General education teachers across Wisconsin and the U.S. are opening the door to a new career path: special education. The shift is driven not only by better salary offerings and job security, but also by a desire for deeper professional fulfillment. Teachers who pursue careers in special education become part of a collaborative team in a field where job opportunities are continuing to grow.
The University of Wisconsin–Superior’s (UW-Superior) online Master of Science in Education in Special Education program is helping teachers successfully make the transition from general education to special education. The program prepares K-12 teachers to take on special education roles with confidence while satisfying licensure requirements in Wisconsin, Minnesota and several other states.
Special Education Teacher Shortage in Wisconsin
Special education has long been one of the hardest positions to staff in schools across the country, including Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s workforce report released in 2024 identified special education as the subject area most affected by staffing gaps. The reasons for this shortage are complex, according to EducationNext. Nationwide, about 46,000 special education teachers leave public schools every year, while fewer than 30,000 new teachers complete preparation programs.
Growing demand is also a contributing factor, with more students identified for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and schools striving to provide more individualized support. As EducationNext explains, those factors mean that even as the number of special education teachers has risen, the demand for their expertise has outpaced supply.
For Wisconsin educators, however, the teacher shortage is more than just a statistic. It is a call for action from teachers who are willing to enter the special education field and find themselves in a job market eager to welcome them.
The U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the job market for special education teachers will remain steady over the next decade, with about 35,900 openings across the country each year due to replacing workers who leave the field or transfer to new jobs. In turn, educators who transition to special education gain access to career paths with more stability and opportunities for advancement than many general education positions can offer.
Transfer Classroom Skills to the Special Education Field
General education teachers considering a move into special education may wonder whether their existing skills will transfer. Skills in lesson planning, classroom management, differentiated instruction and assessment are just as critical in special education as in general education classrooms, according to Supplemental Health Care. Experienced teachers often have an advantage because they already know how to adapt curriculum, communicate with families and manage a classroom environment.
The major difference lies in the collaborative structure of special education. Rather than working alone with a classroom of 20 or more students, special educators are part of a team that may include paraprofessionals, therapists, counselors and co-teachers.
When Lindsay Burke was teaching elementary students in a general education setting, she was often alone in her classroom throughout the day. After making the switch to special education, Burke wrote in Simply Special Ed, paraprofessionals and other service providers helped her resolve behavior issues and took over when she needed to step out of the room.
The variety of roles available in special education also adds appeal, Burke writes. Teachers may serve as resource specialists, co-teachers in inclusive classrooms, consultants or leaders in therapeutic or self-contained settings. This flexibility allows educators to find a niche that aligns with their strengths and passions while continuing to make a difference in students’ lives.
Beyond the professional benefits, the personal rewards of special education are significant. As Supplemental Health Care notes, teachers regularly describe the fulfillment of advocating for students with unique challenges, celebrating their progress and witnessing the transformative impact of inclusive education.
Prepare For Special Education Licensure With UW-Superior
For Wisconsin teachers ready to transition to the special education field, UW-Superior offers a program designed with their needs in mind. The accelerated online MSEd in Special Education program allows working teachers to balance professional responsibilities with coursework. The flexibility of the online format enables them to complete requirements more quickly than in standard tracks and qualify for special education roles sooner.
The program satisfies Wisconsin licensure requirements and positions graduates for certification in Minnesota and other states, broadening their career prospects. In addition, UW-Superior prepares teachers for endorsements that make them highly competitive in a job market where districts are eager to fill vacancies. Beyond acquiring in-demand credentials, educators get to work in a rewarding field that highly values their ability to support students with diverse needs.
Learn more about the University of Wisconsin-Superior‘s online Master of Science in Education in Special Education program.
