National
| Median wages (2008) |
$51,340 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
138,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Average (7% to 13%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
42,000 additional employees |
25-2043.00 - Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Teach secondary school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.
Sample of reported job titles:
Special Education Teacher, Teacher, Special Education Resource Teacher, High School Special Education Teacher, Learning Disabilities Special Education Teacher (LD Special Education Teacher), Learning Support Teacher, Career and Transition Teacher, Exceptional Student Education Teacher (ESE Teacher), Interrelated Special Education Teacher, Secondary Special Education Teacher
Tasks
- Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, and professionals to develop individual educational plans designed to promote students' educational, physical, and social development.
- Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
- Teach personal development skills such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
- Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged — Jellybean switches; Sound switches |
| Binocular light compound microscopes — Optical compound microscopes |
| Desktop computers |
| Game pads or joy sticks — Head operated joysticks; Mouth operated joysticks |
| Touch screen monitors — Interactive whiteboards; Wireless touch screen monitors |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer based training software — Text to speech software |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Video editing software |
| Presentation software — Microsoft PowerPoint |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
