Special Education, Special Education Interventionist Concentration, M.Ed.

Special Education

Become an expert in teaching students with learning disabilities. Make a difference in the lives of those who need it most.

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Special Education, Special Education Interventionist Concentration, M.Ed.

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An intervention specialist is specifically trained and certified to teach students with learning disabilities that affect their academic success in general education content. Intervention specialists are knowledgeable about the general education curriculum, modified curricula, and intervention strategies to support instruction in academics and behavior. They know the content of each learner's special education program and make accommodations and modifications to provide access to educational content, instruction, and assessments. Intervention specialists may collaboratively plan with general education teachers and collaboratively implement accommodations for students with disabilities. Intervention specialists and general education teachers often teach together, and this is referred to as co-teaching.

Applicants who currently hold an initial teaching license in SPED Interventionist may apply for admission to the M.Ed. in Special Education Interventionist program. Persons licensed in other areas may take graduate level courses for an add-on endorsement in either K-8 or 6-12 Interventionist licensure. Applicants who do not have a current teaching license must hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or university and must meet all initial licensure clinical practice program requirements, including a semester of residency.

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News Briefs

Desire to help students more leads to career change

Working as a speech therapist for seven years led Amy Balch to want to do more for students who have severe disabilities beyond issues with communication. She decided to return to her alma mater and work on an M.Ed. in Special Education with a concentration in Comprehensive Students. "I wanted to further my knowledge of learning differences in order to help them as best I can," she recalls. "I feel that I have truly found my passion and my calling. I love special education and can't wait to see where my career goes next!" Balch says she especially liked that most of her classmates were "in the field working and we could come together as professionals and learn from each other." Balch had many reasons for choosing MTSU: it's where she earned her B.S. in Communication Disorders; it's close to Bedford County where she's worked since 2010; she had heard great things about the program and faculty; and she comes from a family of MTSU grads. She was not disappointed in her decision, stating, "Upon graduating, I have several job opportunities as a special education teacher and I am looking forward to making that career change. I feel that MTSU has fully prepared me to be a successful teacher."

Combined life experiences pave the path to destination

Although the path to his present position as a K-6 resource teacher at Scales Elementary, Murfreesboro, may seem long, Nathan Lesnak is happy with the destination: "I feel really good about it. I enjoy working in a field where I see results; I feel that I do make an impact." Lesnak completed his M.Ed. in Special Education with a concentration in K-8 Interventionist in May 2017. He has taught for several years with a transitional license. "It's a really good program," he says, ecause you experience a situation in school and then learn about it in the classroom." Lesnak started out in music and worked for years in the field, but he decided to go back to school. He earned a B.S. at MTSU in psychology and worked as a social worker but was drawn to special ed. "As a child, I struggled with school and got extra help," he recalls, explaining that his combined experiences and his wife Dimesa's involvement with special education motivated him to be the person who provides that boost. "Dr. (Zaf) Khan helped and encouraged me with a timeline so that I could stay on track," Lesnak says. "I recommend this program to anyone who wants to help children with special needs."

News Briefs

Desire to help students more leads to career change

Combined life experiences pave the path to destination

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CAREERS

Individuals trained to teach special education bring a desirable range of expertise and creativity to planning and administrative roles. Graduates completing their teacher preparation at MTSU are found in public and private school classrooms throughout Tennessee and in many other states. Educators who studied at MTSU are employed in a variety of settings that include the Tennessee Department of Education and other state agencies, community colleges and universities, Head Start programs, and tutoring services. Graduates are employed in public and private schools and school districts throughout the country as well as in Tennessee.