Educators across the state are taking advantage of the Tennessee Department of Education’s grant to earn a special education endorsement for their educator license. At Trevecca, the first student to successfully complete the program was Cherie Anthony, a 5th grade teacher from Memphis.
Anthony, who has her undergraduate degree in elementary education and a master’s in instruction and curriculum, saw the value of adding this certification to her already extensive training.
“Originally I wanted to do SPED in undergrad but I was told there was more opportunity in general education,” said Anthony. “But when this opportunity came up with the Department of Education, I had two job offers in SPED just on the interest I expressed because the number of teachers is so low.”
Trevecca’s program fit in well with Anthony’s life, in part because she could set her own schedule.
“It was self-paced and I liked that I could play the videos on my time,” said Anthony. “I have a two-year-old and so I would find the most random times to be able to to work on it.”
The coursework covers everything from identifying disabilities and navigating the legal end of SPED to building relationships with parents and caregivers.
“They teach you about individualized education plans and give you sample case loads. You would have a child that has Aspergers, for instance, with an outline of symptoms and coursework that went along with that so you can see what to look for and how to help,” said Anthony. “We also went over the laws of SPED, eligibility and how to identify SPED children and advocate for the parents.”
Long term, Anthony has hopes of moving into a position of leadership beyond teaching in the classroom. She believes the SPED certification will help her understand the workings of her school better and help other teachers as they navigate what can be a challenging environment.
“If I pursue leadership, it gives me a leg up because now I have more insight into everything that goes on in the building. Whether it is general education or special education, it will make me well rounded,” said Anthony. “If teachers need help with SPED I can tell them ‘I’m certified to do this so let me aid you and support you.’”
Anthony believes this program is valuable to teachers who are looking to improve on the skills they already have.
“I would absolutely recommend the certification,” said Anthony. “Especially if the educator is already in the classroom and knows what to look for, this is going to prime them and make them better at everything they do.”
More teachers continue to complete the certification program at Trevecca, which was announced last August and initiated in late 2021. More information about the endorsement program can be found here.