I work with students who have a wide variety of special needs or learning difficulties. I'm a caseload manager for 22 special education students - which means I meet with their parents and plan their high school programs and then monitor their grades, behaviors, achievements, projects, credits and state high school diploma requirements. I also help them plan for their transition from high school to the workforce, junior college, trade school or university.

EDUCATION | Bachelors of Science in Special Education, with an emphasis on emotional impairment and a minor in Social Studies. Masters of Art in Learing Disabilities.

HOW TO GET STARTED | Volunteer at a school with the age group of kids you'd like to work with. Become a coach. Whatever you do, work with the population as much as possible to see if you're built for it. Don't let people stand in your way, if you want something, go for it. Take student teaching as serious as getting a real job - treat it like a working interview.

MUST HAVE TRAITS | You have to have a thick skin, you can't take things personally. It helps to have a sense of humor about yourself and you really need to enjoy talking to people. You need tolerance when it takes the kids three days to learn something and good behavior modification skills to deal with challenging kids. Having self-confidence, without being overbearing, is important so the kids don't test you as much. You must be willing to listen to parents express their feelings and be able to firmly state your point of view.

how I got started | I was a little lost in college, not sure what career I wanted to go into. Teaching was something I'd always considered, but I hadn't made up my mind. I went with a friend one day to volunteer at the Special Olympics. I was nervous because it was something I'd never done, but I had a great time and walked away knowing what I wanted to do. Soon after, I transferred to a school with a bigger Special Education program. I did two semesters of student teaching and was fortunate to get a job right away.

why this job?| I've always had a soft spot for the underdogs - the kids that are a little behind the 8 ball and always get picked last. I could see how it affected them and I wanted to do something about it. Making a lot of money wasn't my primary goal. I was more motivated to help kids that were less fortunate and struggling.

why I love this job!| No two days are ever the same - it changes on a dime. I especially like working with the kids one-on-one researching and helping them figure out what they want to do with their life - when a couple months ago they didn't have any idea. It's also a great feeling when they master a topic they really struggled with, like binomials. Working with the kids keeps me young - they make me laugh and keep me current with society.

my typical day| Class starts at 7:25 AM. I teach five Algebra classes, changing classrooms on the hour. During my prep hour I usually have a meeting or phone call with a parent about their kid who's either struggling or doing really well. School ends at 3:00 PM. I coach middle school girls' track and cross country after school.

what they are | The paperwork is very challenging. In addition to classroom teaching, I'm required to complete an Individual Education Plan at least once a year for each student on my caseload. (More demanding students can have more than one a year.) The IEP involves completing a lengthy packet of materials and coordinating a meeting with the parents, general education teachers, counselors, psychologists, social workers, the principal and the student. It can also be challenging to keep up with ever-changing state and federal laws regarding special education. Special Education is very rewarding, but it has a high burn-out rate. The average is for teachers to leave Special Education after 5-6 years. You have to find a stress relief - you can't take the problems home with you at the end of the day.

all about growth | The opportunity is there for teachers to move into administration roles. There's also a Department Chair in every building. Most special Education teachers that beat the 5 year attrition rate choose to stay in the classroom. There's potential for a raise each year - you usually get step increases for the first 12 to 13 years before topping out. It's financially rewarding, but you're not going to be rich.

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