May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Lets tackle the ridiculously crazy question of why there is a special education teacher shortage.

Foreword: I am only speaking for my opinion based off of the knowledge I have accumulated through 17 years in the special education self contained classroom for low incidence etiologies. 

​Many people are lamenting about lack of human resources for special education. Particularly for those with significant disabilities. As a self contained teacher I wonder what they expected? In my experience they barely pay paraprofessionals a decent wage at all so we are reliant on those who can afford the low pay, those who just have the biggest heart and then those who just need a job.  I've had Paras get their glasses broken, scratches, pushes, spits ( not because they wanted to be mean but because they were young and learning).  Some ignorant person might say well you don’t have control of your room.  Um…when you are TEACHING  little people boundaries and growing beyond a comfort zone then this stuff might happen.  We can teach them boundaries or give them suckers, lollipops and ipads to keep them calm but which will support their growth and allow them more opportunities for future?  My opinion is it is the latter. Paras in young or intense classrooms have a HARD job. Without good para support teachers have a harder job. If teachers can't teach and grow students they feel like they are just babysitting, and perhaps feel like failures and it can become disheartening.  Sometimes growth is slow also so special education teachers may not feel as validated at the rate of gen ed teachers.

The STRESS. So you've heard that you are the composite of who you spend the most time with. Well, imagine a group of 9 (or more in some places) dysregulated little ones who may or may not be able to communicate and maybe a couple of adult helpers you have to manage with little or no 'non student' collaboration time ( some of the less motivated helpers present additional challenges for your day as they 'help').   5 full work days of this and how does a teacher not become dysregulated themselves and possibly give up a little or a lot by attending to their own mental health and leaving the profession? 

Each student needs attention to areas beyond just academics. A 30 minute plan time to meet very unique needs, collaborate with Paras, collaborate with parents and collaborate with support staff does not suffice. I've been told that making materials after school is just par for the job. This was after I was already breaking out in hives due to stress of my own toddlers at home and working on plans before and after work trying to ‘do my extensieve list of things job’ so I could attempt to hit ALL the needs of the room.  I balk at this now,, nerves are frazzled enough just with the day itself and I have my own little ones. I have to set boundaries and now I feel guilt… because I have to set health boundaries for myself!?!? Personally across the whole education spectrum I think we push away competent prospective teachers to different careers with this expectation. Please stop applauding when teachers have to work beyond hours and sacrifice just to do the job. The schools with the healthiest teachers must be doing something right.  Do they exist?  What do they do and are they effective at GROWING students?