Wichita Special Education Jobs Overview
Are you looking to positively impact students' lives and help them reach their highest potential? If the answer is yes, you should start applying for special education jobs. As a special education teacher, you'll work with children of all ages with various behavioral, learning, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities to help improve their quality of life.
While many begin their careers working as a teacher or teacher's assistant in special education classrooms, you can pursue opportunities in roles such as a behavior analyst, recreational therapist, speech and language pathologist, or school psychologist as well. However, these will usually require an advanced degree or certification.
In a teaching role, you'll work with counselors, administrators, general teachers, and parents to develop Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for each student according to their needs. An IEP outlines the performance and requirements of the student and provides measurable learning and behavioral goals.
Your responsibilities will vary depending on your work setting, specialty, and the students' disabilities. However, you'll typically do the following:
- evaluate the students’ skills and determine their educational needs
- meet with parents to discuss their children's progress
- schedule activities specific to each student's abilities
- teach and mentor students in classrooms, small groups, and one-on-one
- update IEPs throughout the year to reflect students' development
You can expand your search for education jobs by checking out these similar positions:
About Working in Wichita, Kansas
When you look at a map of the U.S., Wichita is smack dab in the center. That made the city an ideal destination for cattle drives from Oklahoma to load the herds onto trains going across the country. It also gave Wichita the nickname "Cowtown" and created the first Wichita jobs running the trading posts that welcomed weary cowboys at the end of their drives. Those early days are preserved at the Old Cowtown Museum that recreates Wichita in the 19th century, complete with building-lined streets in a 23-acre, open-air site.
After the turn of the century, Wichita took on a new nickname as the "Air Capital of the World." You may recognize the name "Cessna" as a popular airplane model. Clyde Cessna started manufacturing his famous planes in Wichita in 1916. Other Wichita-based airplane brands that followed include Beechcraft, Airbus, Learjet, and Spirit Aerosystems. The National Institute for Aviation Research continues to keep Wichita in the air business. Perhaps its history in flight led to the saying, "It's a bird, it's a plane—it's Superman," whose hometown is Wichita in many comic books. If you'd like your career to take off by landing a job in Wichita, remember it's also just a short drive to Kansas City, Topeka, and Salina.
Update Your Wichita Special Education Resume
When it comes to your job search, resume writing can be a challenging subject to conquer. That's why we're here to help. When you craft your resume, highlight your teaching skills, such as communication style and teaching methods, with solid examples of how you've put them into action. If you want an A+ job, check out our sample teacher resume for ideas and inspiration to get your resume noticed.
Also, don't forget to include that all-important cover letter that briefly describes your professional background and passion for the job. For more help, refer to our sample teacher cover letter and library of practical cover letter tips.
How Much Do Special Education Jobs Pay in Wichita, Kansas?
Got money on your mind? You should! Make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Our Salary Tools can help you understand what you can expect to make in special education jobs in Wichita, Kansas, as well as the skills that can boost your value and what the next steps in your career might be. Right now, the median special education teacher pay in Wichita is $16.79 per hour, which is 22% lower than the national average.
Find Your Next Wichita Special Education Job. Monster Can Help Get You Started
Are you prepared for a career in special education? If so, set up your profile on Monster for free and begin clicking on those special education jobs. When you sign up with us, you’ll receive custom job alerts and expert advice on how to negotiate your salary in Wichita, how to nail your job interview, and more.