What Is the Role of a Varying Exceptionalities Teacher?
A Varying Exceptionality or VE teacher is a very important part of an inclusion classroom. In an inclusion classroom, students with disabilities and other exceptionalities are taught alongside neurotypical students, instead of their services being met in a separate special education classroom. To help meet a student’s needs, a VE teacher may work alongside a general education teacher in an inclusion classroom. The role of the VE teacher varies according to the needs of individual students.
Here are a few of the VE Teacher’s responsibilities:
VE teachers must regularly review and develop Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and participate in meetings to discuss these plans with parents, administrators, counselors and other individuals involved in the education of a child with special needs.
Provides support to the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher and the VE teacher work together to help support the ESE students and to meet their needs and individual goals.
The VE teacher will come into the classroom and provide services to the ESE students according to their IEP. The VE teacher might also pull students for small group instruction as well.
The VE teacher must regularly administer skills, tests, and other assessments to determine the progress of the exceptional students. The VE teacher will provide parents with a progress report on the progress of all the students’ goals quarterly.
The ultimate goal is for the VE teacher is to work with the classroom teacher to support the ESE students in the inclusion classroom so that the student can be successful in a regular classroom setting with their peers. It allows children the ability to socially engage with their peers, provides a better opportunity for learning, and fosters a culture of respect and belonging.
Should you have further questions about inclusive education, please reach out to leslie@collaborativecorner.org.
Leslie Haynes, B.Ed
Inclusion Teacher, Parent Advocate, and Special Olympics Coach
leslie@collaborativecorner.org