Special Education Teacher Job Description Template

Special Education Teacher Job Description

[Intro Paragraph] The first paragraph of your job description should outline what the job entails and the type of candidates you’re searching for. This encourages more qualified candidates to read on and consider your job opening.

Start with something like:

We are searching for a patient and dedicated special education teacher to develop the appropriate IEPs and 504 programs that inspire our students to learn and grow in a safe and healthy environment. We are a [school type] school that specializes in [area of expertise] education looking to hire a special education teacher with experience creating learning opportunities based on the students’ individual abilities and needs. If you are a creative, compassionate teacher with experience helping children with disabilities realize their full potential, we’d love to meet you!

About Our School: When special education teachers search for jobs, they want to find schools that can benefit from their experience and align with their values. Help candidates understand why your school is a great place to teach with two to three sentences that show how your company culture and values stand out.

For example, perhaps your school provides plenty of professional development and career growth opportunities, such as regular promotions for top performers. Also, mention in your special education teacher job description if you teach a specific group of students (such as international or students with specific religious affiliations) and whether you employ unique teaching methods (such as Montessori). This way, candidates can decide whether your school fits the work environment they’re looking for.

Special Education Teacher Job Responsibilities: Special education teachers work to understand the individual learning needs of each student and use that knowledge to create the appropriate learning path. To help right-fit candidates determine whether the role is a good match, edit these common daily responsibilities to meet your hiring needs:

• Create yearly class curriculums, IEPs, and 504 programs that are based on the students’ learning capabilities and goals.
• Provide resources and support to help students grow academically and socially, meeting key IEP objectives.
• Offer coaching, guidance, and mentorship to help students excel at their current studies and ultimately reach their full potential.
• Assign coursework and create learning opportunities that help students build healthy relationships with peers and instructors.
• Continue learning about education best practices, including how to teach students with different learning styles and keep them engaged.
• Work with colleagues and leadership to ensure each student is in the right class, learning at the right pace, and growing in the best way possible.
• Identify obstacles preventing students from adequate growth and adjust learning plans accordingly.
• Collaborate with the school to ensure students can access additional support.
• Organize meetings with parents to discuss their child’s progress.
• Track students’ performance and celebrate achievements.
• Keep up to date with special education mandates by the state, county, and board of education.
• Participate in regular training and licensing to keep knowledge and credentials up to date.

[Work Hours and Benefits] After listing the responsibilities of the position, include information about the working hours the position will require. Is the job full- or part-time? Will the teacher occasionally need to work overnight, weekends, or during the summer?

Next include the benefits and perks you offer to show candidate how your school helps its staff lead more enriched lives. Also, share whether you provide health insurance, vision and dental care, or extras such as commuting or wellness stipends.

Special Education Teacher Qualifications and Skills: When listing the special education teacher job description qualifications and skills, specify which are required and which are preferred so you don’t discourage otherwise qualified candidates from applying. Examples include:

• Top-notch teaching, critical thinking, and communication skills.
• Ability to exercise patience and keep students calm and safe.
• Familiarity with special education policies, programs, resources, and regulations, specifically IEPs, 504s, and other programs.
• Thorough understanding of various learning and teaching styles.
• Strong organization and crisis management skills.
• Ability to assist children with disabilities physically, such as lifting, pushing, and standing for long periods.
• Comfortable working with or learning common technologies, such as video conferencing, smart devices, online materials, and learning management platforms.

Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in special education required.
• Master’s degree in special education preferred.
• Recent teaching experience as a special education teacher, assistant, or similar role.
• Current special education teaching license or certification.
• Proven commitment to student welfare and educational excellence.

[Call to Action] No job description is complete without a call to action. These quick and simple statements, such as “apply now” or “learn more” show candidates how to get in touch with your school. Without a proper call to action, candidates could get confused about what the next steps are and fail to reach out. Make the next phase of the application clear so candidates can easily apply.