IbeforeEI know Europe is out of question but put in on list anyway. Besides that I put Japan and okinawa. Guessing I should put more??? Of you don't mind me asking where are going and congrats!
I too have a son with Autism and made a late career change into education. I started as a TA in a SPED classroom and then was lucky enough to use my BA in another field (and my state's desperation for SPED teachers) to get myself a temporary teaching license. After a few years teaching there we found jobs overseas (my wife is also a teacher) and have now lived/taught in 5 countries.
As a SPED teacher, I highly value the good TA's I have worked with (although to be honest, they are not generally well-rewarded financially in most places). I highly recommend SPED/education as a career for the rewards of working with the families and students (and for the life it has given us a family, in our case).
I just got a phone call from another district today. This one is rural, only 3 schools in the entire district, fewer places to live nearby, and pays slightly less. The plus side it is 10th grade.
6th really isn't that different than 7th, so if you enjoyed that, you should be fine. Also, there is generally a good chance to move grades/teaching assignments once you are part of the school so if it's a MS then odds are good you won't be teaching just 6th for long if you don't want to.
Unless you have your heart really set on teaching high school, or think that you would hate living in the rural area, then it's pretty much a toss up. You spend a huge part of your life in the classroom so if you can't decide, then maybe that let be the deciding element.
We've lived and taught in 5 different countries now (and I've taught all grades and ages as a SPED teacher) and you generally adjust pretty quickly to a different age/grade and new location pretty quickly, if you go into it with the right mindset.
I don't know if it's the right place to post this but I'm going to do it anyway.
I'm currently studying english in my country in order to become an english teacher, but the thing is that I would prefer to be a french teacher abroad, like maybe in Canada for example. Would someone have any advice or tips as to what I should do to make that dream come true ?
Thanks a lot to everyone and I wish you a great night/day !