Shara Rung has lived in Anne Arundel County since she was 6 years old and grew up on the South River.  She is currently working on her doctorate in special education and is a special educator at Arnold Elementary School. Rung shares how working in special education has influenced her parenting, and vice versa, and how she balances it all. She and her husband, Jerrold, have two children, Grant (3) and Ada (1).

This interview was edited for length and clarity.

What attracted you to a career in special education?

For five years, I worked in IT project management, but I felt like I was dying behind a desk and needed a change. All my life, people have told me to be a teacher, and I had worked as a nanny in college, so I decided to give it a try. The flexible schedule matched our plans when we started building a family. Plus, I get to wear a lot of hats. Working with special needs kids engages me in a variety of interesting topics, such as helping students with life skills or getting the right support for nonverbal kids.

How do you achieve a work/family balance that meets your needs?

The cost of childcare today is challenging, so I stayed at home for the first year as the primary caregiver for our son.  I still wanted to pursue my doctorate degree, so we hired an au pair for the children. We found that having her part time provided the best options for us. We enjoyed the family dynamic that she brought to our home, and the setup gave me time to concentrate on my studies and work.

How has your job influenced your parenting?

While teaching at a middle school, I saw how students push limits and explore boundaries. As a result, I developed effective ways to work with them, especially leveling with them and treating them respectfully like adults. Those lessons learned on the job were integrated into our home life. Some examples: Pick your battles, not power struggles. Be ready to pivot and welcome changes that are inevitable. Establish certain non-negotiables, but try not to micromanage.

In what ways does being a mother impact your job?

Having children has made me more compassionate with parents and motivated me to help them understand that knowledge is key. For example, my son has a slight delay in speech. Thanks to my background in special education, this doesn’t scare me, because I understand the issue. But for most parents, anything atypical is scary. My goal is to look at the big picture, understand what we’re dealing with and focus on kids’ strengths and needs.

When you’re not working, what do you and your family like to do?

We enjoy going to the park and traveling, especially to Ocean City, Maryland. My kids are water babies, so spending time on my parents’ boat is always a treat. Getting dirty is a plus.

FAMILY FAVORITES

Movie: Any Disney flick with singing and dancing

Game: The bounce house with a water hose

Book: “Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site”

Holiday Tradition: Lebanese food, especially mouzat (braised lamb)