Experiential Learning Opportunity:
Career Exploration
Career exploration opportunities provide students meaningful ways to engage and learn about careers in special education.
Classroom Observational Opportunities
ARIN Intermediate Unit 28
Field Trips
High school students will have the opportunity to tour Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children, and Hiram G. Andrews.
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20
Special Education Exploration, Observation, & Career Opportunities
Students in grades 11 and 12 will have an opportunity to earn observational hours supporting students with disabilities who have varied needs in a variety of classroom settings.
Job Shadowing and Mentoring Opportunities
Daniel Boone School District
Job Shadowing and Internships
Students will participate in job shadowing to learn about careers. Internships will allow students to participate in classrooms while receiving high school credit.
Dubois Area School District
The Next Step Program
High school students who have expressed an interest in special education will be provided opportunities to interact, observe, and collaborate with special education staff members.
Highlands School District
Building Future Educators through Inclusion
Students will be encouraged and exposed to careers in the field of special education by providing new inclusive opportunities that will be experiential in nature and provide learning opportunities in the area of special education.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Student Job Shadowing Opportunities for Future Special Educators
Students will have the opportunity to shadow a special educator, establish a mentorship, and gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the profession.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Student Job Shadowing Opportunities for Future Special Educators
Students will have the opportunity to shadow a special educator, establish a mentorship, and gain an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the profession.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Internships
Interested students could participate in paid internship opportunities (ESY, tutoring, after school programs, etc.) to gain first-hand experience working with students with disabilities
Upper Saint Clair School District
Community Based Learning: Special Education
High school students interested in special education will be paired with a special education teacher or related service provider to work with, observe, and gain an understanding of the special educator role.
West Allegheny School District
Partners in Education
Students will have the opportunity to work with and mentor students who have an IEP.
West Allegheny School District
Future Teacher Club
Students will meet with teacher mentors, spend time in their classrooms, and visit community agencies to learn about various careers in special education.
Learning Opportunities
ARIN Intermediate Unit 28
Career Exploration
A curriculum specialist from ARIN IU 28 will spend a half day per month, or one day every other month, presenting on special education careers.
Deer Lakes School District
Information and Training
Students enrolled in the Peer to Peer program will attend presentations that will address disability awareness, CPR/First Aid, and jobs in the special education field. These opportunities will to support students developing job coaching and an awareness of the variety of options in the field.
Highlands School District
Building Future Educators through Inclusion
Students will be encouraged and exposed to careers in the field of special education by providing new inclusive opportunities that will be experiential in nature and provide learning opportunities in the area of special education.
Intermediate Unit 1
Disability Awareness Summit
Students will participate in sessions surrounding all disability categories specified under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, (IDEA), as well as career presentations pertaining to the various special education fields.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Career Pathway Presentation and Toolkit
Secondary students will work with students with disabilities by promoting the field of special education, as well as providing students with disabilities the opportunity to explore careers during their ‘Learn and Earn’ or ‘Start on Success’ experiences.
Robert Morris University
Careers in Special Education
A panel discussion will be held on various careers in special education. Panelists will include educators currently working in special education including special education teachers, school psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and behavior specialists.
Upper Saint Clair School District
Future Teachers of America (FTA) Club
Geared toward the recruitment of special education personnel, students will have access to speakers who will provide training to them.
Post-Secondary Partnerships
Agora Cyber Charter School
RISE - Recruiting Innovative Special Educators
Opportunities for students interested in becoming future special educators will include campus tours (Community College of Philadelphia and Widener), postsecondary fee reimbursement, and scholarships.
Central Cambria School District
Educating the present for a better future
Students from Central Cambria School District and Penn Cambria School District will connect with a professor from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown and current pre-service college students. Students will participate in various activities that provide them opportunities to pursue career options in the field of special education.
Chester County Intermediate Unit 24
Higher Ed Special Education Meet & Greet Field Trip
Secondary students will be given the opportunity to participate in a field trip to one or more institutes of higher education to meet staff who coordinate the special education coursework for educator preparatory programs.
Daniel Boone School District
Career Fair
College visits will allow students to visit, and possibly audit, a special education class and meet faculty/admission counselors.
Dubois Area School District
College Connection
A partnership with Penn State DuBois Campus will be established to provide first/second year education students an opportunity to explore and learn more about the field of special education.
East Stroudsburg University
Making Connections WE Need YOU!
A day will be devoted to targeted field experiences across schools/districts in IU 20. Replicating “take your child to work” day, ESU will match special education teachers with high school students to shadow them for a day.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Student Teaching Collaborative for Special Education
Building upon the existing relationship with local colleges and universities and with more special education student teachers in PPS, the goal is these students will apply to work within the district where they student taught.
Robert Morris University
Career Path Admissions
Students from The Neighborhood Academy will visit RMU for admissions discussions on educator preparation programs, eligibility requirements, and financial aid.
Upper Saint Clair School District
Future Teachers of America (FTA) Club
Geared toward the recruitment of special education personnel, students will visit partnering universities to learn about special education majors.
West Allegheny School District
Future Teachers Club
Students will have the opportunity to work with and mentor students who have IEPs. They will also have the opportunity to take a college level special education course while still in high school and be able to visit post-secondary institutions, as well as other school placements, with the purpose of learning about various careers in special education.
Attracting Special Educators Recruitment Efforts
Colonial Intermediate Unit 20
"We Need You Because..." Attract & Recruit Video
An informational video will be created to highlight career options, career pathways & career clusters, and eligibility requirements for the field of special education. This video will be shared with all school districts and charter schools in the local region.
East Stroudsburg University
We NEED You... A Media Campaign for Secondary and Post-Secondary Students
This Experiential Learning Opportunity will initially capitalize on current work that is occurring and focus on the future development and sustainability of additional opportunities across the three collaboratives.
East Stroudsburg University
The 21st Century Special Educator Expo Special Education - A Celebration of 50 Years We Need You
A Celebration of 50 Years Video and The 21st Century Special Educator Expo is being planned.
Penn State University
Attracting (Future) Special Educators
Penn State Harrisburg will develop information for school counselors on the importance of special education teachers and encourage counselors to share the information with juniors and seniors.
Pittsburgh Public Schools
Enhanced Student Recruitment and Experiences in the PPS Teaching Magnet and Early Childhood CTE Programs
Recruitment efforts will be provided to the Teaching Magnet Program and Early Childhood CTE Program to increase interest and enrollment in these programs and to provide additional resources to promote successful implementation.