Being a special education teacher isn’t just about lesson plans, classroom management, or instruction. Often, it’s two full-time jobs in one: teaching and case management. Most educators are never trained in the legal, organizational, and compliance aspects of managing a caseload, yet they’re expected to figure it out on the fly. This post dives into the reality of balancing teaching with case management, the mistakes that happen when support is missing, and how being seen and validated can make all the difference.