Opening Doors to Special Education: Helping Future Educators Explore a High-Need Career

Posted on September 4, 2026

October 1, 2026
4:30 PM ET

Special education remains one of the highest-need areas in the educator workforce—and helping future educators understand the opportunities, challenges, and rewards of the field can begin well before college. Join Educators Rising and the IRIS Center at Vanderbilt University for a conversation about introducing aspiring educators to working with students with disabilities. We’ll explore how research-based IRIS resources have informed Educators Rising curriculum, what students should know as they consider careers in special education, and how current educators can access IRIS resources to strengthen their own practice.

Naomi Tyler, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Special Education at Peabody College at Vanderbilt University and serves as the Project Director at the IRIS Center. Her research includes educator professional development.

Contributors

John Hendron

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