Special Education Teachers in High Demand

The nation's eighth-largest school district has the help wanted sign out for teachers but struggle to fill jobs.

Hillsborough County is not looking to hire just any teacher, where there may be 50-100 applicants for every open job, according to TBO.com.

Hillsborough County is desperate to fill special-ed teaching jobs.

Half the 100 open teaching posts are for special education jobs, according to TBO.com.

The district may get one to two applicants for what many describe as the toughest teaching job in the district, according to TBO.com.

According to TBO.com:

Teaching special-needs children with a variety of disabilities is a tough job not meant for everyone, those in educational circles agree. There's more paperwork, more stress, more demands. But no extra pay.

How difficult the job may be – and the need for teachers and aides – was underscored following the death in 2012 of a Rodgers Middle School student with Down Syndrome. Jennifer Caballero wandered out of gym class unnoticed and drowned in a pond near the school. Her death has led to calls for better training of staff and reforms.

Yet some critics say that the state is making it too hard for qualified special education teachers to land jobs in Hillsborough County.

Teachers traditionally had to pass ESE certification. Now, middle and high school teachers have to pass subject-area tests as well.

For an ESE teacher, that may mean four different subject area tests, which also can be expensive, at $200 each.

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Rodgers Middle School