Chapter 4: Regular Classroom Teachers: Critical Leadership Roles in Educating Learners With Special Needs

The ancient Nigerian proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child,” signifies that a child’s upbringing is a communal effort. This concept is as relevant to educational settings today as it was to communities in ancient times. When educating learners with special needs, all key stakeholders play an important role in the educational process. The importance of collaboration during this process cannot be understated as more and more students with disabilities are being mainstreamed into general education classrooms. For example, the 37th Annual Report to Congress on the Implementation of IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Act) reported that in 2013 approximately 62% of students aged 6 to 21 were educated inside the regular class more than 80% of the day. Furthermore, in all except one state, the largest percentage of students were accounted for in this category than in any other. Given the number of students with special needs in the general education classroom environment, it is important to examine the leadership roles that general educators play in educating learners with special needs. It is critical that all stakeholders collaborate to enhance and maximize the success of these students. This chapter addresses the significance of the role general educators fulfill when teaching students with special needs.