special ed vs. elementary...some thoughts to consider

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special ed vs. elementary...some thoughts to consider
By jl, fourth grade

Jessie,

Sometimes it is difficult for interviewers to get past your "original" certification. They see your experience as a plus and will pursue you for that field, EVEN when you stress you want a different position. Keep
stressing that you want an elementary classroom position and that the advantage you have with special ed certification is that you can address the needs of classifed students in your general education classroom. If some interviewer knows there is a challenging class of diverse learners in his/her building, they may take you up on the offer. Nonetheless, I would be somewhat cautious in

pursuing job opportunities. A really great school with a really great staff and a really great special education program may be knocking at your door and you don't know it! Maybe someone would consider you for an inclusion classroom where you work with the general ed teacher and special ed students (usually shared between two classrooms or more). You would be intstructing within the regular setting, but still addressing special ed--a little of both worlds--the kids you service will most likely not be the ones you have encountered in your past year and a half. It seems from your posts on the boards that your population has involved some very needy children in terms of behavior or IEP needs. What if the group was six or seven third graders with ADD/ADHD, OHI, an ED student, children with OT, speech, or hearing impairments? Might this be something you would consider? Would the thought of working with a classroom teacher be a possibility for you? IF a really great school says they have a special ed resource room position providing curriculum support to 4th and 5th graders, would you consider it? I just don't want to see you close the door completely on special ed IF something great is hiding out there. Consider going on the interviews anyway--what's the worst that can happen? You meet some principals, visit some schools, meet some staff members, network yourself among districts, and, hey, you never know.........you might find something you like out there. You could even get hired for special ed and then once you have a year or two under your belt, apply within that district for an elementary ed position. The worst that can possibly happen if you shut yourself off completely from special ed is that no job opportunities come along at all. The best that can happen is something great can come along. And in the interim, there might be a job that is better than what you have now, but not as great as what you really want, but it could be a start. Wow, I have rambled endlessly and I am probably not making sense anymore, but I guess I just want to say weigh all your options and explore all possibilities---you never know what you might find that you never thought existed unless you open as many doors as possible. Feel free to email me if I can offer any further advice. Good luck in your job search--hang in there--the right job will find you!