Special Education Support (SES) teachers work in partnership with their general education colleagues to differentiate instruction, so that classrooms operate successfully for a range of skills, needs, and talents. SES teachers make regular rounds serving students and supporting teachers in their classrooms, providing specially designed instruction. Opportunities for Professional Growth SES teachers have many opportunities to grow professionally. Edison offers extensive professional development, the chance to interact with colleagues through a nationwide network of schools, and opportunities to contribute to system-wide professional development. Working Together in Teams SES teachers are involved in frequent collaboration with house teams, co-planning and coordinating programs with their colleagues, as well as co-teaching. In addition, SES teachers and related service staff work together and support one another. Anchors and Flexibility All SES staff, including the Coordinator, teach only one scheduled class each day. This class “grounds” them through direct, ongoing instruction with a group of students. At the same time, being anchored by only one class allows SES teachers to use the rest of their time strategically to best address students' needs. SES staff are a valued resource throughout the school. A Key Leadership Role The SES coordinator is a member of the school leadership team. The special educator in this role works closely with the principal to coordinate special education services, develop programming schoolwide, and ensure that the school's procedures are in compliance with the federal, state, and applicable local special education law and regulations. A Challenging Environment SES teachers work extraordinarily hard to promote instructional change by helping their schools understand and respond to the significant instructional needs of students with disabilities. They work directly with students and colleagues, and help to develop schoolwide teaching strategies. Back to Feature Article...