"The secret of a special teacher's success is motivation, interest and love of the profession. This is an area where theoretical knowledge is of great importance along with practical activities. I feel most successful and happy when my students achieve their goals” – says special teacher Sophiko Tsirgaia, who works with students with special educational needs at Tbilisi Public Schools N108 and N85.

Sopho Tsirgaia is a Senior Special Teacher and has been receiving a status supplement since 2021. After graduating from the university, she immediately started to work as a teacher of Georgian language and literature, and it was then that she had noticed, that each student has different needs, difficulties and areas of interest. Some students demonstrated difficulties in reading and writing, some of them had behavioural-emotional obstacles, some had difficulties in communication. It was obvious each student needed an individual approach. It was precisely this experience that propelled Sophiko Tsirgaia to find inclusive education.

"When I started working within general education, a special teacher was a novelty. I found myself in a society where awareness in terms of inclusive education was very low. Parents were unaware of their children’s rights. In order to achieve results with the student, it is necessary to reinforce all the social links with whom the child interacts.

"I often plan various activities and trainings. I work with students with special educational needs both individually and in pairs, in groups, and try to develop skills such as: academic, cognitive, motor, social, communicative, functional, behavioural-emotional, and more. Based on their skills, I make intervention plans that I implement during the school year. Moreover, I assist subject teachers in developing and implementing individual curricula. I am familiar with different teaching strategies and methods, I offer auxiliary audio, video or tactile resources for carrying out activities, I teach adaptation of existing learning materials, and so forth. At the same time, I work with parents and constantly share their children's progress and needs, offer recommendations” - stated Sophio Tsirgaia about her professional activities.