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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I am a school psychologist and would caution you to really think about it. I think it is an impossible task to be really good at all the paperwork that is required and be really good at teaching. There just aren't enough hours in a day. I have met many special education teachers who are amazing at paperwork and presenting at IEP meetings yet are really weak teachers when I see them in the classroom or they are great teachers but their paperwork often doesn't reflect that (because they are so busy teaching).  I wish my district could pair up these teachers. Some teachers are mediocre at both and some wonderful teachers can somehow manage to be fantastic at both. These teachers are rare and as a reward are often give the most challenging students and /or students with difficult parents.  It really is luck of the draw sometimes what students you will have. Some years things are calm then the next year there are several cases where parents have advocates and/or attorneys (some cases I really feel the parents are justified; other cases not so much).  Sometimes you want to do the right thing but you are told from a supervisor that it must be a certain way.  [b]At some schools IEP's are after school so you need to stay after school and can't leave.[/b][/quote]

This.  And also, districts are starting to move to later start times for high schoolers (see FFX County).  I would not count on being able to pick your kids up from elementary school.  FWIW, I am a regular ed teacher in a middle school and I usually pick my kids up from day care/ after care around 5 PM every day.  Yes, most days I can jet out right after school if I absolutely need to (appointment, etc) but if I did that on a regular basis I would never be able to keep up.  Plus, there are staff meetings after school.[/quote]
Very good point. Count on 1-2 meetings afterschool each week (minimum) and probably some before school. 
Ask yourself if your main motivation is all of the perceived time you'll have with your kids. If it is, which I do understand, don't do it. There are other positions that can give you a bit more flexibility. 
The most flexible schedule I have ever had was doing some mid-level clerical type stuff for a non-profit. It gave me 4 weeks off, a portion of winter break and a 35 hour work week. I think it would be ideal now that I'm a parent. [/quote]

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