In today's world of education, having a competitive edge could allow you to spend less time worrying about your career and more time where it really matters: meeting students' needs and fostering meaningful relationships with students, parents and other teachers.

Enhance Your Effectiveness in the Classroom

1. Add strong instructional strategies to your repertory.

   There are so many effective instructional strategies to learn! In the SXU Learning Behavior Specialist (LBS I) program, you will learn research-based practice, coupled with strategies to engage your current students.

2. Collaborate with experienced faculty.

   The faculty teaching in the special education program have more than 80 years of experience combined. Through one-to-one interactions, you will receive valuable, individualized assistance and develop meaningful relationships with your faculty, who serve as your mentors during your time at SXU and even after you have completed the program.

3. Gain hands-on experience.

   Learn to administer individualized assessments to students with different abilities and learn how to interpret the results. With the practice of data collection, you will learn how to provide custom-tailored techniques and interventions.

Increase Your Career Opportunities

1. Switch your career path.

   You have already served students with different abilities in your general education classes or as a paraprofessional. In this program, you can prepare to teach students with different abilities as a specialty.

2. Increase the number of teaching positions for which you are eligible.

   Even in districts with few vacancies, there are always special education positions available. Once you complete the LBS I program, you become eligible for the thousands of unfilled special education positions around the state.

3. Join together with like-minded professionals.

   You have an even bigger impact in education when you are supported by classmates who have received the training that you have and think about children the way you do. Be part of a professional learning community.

4. Increase your salary.

   Most districts increase the pay of teachers who pursue additional training and skills via college credit. Earn a master's degree as well as special education licensure, if you wish.

Build Your Repertory

1. Tackle functional behavior analysis and plan behavioral intervention.

   Even those who have been teaching for 30 years say they don't know enough about classroom management. Learn to conduct functional behavior analysis and design behavior intervention plans.

2. Gain research-based knowledge about disabilities.

   You will learn about rare syndromes and specific disabilities in the SXU special education program, as well as how to research newly identified disabilities in your career future.

3. Increase your repertory of effective formative assessment strategies.

Gain formative assessment strategies that will provide you immediate feedback as you are teaching, so you can judge how effective your instruction is in real time.