It takes a special kind of educator to be a special education teacher. They need to be knowledgeable, innovative, compassionate and flexible. They frequently take the lead in coordinating school personnel, family members and others in the community to work together as a team to help a child succeed. Special education teachers must interpret and implement national, state and district law, policies and procedures. And most importantly, they have to find a unique way to reach and teach each student. It's an incredibly tall order, but the rewards are tremendous.

Career Advantage
The 2007 report entitled "Educator Supply and Demand," published by the American Association for Employment in Education, indicates nine out of 13 education fields that face considerable shortages are in special education. In addition, teachers who are certified and/or have experience in special education are at an advantage when applying for traditional teaching jobs.

Endorsement Design
Designed for certified teachers, this program meets the requirements for a Washington Special Education Endorsement. Delivered through an integrated format, courses are taught by a team and designed around a coherent philosophical and theoretical framework drawn from a systems view of understanding human motivation, learning and behavior. Within a framework of professional and ethical practice, the curriculum enables you to:

• Assess, diagnose and evaluate special needs populations.
• Define and work with individual learning differences.
• Plan the content and practice of a continuum of service for special needs.
• Manage student behavior and social interactions skills.
• Communicate and build collaborative partnerships necessary to address the needs of special learner populations.

Program Benefits
Antioch's special education endorsement offers:

• A four-quarter, 32-credit program with two late afternoon/evening classes a week.
• A six-week summer internship at Children's Institute for Learning Differences (CHILD).
• Practical experience opportunities throughout the program.
• Small class size for a collaborative and supportive learning environment.

If you are up for the challenge of a career in special education or want to learn new tools and skills to reach the variety of learners in your classroom, then the Antioch program can provide you with the highest quality training leading to a special education endorsement in Washington.