What Do Preschool Special Education Teachers Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for preschool special education teachers?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what preschool special education teachers do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Preschool Special Education Teachers Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about preschool special education teachers by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Preschool Special Education Teachers teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.
Popular Job Titles For Preschool Special Education Teachers
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Early Intervention Specialists
- Early Interventionists
- Preschool Special Education Teachers
- Early Intervention Teachers
- Early Intervention Service Coordinators
- Preschool Special Needs Teachers
- Early Childhood Special Educators
- Directors of Early Childhood Education
- Early Childhood Teachers
- Injury Prevention Specialists
- Early Intervention Occupational Therapists
- Classroom Teachers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for preschool special education teachers can be found.
Best Industries for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Preschool Special Education Teachers Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 59.3%
- Child Day Care Services: 16.8%
- Individual and Family Services: 7.2%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 5.6%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 5.1%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 3.5%
- Other: 2.5%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of preschool special education teachers can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2023, about 59.3% of all jobs for preschool special education teachers were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Child Day Care Services (16.8%), Individual and Family Services (7.2%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (5.6%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (5.1%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (3.5%).
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Degree Options for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Empower your students by maximizing their learning as an Ohio special education teacher in grades K-12.
- Class Type: Online coursework
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Preschool Special Education Teachers Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what preschool special education teachers do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work preschool special education teachers do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that preschool special education teachers tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for preschool special education teachers, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Preschool Special Education Teachers
Based on 2,637 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Preschool Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Preschool Special Education Teachers
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
Based on 2,637 job postings related to preschool special education teachers, early intervention was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 76% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for special education, child development, preschool education, psychology and individualized family service plans (ifsp) were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for preschool special education teachers, followed by teaching, coaching, organizational skills, multilingualism and coordinating.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention | 2,010 | 76% |
| Special Education | 1,499 | 57% |
| Child Development | 865 | 33% |
| Preschool Education | 777 | 29% |
| Psychology | 653 | 25% |
| Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) | 552 | 21% |
| Working With Children | 522 | 20% |
| Autism Spectrum Disorders | 460 | 17% |
| Social Work | 455 | 17% |
| Disabilities | 441 | 17% |
| Developmental Psychology | 405 | 15% |
| Sociology | 346 | 13% |
| Individualized Education Programs (IEP) | 331 | 13% |
| Human Development | 296 | 11% |
| Mental Health | 246 | 9% |
| Life Skills Development | 190 | 7% |
| Primary Education | 187 | 7% |
| Effective Communication | 183 | 7% |
| Speech-Language Pathology | 183 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health | 179 | 7% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 873 | 33% |
| Teaching | 745 | 28% |
| Coaching | 430 | 16% |
| Organizational Skills | 386 | 15% |
| Multilingualism | 381 | 14% |
| Coordinating | 353 | 13% |
| Planning | 348 | 13% |
| Writing | 326 | 12% |
| Advocacy | 315 | 12% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 248 | 9% |
| Detail Oriented | 230 | 9% |
| Spanish Language | 229 | 9% |
| Ability To Meet Deadlines | 209 | 8% |
| Computer Literacy | 194 | 7% |
| Multitasking | 186 | 7% |
| Leadership | 185 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 183 | 7% |
| Management | 179 | 7% |
| Problem Solving | 174 | 7% |
| Research | 171 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Preschool Special Education Teachers
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,470 | 48.1% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,585 | 22% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 1,178 | 16.3% |
| Early Intervention Teachers | 451 | 6.3% |
| Early Intervention Service Coordinators | 67 | 0.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was early intervention specialists, with 1,152 unique job postings. Early interventionists were second, with 369 postings, followed by preschool special education teachers, early intervention teachers and early intervention service coordinators.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to preschool special education teachers.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Early Intervention Specialists | 3,470 | 48.1% |
| Early Interventionists | 1,585 | 22% |
| Preschool Special Education Teachers | 1,178 | 16.3% |
| Early Intervention Teachers | 451 | 6.3% |
| Early Intervention Service Coordinators | 67 | 0.9% |
| Preschool Special Needs Teachers | 54 | 0.7% |
| Early Childhood Special Educators | 38 | 0.5% |
| Directors of Early Childhood Education | 45 | 0.6% |
| Early Childhood Teachers | 37 | 0.5% |
| Injury Prevention Specialists | 33 | 0.5% |
| Early Intervention Occupational Therapists | 63 | 0.9% |
| Classroom Teachers | 25 | 0.3% |
| Preschool Instructors | 20 | 0.3% |
| Classroom Assistants | 35 | 0.5% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 11 | 0.2% |
| Mild/Moderate Special Education Teachers | 11 | 0.2% |
| Preschool Paraprofessionals | 9 | 0.1% |
| Certified Special Education Teachers | 66 | 0.9% |
| Early Childhood Intervention Specialists | 7 | 0.1% |
| Preschool/Kindergarten Teachers | 8 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for preschool special education teachers? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for preschool special education teachers.
How much do preschool special education teachers make?
Preschool Special Education Teachers: How do you become one?
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