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How has technology changed your job?

How has technology changed my job?

By Sandra Allison

Technology has definitely changed education, but as a special education teacher, I like to say I still teach in the real world. You know, the one where students actually move, feel, and think out loud.

At our school, we follow an 80/20 charter model, which means 80% of students are in general education classrooms, glued to their laptops, and the other 20% are with me, getting the hands-on, sensory-rich, sometimes-chaotic-but-always-creative version of learning. Basically, while the general ed kids are peering at screens that replaced chalkboards, I’m leading a math problem-solving parade at the whiteboard.

My students don’t just read a fourth-grade passage, we act it out like we’re auditioning for Broadway. Math? We ditch the mouse clicks and grab some bright, colorful manipulatives to count, sort, and maybe accidentally fling across the room (hey, it happens). The whiteboard isn’t just for me, it’s a privilege, a stage, and my kids love being the teacher for a minute.

Here’s the thing: my job requires a level of human connection that no screen can match. Sometimes my students need a listening ear. Sometimes they just need a quiet moment to breathe. And sometimes… they need a snack and a pep talk.

So yes, technology is everywhere. But has it changed my job? Not really. Because I still teach with heart, with movement, with real-life experiences. Until technology can give ESE kids a hug, a laugh, and a hands-on, sensory learning experience… I’m still in the game, doing it my way.