District Administration - December 2008 - (Page 27)
Special education Challenges Isolation and lack of administrative support can challenge special ed teachers. By Christy ChamBers Special Education’s eelings oF isolation, too little time with students, lack of administrative support, and increasing demands are challenges facing special education teachers and contributing to teacher shortages. if we are to provide the high quality programs necessary for our children and youth with disabilities, while ensuring that they make good progress toward attaining their goals and meeting increasingly rigorous academic standards, the recruitment and retention of qualified, committed and talented teachers is essential. as leaders in our educational system, all too often we make well-intentioned decisions that have unintended consequences. we ask ourselves what we can do to address the teacher shortage crisis, and yet we increase the requirements for earning special education teacher credentials while at the same time offering enhanced incentives to experienced teachers to elect early retirement. we are directly contributing to the severe teacher shortage we are facing in special education. as school districts compete for the same special education teachers, administrators must use strategies that give their district an advantage by learning what compels a teacher to work and remain in a district. Increased Isolation The design of special education delivery systems in many schools leads to increased isolation when special education teachers enter their classrooms and close the door. These educators become isolated from the teams and collaborative instructional models of education in the 21st century and in a digital age when we are all so personally and profeswww.DistrictAdministration.com December 2008 27 F
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