France Bejosa

Experience

1.  I found it to be rewarding and very much a learning experience. I recognize individuals

with disabilities as individuals with differences. I learn from my students every day! They
teach me true diversity and understanding. I believe a great deal of patience and
perseverance, as well as a true passion for the job, is necessary to be successful. A keen
ability to observe and analyze behaviors is beneficial as well. I am often reminded by my
students that one person’s perception is not the same as another’s.

2. YES. When considering any career path, it helps to have a behind-the-scenes look at the
road ahead.  It will be stressful. Stress is unavoidable in most teaching jobs but particularly so
when teaching special education students—no matter how talented you are as an educator.
Teaching special needs students is no picnic, stress and paperwork can make even the most
cheerful people grumble a bit, but there are plenty of moments that make the job very
rewarding. It’s important for would-be special education teachers to be fully committed to their
work as this is not a career that lends itself to a halfhearted effort. Here’s the good news, if you
have the right attitude and are willing to put in the work, you are well on your way to working in
this demanding but gratifying career.

TRAINING
1. YES.  The most challenging part generally isn't the teaching; it is managing student behavior.
In order to be an effective teacher, whether it's your first year or your 20th, the best thing you
can do for yourself is to let go of the idea of "normal." Offer all students the opportunity to grow
from where they are, not from where your teacher training courses say they should be. You will
not harm a student by offering him/her opportunities to complete work that is more essential and
advanced.
2. Equally important, many schools integrate students with special needs into regular classes,
making the need for teachers with special education training even more essential. Teaching
students with disabilities can present unique challenges, For that reason, teachers should be
patient, flexible and even-tempered.
Public opinion overwhelmingly favors “ensuring a well-qualified teacher in every classroom”
as the top education priority. Indeed, teachers—once viewed as central to the problem of
student underachievement—are now being recognized as the solution. In teacher preparation
there is a “multiplier effect” that can span generations. While a sound undergraduate science
education is essential for producing the next generation of scientists, it is equally critical for
future teachers of science. The refrain, “You can’t teach what you don’t know,” surely applies.
National Science Board, 1999

3.