Since it was enacted, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has ensured that all children, regardless of disability status, have access to a free and appropriate public education. Of course, special education programs look a little different from school to school and professionals have varying ideas about the best way to deliver quality services to kids.

One area of ongoing debate is inclusivity. If you’re passionate about inclusive practices, you might consider doing your doctoral research in this area and bring what you learn back to the classroom with you.

Cross-cultural competency is a critical skill in today’s global economy, but what exactly does it mean? It is often misinterpreted as being the same as international etiquette. If you are on a business trip to Japan, for instance, it is helpful to know that the Japanese use silence as a tool to preserve harmony during a difficult point in the conversation. But although cross-cultural competency pays homage to international etiquette, it is a far broader concept. As a professional with a leadership role in higher education, cross-cultural competency is central to furthering your mission.

Most educators enter the profession because they have an enduring desire to improve the world around them by supporting and guiding the next generation of young learners. One way you may choose to change lives is by entering a career in special education. At Grand Canyon University, you will have the opportunity to grow as an educator and to learn how to assume a positive leadership role within your school community. By the time you earn your Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Special Education degree, you will be prepared for the opportunity to succeed on any level—from family advocate to teacher to administrator to policymaker.

As a teacher, you have the opportunity to inspire and empower others to strive for personal fulfillment and to make the world a better place. At Grand Canyon University, it is our mission to give you the tools you need to accomplish this. Apply today for our Doctor of Education in Teaching and Learning with an Emphasis in Adult Learning degree program to enhance your ability to help others reach new heights.

Every educator is a leader, but leadership does not always come naturally to every educator. Fortunately, leadership is a skill that you can improve through higher education and experience. You may find it helpful to take a close look at the leaders you admire, whether they were educators or not. Figure out which qualities of those individuals made them most effective and strive to cultivate those qualities in yourself.

Grand Canyon University is a widely acclaimed Christian school that prides itself on rigorous curricula and supportive student services. Some of our learners enter our College of Theology and then go on to work toward doctoral degrees in our College of Doctoral Studies. If you have determined that your calling in life is to enter into the ministry, we invite you to apply for our Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with an Emphasis in Christian Ministry. Our Christian university interdenominational.

All types of teaching careers require successful educators to be patient, genuinely caring and a source of inspiration for their students. Adult education is unique because older learners know exactly what they want to get out of a course. They ask insightful questions and they test the boundaries of current knowledge. This is an exciting field but you should have certain traits and qualifications to be a successful adult educator.