According to the California Department of Education, one in every seven students statewide rely on special education services. As the needs of schools ebb and flow, I felt a responsibility to go where I was needed most. I decided to take a chance and try something new, so I packed my life into a single suitcase and traveled 3,000 miles from my home state of Virginia to Lompoc as a travel special education teacher.

Â鶹ֱ˛Ąing teachers are a relatively new and specialized group. We play a vital role in giving schools the operational flexibility they need so children receive the right support as student needs shift from year to year. I’ve been an educator for 15 years, and this is my second year working in Lompoc. I could not be happier. From my very first day, I was welcomed with respect and included in staff meetings, professional development trainings and school-wide events. I truly feel valued, supported and appreciated, and I’m honored to be a member of the Lompoc Unified School District Special Education team.

As a special education teacher, I implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and provide student-centered instruction to children with disabilities, supporting their academic, fine motor and social development. Watching a younger student count to 100 independently or seeing an older student finally master a skill they’ve been working on for months is the kind of moment that brings me to tears of pure joy.

Being a traveling teacher with has reignited my passion for the classroom and supported me personally as I enter my empty-nester era. Instead of telling my son, who’s in college, “Nothing new with me,” and coming home to an empty house, I get to share stories about the food truck I tried or the hike I went on. I’ve always loved exploring new places, and becoming an Aya travel special education teacher has allowed me to seamlessly combine my passion for teaching with my love of travel into one fulfilling career. Even before the current school year concludes, I have already confirmed my return for the 2026–2027 school year, giving the school and its families confidence that they will continue to have a highly qualified and compassionate special education teacher in place next year.

While being far from home can feel lonely at times, I have my Aya family to support me. Alexis started as my recruiter and has since become a trusted mentor and dear friend. She handles all the paperwork and logistics, allowing me to focus my full attention on what truly matters — caring for children with special needs in Lompoc.

Read the full story (page 15).

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Hi, I’m Sabina and I’m one of the many licensing team members who help travelers secure and renew their licenses. There can be many steps in the licensure process, but our team makes it as simple as possible.

As licensing specialists, we do this every day, so we know the ins and outs of the process. And because Aya has great relationships with boards of nursing across the country, we can help expedite your application in all 50 states. Plus, Aya covers the costs of licenses for nurses and select allied professions, so you’ll have one less thing to worry about while getting ready for your assignment.

We know applying for a license can be stressful, which is why we’re with you every step of the way to ensure you have the support you need to start on time!

Want to read through the content instead? We’ve got you covered:

Hi, I’m Lauren and I am a part of the credentialing team at Aya. We’re here to ensure that our clinicians have all of the necessary documents they need for their facility to start their assignments on time.

We are actually assigned to specific hospitals and health systems to become experts in the requirements that are specific to those facilities. Because of this, our candidates could have a different credentialing specialist for each assignment who knows the ins and outs of that facility’s specific requirements.

Our best advice is to gather any documents that you can ahead of time. Be on the lookout for an email to start uploading those items to your account, and then keep an eye on your inbox for any other emails we send and respond to those as quickly as possible.

We’re here to help you with every aspect of the compliance process to ensure a successful on-time start, and we can’t wait to work with you!

In a quiet space? Feel free to read through the content instead:

Hi, I’m Monet and I’m part of Aya’s travel experience team. Did you know we’re the only agency in the industry to have an entire department dedicated to making sure you have an exceptional experience during each and every assignment?

Whether you’re new or a veteran traveler, each assignment is like starting a new job. From figuring out benefits, finding housing, facility requirements to even knowing where to park — our team is there to make sure you have everything you need for a seamless start.

And once you’re on assignment, we’re in your corner in case of any hiccups. Let’s say your housing falls through at the last minute. We’ll find you a new place to stay. Maybe it’s your first time traveling across the country. We’ll share our best travel tips and tricks.

Aya also has a 24/7 emergency line in case you have an urgent matter outside of our regular business hours. If you ever need to use it, you’ll be speaking with a member of the travel experience team!

We hope your assignment is amazing, but if you happen to hit a bump in the road, your travel experience specialist will do everything they can to make it right.

At Aya, we’re invested in your happiness, and work to make sure you have an incredible travel experience with us.

If you’d rather read through the content (or you’re in a quiet place not conducive to video-watching) we’ve got you covered:

Hi, I’m Donna Schu, and I’m part of Aya’s clinical team. Our team is made up of experienced nurse leaders, nurse practitioners, CRNAs and members specialized in allied. As you travel to various hospitals, you get to experience new practices, new equipment and new ways of doing things — and we’re here to provide any clinical support you need along the way. 

We’ve been in your shoes, and we understand the importance of having a safe space to ask questions if something comes up while you’re on assignment. We’re dedicated to helping you succeed in this changing and exciting environment.

If you’d like to have a conversation with someone on our clinical team, just let your recruiter know and they’ll get us connected. 

I’d like to thank you for choosing to travel with us – we’re incredibly grateful for the amazing patient care you provide every single day.