Summary Report for:
25-2051.00 - Special Education Teachers, Preschool
Teach preschool school subjects to educationally and physically handicapped students. Includes teachers who specialize and work with audibly and visually handicapped students and those who teach basic academic and life processes skills to the mentally impaired.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Work Values | Wages & Employment | Job Openings | Additional Information
Tasks
- Arrange indoor or outdoor space to facilitate creative play, motor-skill activities, or safety.
- Attend to children's basic needs by feeding them, dressing them, or changing their diapers.
- Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
- Confer with parents, guardians, teachers, counselors, or administrators to resolve students' behavioral or academic problems.
- Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
- Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
- Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
- Encourage students to explore learning opportunities or persevere with challenging tasks to prepare them for later grades.
- Establish and communicate clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects to students, parents, or guardians.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Adaptive communication switches for the physically challenged — Jellybean switches; Sound switches |
| Game pads or joy sticks — Head operated joysticks; Mouth operated joysticks |
| Letter or symbol boards for the physically challenged — Communication boards; Communication symbol sets; Eye gaze communication boards |
| Sand or water tables or activity centers — Sand tables; Water tables |
| Touch screen monitors — Interactive whiteboards; Wireless touch screen monitors |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Computer based training software — Children's educational software |
| Device drivers or system software — Screen magnification software; Screen reader software |
| Electronic mail software — Email software |
| Graphics or photo imaging software — Drawing software |
| Internet browser software — Web browser software |
Work Values
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Independence — Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Employment data collected from Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School.
Industry data collected from Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School.
| Median wages (2012) | $52,480 annual |
| Employment (2010) | 223,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2010-2020) | 
Faster than average (20% to 28%)
|
| Projected job openings (2010-2020) | 113,300 |
| Top industries (2010) |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2012 wage data
and 2010-2020 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2010-2020). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Job Openings on the Web
Find Jobs
for Special Education Teachers, Preschool
State & National Job Banks
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Special Education Teachers
. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition.
