Special Education teachers are an aging population: Local schools see shortage in speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists | Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.

Special Education teachers are an aging population: Local schools see shortage in speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists | Valley Community Newspapers, Inc.:

Special Education teachers are an aging population: Local schools see shortage in speech and language pathologists and occupational therapists

By Corrie Pelc

California is currently facing as shortage of qualified teachers – including special education teachers – according to an article printed in September on US News onNBCNews.com.

The article cited a report, “Greatness by Design” released by the California Department of Education in September – a report designed to help improve how teachers are recruited, trained and mentored – that states “there are still shortages of qualified teachers in fields such as special education.”

Dr. Pia Wong, department chair for the Department of Teaching Credentials and professor at California State University Sacramento, says one reason for the shortage is teachers retiring without anyone to fill their positions. “When you look at the average age of teachers in special (education) and general education, it’s an aging population,” she explains. “Based on when people typically do retire or can retire, we know in the next 10 years we’re