Special education isn’t one-size-fits-all—for students or for teachers. Every day is a pursuit of progress, and each classroom comes with its own unique joys and struggles. Take, for example, a multiple-handicap unit. Or elementary special education—which is a glorious, beautiful beast of its own. When I taught elementary, I worked alongside two general education teachers, supporting any student who needed help—regardless of whether they had an IEP. I would pull students into my classroom in small groups, track their progress, and gather data on those who were struggling. I listened when they needed someone to talk to and stepped in to calm them when behaviors began to escalate. Elementary-aged students…