Move your career forward with an EISE Master’s Degree
Before she switched to a career in early intervention special education (EISE), Jennifer King worked with at-risk adolescents.
“Most of them were struggling because of something that hadn’t been addressed in early childhood,” says King. “Many were dyslexic, or had ADHD, or were on the autism/Asperger’s spectrum. We would give them lots of support, but they’d already formed their identities and it was hard to overcome that. They needed more help when they were younger.”
In part because of that experience, King started teaching preschool children about five years ago, but she found limited career options. “I needed to make myself more marketable,” she says, “and special education really does that.”
King found the training she sought in Portland State University’s online EISE master’s degree program. “It’s opened a new chapter in my career,” she says. “I’m looking forward to working with children and their families to ensure they reach their full potential.”
A Brief Guide to Special Education Master’s Degree Careers
Early intervention special educators work with infants and toddlers (birth to age 3) who are experiencing developmental delays or disabilities. EISE professionals help to narrow children's developmental gaps before they reach school age, so they’re better equipped to thrive once they enter the school population.
“Our graduates move into many types of EISE jobs and work in a wide range of settings,” says Hollie Hix, program coordinator for PSU’s online EISE master’s degree program. “They include private homes, preschools, Head Start programs, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and educational service districts [ESDs].”
Here are some of the most common EISE career opportunities:
- Home visitor. As the job title suggests, home visitors work with children and families in their own residences. “Many children respond best when they receive early intervention special education in a familiar environment,” says Hix. “It’s also a good setting for parents and siblings to participate and learn how to provide positive reinforcement.” You may be employed through a Head Start program, social service agency, or educational service district if you work as a home visitor.
- Itinerant teacher. As an itinerant teacher, you’ll travel to preschools, early learning centers, and other sites to work with individual students outside their regular classroom setting. In addition to providing one-on-one instruction, you’ll coordinate EISE services with the child’s regular teacher, parents, other caregivers, and (in some cases) specialists such as speech therapists or occupational therapists.
- Classroom teacher. EISE classroom teachers help children with special needs adjust to more formal school environments. “You need a wide range of skills in this role,” says Lori Kellogg, principal of the Tualatin Early Childhood Center. “There’s a lot of group supervision, but you’re also frequently working with children individually and in small groups. If you lead a classroom you’ll play a critical role in helping children learn to socialize, follow routines, and gain a sense of independence.
- Evaluation specialist. Program evaluators measure outcomes and provide feedback to EISE teachers and administrators. In this role you’ll conduct frequent testing to track children’s progress, while gathering additional data through observations and interviews. Evaluators spend a good bit of their time working on databases, procedures manuals, and paperwork.
- Training instructor / researcher. As a relatively new field with a growing workforce, EISE offers broad opportunities for training and research. Most faculty in Portland State University’s online EISE master’s program engage in one or both of these pursuits, so you may find opportunities to sample these activities while you’re enrolled in the program.
Working in Early Intervention Special Education: A Job You'll Love
Jennifer King is still deciding which early intervention special education career path she’ll pursue. But she’s sure about one thing. She’s committed to an early intervention special education career for the long haul.
“Working with younger kids can be exhausting,” she says, “but you have a much greater impact. As kids get older, they have narrower beliefs about how they fit into the world. When they’re younger, they are much more authentic.
King, who lives in Hood River, Oregon (about 60 miles east of Portland), didn’t understand the importance of early intervention until she became a parent herself and started teaching preschool. Things began to click for her as she watched one toddler who didn’t say a single word during her first three months in King’s classroom.
“She just stood in one place and watched,” says King. “It was so much for her to take in. But she made progress so quickly. Now she’s verbal, she’s playing with other kids, and she’s totally comfortable. I’ve seen that sort of thing happen over and over.”
“It just shows how important it is to build up confidence and sow a healthy sense of self when kids are very young,” King says. “That’s something they can always fall back on for the rest of their lives. ”