Special Education Spotlight: Meet Frances Rodgers

Washington Middle School Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

BY CHRISTINA MCGAIRK

Every year on December 2nd, we celebrate National Special Education Day. This day marks the anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed into law by President Ford in 1975. This landmark legislation was the first federal special education law in the United States, ensuring that children with disabilities have access to public education and the special education services they need.

In honor of National Special Education Day, we are featuring Frances Rodgers, a dedicated special education teacher at Washington Middle School in Evansville. With 20 years of experience, Rodgers is a shining example of hope who makes a difference in the lives of her students and their families.

Raised by her father from the age of six, Rodgers always had a passion for school and admired her teachers. “I loved how they made learning fun,” recalled Rodgers. “Like many, I played ‘school’ with my stuffed animals.” After graduating from college, she found the teaching field oversaturated, with over 400 teaching graduates from just two local colleges. She began substituting in special needs classrooms, where she was inspired by the amazing teachers she met. They shared that there was always a need for special education teachers. Motivated by this, she returned to school for special education training, completed her requirements in 18 months, and was hired that fall at the school where she completed her student teaching.

Known for her calm and caring demeanor, Rodgers believes in working with every student in an inclusive classroom, whether they have an IEP (individualized education program) or not. “The ultimate goal is for someone not related to the school to be able to walk in and not know who has an IEP and who doesn’t,” explained Rodgers.

Beyond the classroom Rodgers is a strong advocate for building a supportive community for her students. She has an open communication policy with the parents. They have her number and e-mail address if they want to voice any concerns, and she knows how to contact parents if there are concerns on her end. Rodgers feels that the other special education teachers are her best support system. “We know what others are going through and sometimes we are able to help with suggestions or just an ear to help process through a situation,” she said.

Some may have the misconception that being a special education teacher is an easy job, but it’s quite the contrary, according to Rodgers. “On top of teaching, we have hours of other work that can’t be completed during contract time. Statistics show that 50% of SPED teachers leave that position after 5 years due to burnout, and 75% leave the field within 10 years. So I and a handful of others are way beyond this, with me being in my 20th year.”

Like many educators, Rodgers has faced her share of challenges, particularly when it comes to programming for students who need additional support in an inclusion classroom. “When I am in this setting, I make sure to check in with my high-needs students and get them started with what we are doing. Then I circle back to them after checking on others and pull them and others into a small group for additional support,” said Rodgers.

Despite the challenges, Rodgers’ philosophy still remains the same, that ALL students can learn. She continues to advocate for her students and recounts a couple of success stories. One was a student who qualified for services under emotional disability at the age of 9 due to his living situation. “He worked really hard to make improvements academically and behaviorally, and by 8th grade, he was able to be dismissed from needing services,” said Rodgers. She also had another student who worked hard and was placed in a pathway where he could work with his hands. “He went into mechanics and at the end of the year, he signed a contract for a mechanic job.”

As we celebrate National Special Education Day, Rodgers has some advice for those who want to get into the special education field: “Be in it for the right reasons. Be compassionate, loving, and open-minded. Celebrate the successes and learn from mistakes. Utilize the resources your district has to offer (including veteran teachers). Reach out for help right away-don’t wait until you are treading water.”