Leading Future Generations as a Traveling Special Education Teacher
Children with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities may face unique challenges in school, requiring a unique instructional approach. Traveling special education teachers travel to different districts, providing personalized assistance to help kids develop essential skills and succeed in their classes.
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota provides a Master’s in Special Education degree, which can help students launch their careers as traveling special education teachers. Here, we discuss this rewarding career path, what it entails, and how you can get started.
What Do Traveling Special Education Teachers Do?
Special education teachers are instructors who focus on assisting students with special needs. They work with children of all ages, from preschool to high school, who struggle with disabilities. Some may teach study skills to students with learning disabilities, while others create an accessible learning environment for those with visual or hearing impairments. They may also help children manage autism spectrum disorder or behavioral issues. Other duties may include:
- Assessing students’ skill levels and gaps
- Adapting lessons to meet student needs
- Developing individualized education programs (IEPs)
- Planning activities specific to a student’s abilities
- Mentoring students in groups and one-on-one
- Tracking student performance and progress
- Updating IEPs throughout the year to reflect new needs and goals
- Discussing student progress with parents and other teachers
- Preparing students to transition into life outside of school
Not every school has the funding to support a full-time special education teacher. To fill this need, they hire traveling special education teachers. These teachers serve multiple locations or districts, ensuring students at each location receive the support they need to thrive.
Requirements for Traveling Special Education Teachers in MN
To become a travel special education teacher in Minnesota, you need to meet a few requirements. They include:
- Teaching license: You’ll need an active special education teaching license in Minnesota.
- Education: You must have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
- Background check: You need to pass a background check and drug screen.
- Standards: You must meet the state’s standards for special education teachers, including Standards of Effective Practice (SEPs), Special Education Core Skills, and categorical license standards.
Along with these requirements, you should also have skills such as patience, compassion, adaptability, and collaboration. If you are patient and compassionate in challenging situations or have a passion for serving children, this career path may be right for you.
Career Outlook and Earnings
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists a median pay for special education teachers of $65,910 per year as of 2023. Teachers who have master’s degrees have a higher earning potential compared to those with only bachelor’s degrees.
The true rewards of becoming a traveling special education teacher are not financial, but social and emotional. Traveling special education teachers go home from work with the understanding that they have made a real difference in children’s lives. They play an invaluable role in making education accessible to everybody, empowering future generations to pursue rewarding careers of their own.
The need for education – particularly for struggling students – will never go away. A steady 35,900 openings appear annually across the nation, filling gaps left by those who have retired or moved into other industries. Traveling special education teachers may have an easier time finding open positions because their jobs allow them to move between different schools and districts.
Start Your Journey Toward Becoming a Traveling Special Education Teacher at Saint Mary’s
The first step toward becoming a traveling special education teacher is to earn a bachelor’s degree. Once you have completed this step, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers a pathway that allows students to earn an initial special education teaching license while completing a master’s degree. The M.A. in Special Education program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota delivers training tailored toward teaching students with disabilities. It covers essential topics, including:
- Core skills necessary for Special Education (SPED) certification
- Teaching strategies for students with disabilities
- Education and workplace ethics
- Collaboration and partnership skills
- Intercultural competencies for working with diverse communities
- Critical thinking and informed decision-making
- Evidence-based research and theories
We combine coursework with real-world classroom training to prepare students for their future workplaces. After graduation, eligible candidates can apply for a Tier 3 or Tier 4 professional SPED teaching license. This program is an ideal way to launch a career as a traveling special education teacher in MN.
Begin Your Career Journey at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Does traveling special education teacher sound like the right career for you? Start learning by enrolling in the M.A. in Special Education program at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. We are a Lasallian Catholic university with a commitment to faith-based principles. To learn more about our programs and our commitment to faith-centered excellence, contact our admission team. Request more information to begin your enrollment process today.
