SPED Teacher SLAY, what it Look Like?

Special education without question, is the most challenging job you will ever love.?Yes, there seems to be an endless amount of paperwork, multiple meetings, dealing with difficult parents, managing student caseloads while struggling to juggle instructional roles and responsibilities to meet the diverse and individual needs of students. Despite the shortage of special education teachers available to serve children with disabilities, I’ll be first to say, this career path ain't for everyone.? An innate love for special education and a strong desire to make a significant difference for children with disabilities are basic job requirements for a successful and enjoyable career because the workload is not going anywhere. If working in special education is just a paycheck to you, then stop reading this article right now and seek employment elsewhere because there are much easier ways to make money if you are not called to this very demanding and complex profession (Target is paying 15 dollars and hour). To familiarize yourself with special education, grab a free copy of my new eBook for new and novice special education teachers here.

If you are still reading then hooray! you are a committed special educator and feel called to do this very important work.?I have been exactly where you are starting. I began my teaching career with a? Master’s degree in Special Education and a dual certification in special education and English. I walked into an inclusion classroom for the first time, completely clueless of my instructional roles, responsibilities, and behaviors. I had no idea what was expected of me and no one told me.? I spent that entire school year making copies, subbing for absent teachers, grading papers and other menial tasks such as chaperoning field trips and relieving teachers so they can go to the restroom or smoke a cigarette. All the students thought I was a substitute teacher or a parent volunteer.? That year was extremely humiliating and stripped me of my professional confidence. When the school year ended, I decided; NEVER AGAIN!

In this article, I will share how I went from being completely clueless and confused with no confidence or direction, to “Teacher of the Year,” who SLAY err day and began enjoying a very satisfying and successful career in special education. I’ll be covering:

• How I took ownership of my own professional development
• How I developed an understanding of my role and responsibilities in the classroom
• How I learned to put the needs of my student before anything
• How changing my mindset and perception of myself, changed my career

So if you feel like so many other Special Education teachers, who love serving the learning needs of children but want to increase your teacher efficacy (fancy term that refers to a teachers who SLAY). If you want to feel competent and confident, then you are definitely in the right place.? Not everyone has the ability or desire to teach, support and inspire children with some of? the most pressing learning and behavior needs but if you feel you are that person then buckle up boo!

How changing my mindset and perception of myself, changed my Career

When I think about my first year teaching, I knew that I was not completely ready to meet the challenges of this very demanding job. Despite my education, I knew nothing. I wanted very much to do well and have the respect and acceptance of my peers but I was not confident and everyone around me could sense my insecurities. Please understand that having a degree and teacher certification is not enough, you must also have a mindset conducive to professional growth.? I simply did not have that growth mindset because I was overcome by fear. By far, that was the worst year of my career because I felt useless and unworthy. I knew that I was called to be a special education teacher but not like this. I knew Something had to change, and fast!

I started a ritual of speaking to myself saying, “self, you are a competent professional who has something significant to contribute to these students who need you.”?Every morning I reminded myself of my purpose:? To serve the needs of students with disabilities, who can't learn effectively without me. My students were my focus. At the pinnacle of this process, I began to notice how I slowly stopped caring about what others thought. My increased self awareness was indeed a game changer.? I stopped being a people-pleaser and needing acceptance and validation from people around me.?

I began to walk in my purpose and focused on my student’s needs.? All my interactions with school personnel were student focused.? So, “no Ms. Jones, I’m sorry but I need to be in the classroom supporting my students so I don’t have time to go make copies for you, is there a reason why you could not do this during your planning period?” I was always very respectful and friendly to my co-workers; however, I feel if they can ask me to do something that is clearly not my job then, I most certainly can say no. It did not take long for everyone to see that they would have to find another “flunky” because Ms. Val was no longer that girl!??

How I developed an understanding of my role in the classroom

I decided that if being a special education teacher meant that I have to grade papers, substitute teach, answer phones, make copies and go on field trips while the students I am charged with teaching are not receiving the education they are entitled to, then this is not the job for me and I was going to quit.

I knew that if I were to go to an administrator and express that I did not want to continue to perform the menial tasks asked of me, I would have to propose replacement tasks.? It took a long time for me to uncover just what special education teachers are supposed to do in the classroom because I honestly did not know.?There are many learning theories with corresponding interventions and content adaptations for students with disabilities. It was my job to know how my students?learn and what teaching methodologies were needed in order to master the learning objectives or skills presented in the general education classroom setting.

You see, the biggest problems we face as special educators is we are not taught the essential functions of our job; delivering specially designed instruction to meet the individual needs of our students with disabilities. There are very few pre-service programs and universities that emphasize specially designed instruction. I teach at the largest university in the south and instructional delivery for special education teachers is a miniscule part of their program. It is only when you get the job and begin "teaching," that you realize, "wtf is going on?"

I immersed myself in learning components of specially designed instruction, learning strategies, interventions in math and literacy, co-teaching practices and ways to make learning more engaging. I later approached school leaders, defining my position of wanting to stay in the classroom supporting students using a framework I created and they understood and supported me. My student’s test scores the following year showed significant gains and soared every year thereafter and just like that I was on the path to being an effective special educator who was SLAYing!?

How I took ownership of my professional development

If you are waiting for your school district to provide you with professional development opportunities that will help you SLAY, don’t!? In most school districts, you will get enough information to make you aware that you need so much more than what they offer.? I know there are exceptions but usually, when school leaders plan professional developments, special education is usually an afterthought and most of the training focuses on compliance stuff not instruction. I took ownership of my own professional growth by taking advantage of all learning opportunities available and created others on my own through extensive research. Professional learning for any teacher has to be ongoing for effectiveness; there is no getting around that.

I was constantly researching special education practices, interventions, innovations in special education as well as learning theories . I attended? professional developments and completed certifications in other subject areas.? I earned two advanced degrees while teaching full time and raising four school aged children. I still found time to collaborate with colleagues, mentor peers pursuing higher education and additional teacher certifications.?

I modeled lifelong learning to my students, my children, and my peers.? I felt that when I learned, it was an opportunity for me to improve teaching and learning. There is no way to SLAY without constantly seeking knowledge because slaying takes confidence and you can't be confident if you don't know what you're doing.?

How I Learned to put the Needs of my Students First

I wholeheartedly believe that my first year of teaching significantly impacted my students’ progress. The following year, I was determined to make it up to my students which resulted in them making phenomenal progress.? Of the fourteen students on my caseload from that first year, 8 of them went on to graduate a year early and the rest graduated the following year with a regular diploma and are experiencing great outcomes.??

My students are the reason I show up everyday. I believe that if I don’t support and advocate for them, nobody will.? I came to understand early that I am not a special education teacher to make life easier for general education teachers or for the school as a whole.? Nope, I am here to ensure that my students receive a free and appropriate education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE).? The services my student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) provides to them, is what’s going to happen; no compromising on that.

When co-teaching with a general education teacher, we collaborate on how to deliver instruction, assess student learning and manage behavior of all students. If that sounds like a question, pardon me, it's not!? I no longer ask permission to do the job entrusted to me; the one I get paid for.? If a teacher opposes the co-teaching arrangement, I tell them to take it up with administration but in the meantime and in between time, learning is going forth with FIDELITY so you can roll with it or get ran over because instructional time for my students is precious and not to be wasted!

You must understand that what you do everyday has enormous value. What you don't do won't get done and the only ones suffering are the children; you have your education already. It's later for tip-toeing around people who have nothing to lose. For your students to succeed you must show up with the intentions to do your job with excellence unapologetically. If you don't feel seen, heard, or valued ask yourself why and be honest with your answer, "To thine own self be true." You have to bring something of value to the table that makes the education process better if you don't then why would anyone pay attention to you, see you, or listen to you?

How Knowledge Breeds Confidence

I’m about to tell my age but I remember watching Schoolhouse Rock on Saturday mornings and on a certain part their theme song was, “knowledge is power,”? which I didn’t quite understand at the time but has become one of my mantras as an educator. My students would say, "Why do we gotta learn this stuff," to which I would reply, "cause knowledge is power."

I am very intentional about being a lifelong learner which I believe sets me and others like me apart from the rest. I failed seventh grade twice. I just couldn't get it and I didn't know why. A few special education teachers made all the difference. If it were not for them, I would not have graduated high school. My point is I don't have natural ability, everything was a struggle. I am learning disabled and I bust my ass to prove that with appropriate support, resources, and strategies, all students can be successful. The only way to improve as a teacher of anything is ongoing and sustained professional learning.

I know it is time consuming but what you know determines your value both to yourself and to those around you.? There are no shortcuts to greatness, sorry.? I know that I was born to do this so might as well be phenomenal at it.? There are countless resources on all aspects of special education that are absolutely free and I take advantage of all opportunities to learn.

You cannot SLAY if you don’t have relevant and up to date information.?That is what Beyonce' meant when she sang "get in-formation and SLAY," well that's my interpretation anyway haha! Question: what are you bringing to the collaboration table? I can demand equal instructional time in the classroom because general education teachers know I can deliver instruction, interventions and strategies often with little collaboration, and many times winging it;? now that's SLAYING!

That is not being arrogant or conceited, it comes from over 17 years operating under IDEA in various capacities, SPED nerd, and the unfair advantage of also being learning disabled. I know my job very well and I am at a point where I just want to show others how to get to that level quickly and easily to improve their educational practice before I retire :). You can make a real difference when you have the extensive knowledge, skill, and expertise to hone your craft.

You can become the special education teacher you always envisioned yourself being. It's not too late to SLAY my friend. Knowing your job and being exceptional is the greatest gift you can give yourself; it is truly the gift that keeps on giving. You really can enjoy a satisfying and successful career serving the urgent needs of students with disabilities despite the uncertainty of our current education climate. When you SLAY, you can walk into any classroom environment and own your part.

As a special education teacher who has been uncertain, I want you all to SLAY because our children with disabilities need you to bring your A-Game.?

If you are truly ready to SLAY then join the wait list here for my upcoming bootcamp. Let me teach you the SLAY Framework so you can gain the competence, confidence, and capacity to improve academic and future outcomes for children with disabilities. You don't want to miss out on this #Career #Gamechanger.