Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 20,800 people employed as special education teachers, preschool in the United States. The median annual salary is $61,400. Entry level employees earn approximately $34,780 per year and senior employees earn approximately $115,020 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime pay, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Read books to entire classes or to small groups.
• Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
• Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
• Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
• Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
• Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
• Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
• Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, or potential.
• Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
• Prepare classrooms with a variety of materials or resources for children to explore, manipulate, or use in learning activities or imaginative play.
• Monitor teachers or teacher assistants to ensure adherence to special education program requirements.
• Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
• Meet with parents or guardians to discuss their children's progress, advise them on using community resources, or teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
• Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
• Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, district policies, or administrative regulations.
• Establish and communicate clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students, parents, or guardians.
• Modify the general preschool curriculum for special-needs students.
• Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, or assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
• Organize and supervise games or other recreational activities to promote physical, mental, or social development.
• Prepare objectives, outlines, or other materials for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
• Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
• Prepare reports on students and activities as required by administration.
• Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
• Organize and display students' work in a manner appropriate for their perceptual skills.
• Present information in audio-visual or interactive formats, using computers, television, audio-visual aids, or other equipment, materials, or technologies.
• Collaborate with other teachers or administrators to develop, evaluate, or revise preschool programs.
• Plan and supervise experiential learning activities, such as class projects, field trips, or demonstrations.
• Prepare assignments for teacher assistants or volunteers.
• Control the inventory or distribution of classroom equipment, materials, or supplies.
• Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
• Serve meals or snacks in accordance with nutritional guidelines.
• Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, or teacher training workshops to maintain or improve professional competence.

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