Kortney Behnke Is First Graduate in Accelerated MS-Special Education

“The Most Rewarding Job”

Kortney Behnke knows exactly why she pursued special education as her major—and her vocation.

Back in elementary school, she watched as a family in her church had to make difficult educational choices. “They had multiple children with various special needs,” she says. “Some of the kids attended our WELS school, but the other kids had to attend local public schools because our WELS school didn’t have the resources needed to support them.”

That reality hit home hard. “It broke my heart to see kids who sat in the front pew of church every week not be able to receive the same Christian education that their siblings got.”

The heartbreak led to a heartfelt decision.

“I decided to pursue special education through MLC because I wanted to work toward the goal of bringing the Word of God to all students, no matter their needs.”

Her Major at MLC: Kortney did more than enroll in MLC’s special ed major. She also enrolled in our 4 + 1 Accelerated Master’s Program—and became the first graduate of that program in May 2024.

Kortney started taking dual-credit courses while a junior at MLC. With some adjustments in the workload, each course counted toward both her undergrad and her graduate degree. “MLC made it easy to start early,” she says, “and to save a lot of money.”

Her First Assignment: Kortney graduated in December 2022. In May 2023, she was assigned to teach special education at Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The program there, she explains, has two licensed teachers and two paraprofessionals serving about 30 students. She teaches two different levels of math, English, science, and study skills. She also meets with parents, collects assessment data, and completes progress reports.

At WLA, she had her bachelor’s degree, but she still had another year of work to finish her master’s. The first year of teaching is always challenging, and, admittedly, adding master’s courses made it even more demanding. But it was manageable—and worth the effort. “It was a lot to keep up with as I was also adapting to life as a first-time teacher and coach,” she says. “I was definitely busy, but it was doable.”

She especially enjoyed the course called Learning Disabilities and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders.

“I was able to take what I was learning and immediately apply it to my teaching,” she says. “I was able to grow in my teaching practices in real time.”

Her Encouragement: Because of her own love for special education, Kortney urges teachers at all different levels to consider MLC’s master’s program. “It would be really beneficial for someone with a range of special education experience,” she says. “The courses allow for teachers to practice many different aspects of special education before they are actually thrown into the role. The internship part of the program gives teachers who may not have a solid experience with special education a chance to get a look at what a special education program might entail.”

And she has special words of advice for undergrads: “I would encourage special education majors to pursue this program while still taking undergraduate courses, because it will never be cheaper or easier than right now.”

Now is an excellent time to pursue a special education master’s degree for yet another reason: Many WELS schools are adding extended learning and special education programs of all kinds. Having a licensed teacher who also has a master’s degree gives a great boost to a school’s program, resulting in accelerated success for the students, greater buy-in by the parents, and increased credibility for the school.

Her Love for This Ministry: With a program like the one at WLA—and the new ones being developed at many WELS schools—Kortney knows that families like the one she remembers from her church would be able to send all their children to a school where the Word of God is taught daily, where the gospel infuses every minute of the day.

That gospel ministry is important to her.

And with the gospel as a foundation, she and her students can forge deep and meaningful connections.

“I love the connections that I can make with students,” Kortney says. “I often see students more often throughout the day than a general education teacher would, and this allows me to get to know them on a deeper level and to form more solid relationships with them.

“I love that I have the opportunity to teach classes that are smaller in number,” she adds, “and students are able to really be comfortable in a classroom setting where their needs are being met.”

All of this, she says—sharing the gospel, giving students the resources and support they need to be successful, and connecting with them and their families in special ways—all of this makes teaching special education “the most rewarding job.”