From Classroom to Calling: My Path in Special Education and Deaf+ Support
What if the path you're meant to follow finds you before you're even ready to understand it? For me, that moment happened in a high school classroom, and it’s shaped everything since.
Hi, I’m Janey, a Colorado native who has grown up surrounded by some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. And yet, I still feel like I’ve only scratched the surface of what this state has to offer. I’m your typical Colorado girl in many ways, I love hiking, running, camping, and just being outside. But I also love slower moments, like playing the piano, reading, and being with the people I care deeply about. My friends and family mean everything to me. They are at the center of my world, and I’d do just about anything for them. I also have two fur babies, Houdini and Roxy, who are not only my dogs, but my adventure partners and constant companions.
My journey into special education started in high school when I took a peer intern class in a special education classroom, along with an adapted P.E. coaching class. From the very beginning, I knew. There was something about the work, the relationships, and the impact that felt completely right.
After graduating, I attended the University of Northern Colorado, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Special Education. With each class I took, I fell more in love with the field. Was my college experience perfect? Not at all. I sometimes wish I had built stronger relationships, networked more, or gotten more involved. But those experiences, both the good and the challenging, shaped me into who I am today. And I’m grateful for that. During college, I took ASL 1 as a prerequisite, and it ended up changing the direction of my life. I immediately fell in love with American Sign Language and the Deaf community. After that first class, I continued through ASL 2, 3, and 4, and began attending Deaf and ASL immersion weekends. Those experiences opened my eyes and helped me connect more deeply with the Northern Deaf community. Looking back, that was one of the most pivotal turning points in my journey.
After graduating, I started my teaching career at a mainstream school in Fountain. Like many first-year teachers, I struggled. I often felt like I didn’t know what I didn’t know. While I had some support, it wasn’t always what I needed, and I remember wishing I had more guidance from experienced teachers. At the end of that year, I made a difficult but important decision to leave. That decision changed everything.
I began working at a school for the Deaf and Blind, starting in the transition program with students ages 18–21 who had additional needs. Over time, I transitioned into working primarily with Deaf students. After 5½ years, I stepped into my current role as a Deaf Plus teacher. And that’s where I found my passion. I discovered how deeply I care about supporting, teaching, and advocating for Deaf+ students, and how much more there is to learn and improve within this space. Through both my teaching experience and graduate coursework, I’ve realized that I want to continue growing in this field. My goal is to pursue a PhD in Special Education, with a focus on Deaf+ students, so I can make a greater impact—not just in my classroom, but on a larger scale.
This blog, and a podcast that a friend and I are beginning, comes from something we’ve both noticed. Many Deaf and Blind students with additional needs are underserved. This is not because educators don’t care. They do. Often, it’s because people don’t know where to start or who to turn to for guidance. That’s where I hope to come in. This space is where I’ll share:
Experiences from the classroom
Practical strategies and ideas
Reflections and lessons learned
Advocacy for Deaf+ students
This is my first step toward making a bigger impact.
