OVERVIEW
What is a Program Director for Exceptional Children?
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A PDEC runs special education programs at public schools or private schools. A program director is someone who has a background in special education and an understanding of relevant teaching practices and methods. This profession is critical to ensuring that students receive the care and training they need to be successful.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Program Director for Exceptional Children Do?
Program directors have extensive duties鈥攖hey oversee the department, plan the curriculum, and stay up-to-date on the latest education research. In some programs, a PDEC may be involved with regular classroom work, including planning specific activities, tracking individual students鈥� progress, and even developing individualized education programs for students. Here are some of the things that you can expect to do as a PDEC:
- Overseeing and supporting the teaching staff.听Any good education program needs someone at the top who can take care of hiring new teaching staff and training those already on the teaching staff. Teachers need mentoring programs early on in their careers, and professional development programs throughout.
- Plan and execute the curriculum.听This could involve developing a curriculum or adjusting to an already-existing one. If you have the opportunity to work directly with students as a program director, you may also be involved with individual education programs (IEPs), as well as tracking students鈥� educational progress.
- Run the administrative and financial parts of the program.听A well-run program needs strong administrative support and financial backing. After all, teachers can鈥檛 teach effectively and students can鈥檛 thrive if their program is poorly funded and disorganized. You might be charged with program development, scheduling, payroll, and project funding.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Program Director for Exceptional Children?
The path to becoming a PDEC means getting a degree in education, followed by years of experience as a teacher. Since program directors also need organizational, leadership, and administrative skills, it鈥檚 important to develop those skills as well.
Step One: Earn a bachelor鈥檚 degree
The first step on the road to working in any special education field is to get your听bachelor鈥檚 degree. A wise choice would be to get a听bachelor鈥檚 degree in special education. There鈥檚 no need to limit yourself to just one education field, though鈥攕ome programs allow you to get a听bachelor鈥檚 degree in both elementary education and special education, which will enable you to get licensed in both fields. A good education degree program prepares you for the challenges of the classroom so that you can be ready, from day one, to guide and connect with your students.
Step Two: Get certified to teach in your state
You鈥檒l need to be certified to teach if you鈥檙e going to work in education anywhere in the United States. Each state varies in its requirements for getting certified, but generally speaking, most states require: (1) a bachelor鈥檚 degree; (2) completion of a student-teaching experience or program; (3) passing a test (Praxis) for general certification, and for the specific subject in which you intend to teach; (4) a background check, including criminal and professional background checks.
Step Three: Earn a master鈥檚 degree in education
If you want to be a PDEC, then a听master鈥檚 degree听in education can help expand your knowledge and further develop your skills. A master鈥檚 degree in education is also a great choice for those who want to get licensed as a special education teacher but already have a bachelor鈥檚 degree in an unrelated field.
Step Four: Gain teaching experience
So, you鈥檝e got your degrees and your teaching license. Do you think you鈥檙e ready to step up to becoming a PDEC? Probably not! You need years of teaching experience under your belt before you鈥檙e ready to take that next step.
Step Five: Hone your leadership and administrative skills
A PDEC should typically have years of experience in special education, but the job itself requires excellent administrative skills more than it does classroom and educational skills. You鈥檒l want to develop those skills in any way that you can, whether that be taking the lead on projects within your school department.
Best Degrees for a Program Director for Exceptional Children
Education
Special Education (Mild to Moderate) 鈥� B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring special education teachers. Leads to your teaching license in states that offer a single teaching license in K鈥�12 special education.
- Time: 61% of students finish this program within 34 months.
- Tuition:听$3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 38 total courses in this program.
听If your state requires鈥攐r if you're interested in鈥攄ual licensure in both elementary education and K鈥�12 special education, consider the听B.A. Special Education (K鈥�12) program.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 included in this program:
- Lesson Planning
- Ethics
- Behavioral Support Strategies
- Educational Psychology & Development
- Classroom Management
This online degree program includes a preclinical experience with face-to-face observation hours and a Student Teaching component hosted by an experienced teacher and directed by a clinical supervisor.
Education
Special Ed and Elementary Ed (Dual Licensure) 鈥� B.A.
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring...
An online teaching degree and teacher certification program for aspiring K鈥�12 special education teachers. Leads to dual licensure鈥攅lementary education teaching license and special education teaching license.
- Time: 60% of students finish this degree within 38 months.
- Tuition:听$3,825 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 45 total courses in this program (46 for Washington residents).
(Specific grade levels will vary depending on licensure in your state.) If your state offers a single K鈥�12 special education teaching license and you are interested in focusing on teaching students with mild to moderate exceptionalities, consider the听B.A. Special Education (Mild to Moderate)听online teaching degree.听
Skills for your r茅sum茅 included in this program:
- Elementary Reading Methods
- Elementary Mathematics Methods
- Elementary Social Studies Methods
- Elementary Science Methods
- Language Arts Instruction and Intervention
This special education teaching online degree program requires in-classroom observation and a term of full-time听student teaching.听
Education
Teaching, Special Education (K鈥�12) 鈥� M.A.
An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to...
An online master's degree for current or aspiring teachers looking to further their careers with a focus on K鈥�12 special education.
- Time:听64% of students finish similar programs in 22 months.
- Tuition:听$4,125 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 30 total courses in this program.
This program is ideal for students who already have a bachelor's degree in a non-teaching field and are looking to earn their initial teaching license.
Skills for your r茅sum茅 included in this program:
- Professional, Ethical and Legal Guidelines in Special Education
- Management Strategies for Academic and Social Behavior
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Methods of Instruction and Intervention
- Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
Find a rewarding career teaching students with diverse challenges and special learning abilities with this teaching master's degree.
How Much Does a Program Director for Exceptional Children Make?
$61,500
While the U.S. Department of Labor does not give salary figures for PDEC, it does provide information about special education more generally, and the salaries for those working in special education are quite consistent. In 2020, a special education teacher could expect to earn an average annual salary of听, while those in the top 10% of earners could expect to earn over $100,000 per year.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
3%
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a听听growth, which translates to 14,300 more jobs, between the years 2019 and 2029. This is in line with the overall projected job growth in the United States.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Program Director for Exceptional Children Need?
As a PDEC, you may need to be more familiar with developing technologies than the average teacher. Here are a few of the most important skills that you鈥檒l want to acquire or develop:
- Organizational skills
- Leadership skills
- Teaching skills
- Deep knowledge of pedagogical theory
- Creative and analytical thinking skills
- Social and interpersonal skills
- Strong communication skills
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