Occupation Summary

Special Education Teachers, Secondary School

O*NET 25-2058.00

Description:

Teach academic, social, and life skills to secondary school students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

Annual Wages:
$61,781.00
Employment Rate:
Employment is expected to increase by 13.02%.
Education Level:
Bachelor's Degree. According to O*Net, the majority of people employed in this occupation have this level of education.
Endorsement:
Public Service

  1. Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
  2. Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
  3. Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
  4. Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
  5. Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
  6. Instruct through lectures, discussions, and demonstrations in one or more subjects, such as English, mathematics, or social studies.
  7. Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
  8. Plan and conduct activities for a balanced program of instruction, demonstration, and work time that provides students with opportunities to observe, question, and investigate.
  9. Teach personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, and self-advocacy.
  10. Prepare students for later grades by encouraging them to explore learning opportunities and to persevere with challenging tasks.
  11. Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
  12. Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
  13. Modify the general education curriculum for special-needs students, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and technologies.
  14. Meet with other professionals to discuss individual students' needs and progress.
  15. Confer with parents or guardians, other teachers, counselors, and administrators to resolve students' behavioral and academic problems.
  16. Meet with parents and guardians to discuss their children's progress and to determine priorities for their children and their resource needs.
  17. Guide and counsel students with adjustments, academic problems, or special academic interests.
  18. Coordinate placement of students with special needs into mainstream classes.
  19. Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
  20. Monitor teachers and teacher assistants to ensure that they adhere to inclusive special education program requirements.
  21. Prepare, administer, and grade tests and assignments to evaluate students' progress.
  22. Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
  23. Meet with parents and guardians to provide guidance in using community resources and to teach skills for dealing with students' impairments.
  24. Provide additional instruction in vocational areas.
  25. Prepare objectives and outlines for courses of study, following curriculum guidelines or requirements of states and schools.
  26. Confer with other staff members to plan and schedule lessons promoting learning, following approved curricula.
  27. Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment and materials to prevent injuries and damage.
  28. Use computers, audio-visual aids, and other equipment and materials to supplement presentations.
  29. Administer standardized ability and achievement tests, and interpret results to determine students' strengths and needs.
  30. Collaborate with other teachers and administrators in the development, evaluation, and revision of secondary school programs.
  31. Prepare for assigned classes, and show written evidence of preparation upon request of immediate supervisors.
  32. Attend professional meetings, educational conferences, and teacher training workshops to maintain and improve professional competence.
  33. Plan and supervise class projects, field trips, visits by guest speakers, or other experiential activities, and guide students in learning from those activities.
  34. Attend staff meetings and serve on committees, as required.
  35. Select, store, order, issue, and inventory classroom equipment, materials, and supplies.
  36. Perform administrative duties, such as school library assistance, hall and cafeteria monitoring, and bus loading and unloading.
  37. Provide assistive devices, supportive technology, and assistance accessing facilities, such as restrooms.
  38. Visit schools to tutor students with sensory impairments and to consult with teachers regarding students' special needs.
  39. Provide interpretation and transcription of regular classroom materials through Braille and sign language.
  40. Sponsor extracurricular activities, such as clubs, student organizations, and academic contests.


National Industry Employment Patterns


Industry % of Special Education Teachers, Secondary School employed Annual Growth Rate
Elementary and secondary schools 96 0.74


Labor Market Information


2020 National employment 140,900
2020 Texas employment 13,413
Texas projected employment by 2030 15,159
Texas projected annual employment and Turnover openings through 2030 1,208




TEXAS COUNTY MAP BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
* Due to confidentiality rules, not all regions may have the data displayed. The sum of all the regions may not be equal to the state total.


Top 10 Relevant Knowledge Areas Relevant Importance Levels
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
92.40%
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
90.00%
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
79.40%
Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
77.80%
Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
76.00%
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
74.60%
Administration and Management
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
69.20%
Administrative
Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
69.20%
Public Safety and Security
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
69.00%
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
66.80%


Top 10 Relevant Skill Areas Relevant Importance Levels
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
82.40%
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
80.00%
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
80.00%
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
80.00%
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
80.00%
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
80.00%
Instructing
Teaching others how to do something.
80.00%
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
80.00%
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
77.60%
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
77.60%


Top 10 Relevant Abilities Relevant Importance Levels
Speech Clarity
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
82.40%
Oral Comprehension
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
80.00%
Written Comprehension
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
80.00%
Oral Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
80.00%
Written Expression
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
80.00%
Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
77.60%
Speech Recognition
The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
77.60%
Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
75.00%
Deductive Reasoning
The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
75.00%
Inductive Reasoning
The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
75.00%


  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
    -- Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
    -- Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Coaching and Developing Others
    -- Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Training and Teaching Others
    -- Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    -- Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Other Activities


  • Achievement
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
  • Relationships
    - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.

No certifications found.


Tools

Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged: Sound switches; Jellybean switches;

Assistive listening devices: Assistive amplification systems;

Binocular light compound microscopes: Optical compound microscopes;

Braille devices for the physically challenged: Braille slates; Braille styluses;

Cassette players or recorders: Audio tape recorders or players;

Childrens science kits: Science activity kits;

Compasses: Pencil compasses;

Computer mouse: Eye controlled computer mouse equipment; Foot operated mouse equipment; Trackballs;

Desktop calculator: Talking calculators;

Desktop computers: Desktop computers;

Digital camcorders or video cameras: Digital video cameras;

Document camera: Document cameras;

Enteral feeding administration sets: Enteral feeding equipment;

Game pads or joy sticks: Mouth operated joysticks; Head operated joysticks;

Gas burners: Bunsen burners;

Goggles: Safety goggles;

Hand held camcorders or video cameras: Video camcorders;

Keyboards: Alternative computer keyboards;

Laboratory beakers: Glass beakers;

Laboratory hotplates: Laboratory heating plates;

Laboratory scalpels: Dissection scalpels;

Laminators: Laminating equipment;

Laser printers: Computer laser printers;

Letter or symbol boards for the physically challenged: Communication boards;

Liquid crystal display projector: Liquid crystal display LCD projectors;

Medical gas cylinders or related devices: Portable oxygen equipment;

Medical or surgical suction tubings: Oral suction tubes;

Microphones: Microphones;

Mobile medical services first aid kits: Emergency first aid kits;

Multimedia projectors: Multimedia projection equipment;

Notebook computers: Laptop computers;

Page turners for the physically challenged: Page turners;

Personal computers: Personal computers;

Photocopiers: Photocopying equipment;

Protective gloves: Safety gloves;

Scanners: Reading pens;

Tablet computers: Tablet computers;

Telecommunication devices TDD or teletypewriters TTY for the physically challenged: Teletypewriters TTY;

Televisions: Television monitors;

Touch screen monitors: Interactive whiteboards; Wireless touch screen monitors;

Video cassette players or recorders: Video cassette recorders VCR;

Visual presenters: Video magnifiers;

Voice synthesizers for the physically challenged: Portable communication devices;

Wheelchairs: Wheelchairs;

Writing aids for the physically challenged: Word prediction software;


Technology

Cloud-based data access and sharing software: Microsoft SharePoint;

Computer based training software: Text to speech software;

Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access;

Desktop publishing software: Adobe Systems Adobe InDesign;

Device drivers or system software: Screen magnification software; Screen reader software;

Document management software: Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat;

Electronic mail software: Email software; Microsoft Outlook;

Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator; Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop;

Internet browser software: Web browser software;

Office suite software: Microsoft Office software;

Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint;

Spell checkers: Hand held spell checkers;

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel;

Video creation and editing software: Video editing software;

Voice recognition software: Voice activated software;

Web page creation and editing software: Facebook;

Word processing software: Microsoft Word; Word processing software;


Related O*NET occupational titles for Special Education Teachers, Secondary School include:
  • 25-3011.00 Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
  • 25-2021.00 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
  • 25-2012.00 Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
  • 25-2022.00 Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
  • 25-2031.00 Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
  • 25-2056.00 Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
  • 25-2055.00 Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
  • 25-2057.00 Special Education Teachers, Middle School
  • 25-2051.00 Special Education Teachers, Preschool
  • 25-9043.00 Teaching Assistants, Special Education

Contact Texas Workforce Commission
Labor Market and Career Information  |  101 E. 15th Street, Annex Room 0252  |  Austin, Texas 78778
Official Website  |  1-800-822-PLAN (7526)  |  512.936.3200

** The information in this report may be derived from many sources like O*NET, BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics), OOH (Occupational Outlook Handbook), and Career One Stop.