From left, Katlyn Earl, Keenan McGaughey and Natasha Duska are staff members at Center Avenue Community School in Butler, which serves students with special needs. Eddie Trizzino/Butler Eagle

Special education teacher Katlyn Earl has been contacted by teachers in other schools to help with particular students who are going through difficulties in class.

Because she often works with students for several years in a row at Center Avenue Community School, Earl gets to know them better than teachers who serve one grade level. Her skills as a special educator make her a good resource for teachers in other Butler Area School District classrooms.

“Once you realize that behaviors aren't just behaviors — that there is reasoning behind those behaviors — it could be that a child didn't sleep well, or they're hungry, or they got stuck on a question,” Earl said. “You get to know a kid, and it's easier to understand the behavior and help them get through it.”

Special education teachers need a specific state certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to teach in a school, said Kristen Clouse, director of human resources for Butler Area School District. Aaron Royhab, director of special education for the district, said having enough special education teachers has been a “consistent challenge” in the schools for several years.

“Over the years, the trends of our student population in the district have gone down a little bit when you compare to five, 10 years ago,” Royhab said. “Our special education number has not.”