About 50 special-ed teachers are needed this coming school year in the second-largest school in US, the Los Angeles Unified School District. Prior to that dozen of Filipino special-education teachers were added to as many as three dozen of Filipino special-ed teachers are working across San Francisco Bay, Oakland. 

The said dozen of special-ed teachers were hired on the spot when Mary Willis came in the Philippines to look for special-ed teachers for San Mateo California.

 “U.S. schools that train special-education teachers simply don't produce enough to satisfy the needs we have nationally,'' said Phyllis Harris, special-ed director for the Oakland Unified School District.

She also said that except from Spain and Canada, Philippines is one of the several countries that produces more educators than they have need for.

The districts are part of the national movement as schools from New York and Maryland to Florida and Kansas seek teachers who’ll fill the position in a foreign country.

Numerous schools in California are suffering from special-ed teachers and speech pathologists shortage. Unfortunately, their loss coincides with the need for such educators because there are more children who were diagnosed with autism.

“There's always been a shortage of special-education teachers in California, and the growing number of autism cases has added to that,'' said Nicholas Certo, chairman of special education at San Francisco State University.

Unlike other states, California doesn’t train teachers at undergraduate level.

“That makes it doubly hard'' Certo said. “The job pays little'' relative to the graduate education required.

Salary

According to Filipino special-ed teachers like Jeremiah Goco, 29 year-old, he earns about$45,000 which is nine times more than he make when he was still teaching here in the Philippines. While on the other hand, Ethyl Santos, 42 year-old earns 10-fold of her salary.

Migration

Foreign teachers shoulder their transportation, housing, and visa costs. If you wish an agency to handle your visa application, you’ll need about $5,000 to $7,000 depending on the type of visa. The charge also includes one-way transportation to US and they’ll help you find a house.

Typically, teachers enter US using cultural-exchange visas and work visas. Cultural-exchange visa lasts for three years while work visas are valid for as long as six years.

Why California chooses Filipino teachers?

“The Filipinos are very committed and have a strong work ethic,” said San Mateo Foster City School District’s director of operation Carolina Pavia.