Main menu

Pages

Opinions | Establishment of a support system for teachers of special needs education

featured image

Special education teachers should be given the support they need.


Professional education provides services to support and develop independence and promote personal success for students with disabilities.

This type of education is needed in all schools, but the nationwide shortage of teachers to educate students with disabilities complicates the ability of school districts to meet the needs of each student. .

These teachers need support and resources to keep them in this important area.

Josh Lyons, Associate Superintendent of Teaching and Learning for the Solon Community School District, says professional teachers provide support to help students reach their full potential.

“Special education students are first general education students,” Lyons said. “All they need is support to level the playing field and ensure they have the tools, strategies and opportunities to be as successful as possible and reach their full potential.”

“Our goal as a school district is to ensure that all students succeed,” Lyons said.

With enrollment in the program at 15% of all students in 2021, the importance of establishing a robust education system that meets the needs of all students becomes apparent.

However, Iowa lacks teachers who specialize in working with students with disabilities. According to the Iowa Department of Education, a study found that these teachers in Iowa had a retention rate of 69 percent after her five years, meaning that most tended to leave the profession. .

For this reason, it is clear that something must be done to improve the retention of these professional teachers in order to meet the needs of all students.

“I think we always want to be rewarded properly so that everyone gets what they deserve,” Lyons said. “But I think it goes beyond that. Professionals are looking for opportunities to collaborate with others. I need your support until

A study of 32,000 teacher responses found that moral support from peers was one of the most important factors influencing teachers’ decisions to leave or stay in the profession. Additionally, research shows that one in five of her teachers will leave the profession if they lose collaboration with their peers.

To improve retention, you should have access to a support system of peers and managers. In doing so, teachers are placed in an ideal environment where they can grow and be satisfied with their work.

Retention is influenced by both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards. Intrinsic rewards are things like personal satisfaction, and extrinsic rewards are financial rewards. Finances help retain teachers, but they don’t stop there. Teachers want to work in a supportive environment where they can get peer support, and there is a growing need to build support systems.

Support systems may take the form of mentoring programs, work groups, or other means of facilitating self-improvement.

Any form of professional skills should be provided along with these. Because it gives them the opportunity to feel professional value, feel comfortable in the workplace, and build meaningful relationships that are rewarding for their work.

As we all know, education is necessary for human growth. Given that the goal of all educational institutions is to ensure the success of all students, it’s important to better serve educators who can make that happen.


Columns reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the editorial board, The Daily Iowan, or any other organization with which the authors may be associated.


Comments