness programs that are available to educators. While these programs do not wipe away an educator’s debt, they provide some relief. They make it more affordable to repay college debt and reward educators with forgiveness after years of regular payments.
If becoming an educator is something that someone wants to do, there will be a way to work through the financial burden of college tuition. Financial advisors can help students through this process as well as the financial aid office on campus; it has tools to assist students who need some financial relief. By speaking out and looking for help, different paths can be taken to earn a college education.
There are some additional perks to think about! Flexible hours and holidays can be a real positive. Teachers generally get summers off, a long winter, and spring break. There are times when several late nights are spent grading papers or planning for the next day, but this all can happen from your home or sitting in the car waiting for a sports practice to be over. While this isn’t the sole purpose going into the teaching profession, it definitely adds additional highlights to this life-changing career decision.
Becoming a special education teacher is not a decision that should be made overnight. Wanting to make an impact and having the desire to positively influence a child’s life are musts when considering taking this path.
