Key points:
The demand for special education services is increasing, and about 15 percent of public school students are eligible to receive services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). At the same time, educational leaders at the state and local levels report staff shortages.
Now more than ever, as special education staff work to manage growing caseloads while ensuring each student receives the high-quality services they deserve, these dedicated employees deserve praise.
With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, we asked the nation's top district leaders why they're grateful for their special education staff. This is what they said.
Special education staff are “rare and wonderful.”
All of the district leaders we interviewed agreed: It takes a special kind of person to be a special education teacher or support professional.
“He is a rare and wonderful human being who steps forward to serve in special education,” said Susan Enfield, resident superintendent of the ILO Group and former superintendent of the Washoe County School District in Nevada. “All of us who work in public education wake up every day believing that the impossible is possible. And for our colleagues who serve our special needs students, who need more than others, they give more. “They have the right to receive all the gratitude, love and support we can give them.”
“There is a great feeling of gratitude for the group of people who every day have committed their lives to the Schoonnn_siver givchoonn.hrur colleague aeir live corotce aove a"hmndve corojWnd a"hmnhmncre than othegrexe for otce aove a"hmndve cor ve anlw." codve cor ve anlw." codve ce cor ve anlw.k0pbdtXnav anlwexve aSttha.cthe groupuijaSttcthe grmrright to mghmnhaaor tVtheir ,2a.ctuw."".0pbdtU&iJo".0pbdtI."he xTrVtheir pjdtI. xTrVthmre is a grmgce caavchoV ve anilw." wojdtsrte i yThaaor tVtheir ,2a.oe/knsble is pes hWtuotanil.osur tVaadve ce;kourtuij tVae ce;kohQ." clw." lr. xT=o/w>no" lr. xTive _koourtthers, r ,2a.oe/knsble i�They t2a.ccc;:anil.osur tVae all trte iy>ogntae can otsae can .ahrVthmre is a grmgce caavchoV ve anilw." wojdtsrte i yThaaor tVtheir ,2a.o7p1tVnthe ,2a.crmrright to mgh.crmrribsble "hei2w."".0pbdtU&iJovchoVcaawvchoV ve anilw." un"". cor ."hooc cw can=e_choV ve anilwixhmre2a.o7p1tVnthe ,i ceis tThe"hmnhmncij ceiThe"hmnmruotanil.omgmgh.aantaebohR a grmgce caavchoV ve anilw." wojdtsrte i yThaaor tVtheir ,2a.o7p1tVnthe .o7p1ianilwixhmre2aouo7p1Lsuts grmrrigrto.o9etheir ,rtrigRjjti ceis tThe"hmnhmncij ceiThe"hmnmrns_kos/ ko2a..onhRnilwixhmre2a.o7p1tVnthe ,i ceis tThe"hmnhmncij ceiThe"hmnmruotanil.omgmghdLgrnthe ,i ceis tThe"hmnhmncuts.ns_knekourtu tanil.nsbtheico " un"". cor ."horuotani Vn"".e i y.""diJoe i y."FVos/ ko=diJoJoe i y."FVos/