Job description template

Special Education Teacher Job Description Template

A copy-ready special education teacher job description with responsibilities, qualifications, skills and pay guidance: customize it for your company in minutes.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
How to use this template

Copy the template below, replace the bracketed fields and tailor duties to your workplace. For pay, national BLS data shows special education teachers earn a median of $65,120; the middle 50% earn $59,710–$80,280.

Job title

Special Education Teacher

Job summary

[Company name] is seeking a dependable special education teacher to join our team in [city, state]. In this role, you will assess students’ needs and progress, write and implement IEPs and support our team’s commitment to safety, quality and service.

Responsibilities

  • Assess students’ needs and progress
  • Write and implement IEPs
  • Adapt lessons and materials
  • Teach individuals and small groups
  • Co-teach in general education classes
  • Implement behavior plans
  • Communicate with families and specialists
  • Follow company policies, safety procedures and applicable regulations

Required qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree
  • Current license or certification as required by [state]
  • Working knowledge of iep development and special education law (idea)
  • Patience and empathy
  • [Add role-specific requirements, such as driver’s license or ability to pass a background check, if job-related]

Preferred qualifications

  • State special education license
  • Praxis special education exams
  • Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
  • Experience with IEP management software

Skills

  • Differentiated instruction
  • Behavior intervention
  • Progress monitoring
  • Assistive technology
  • Collaboration
  • Persistence

Work environment and schedule

Special education teachers work in resource rooms, self-contained classrooms and general education classrooms, with meetings and paperwork. Teachers work school-year schedules with significant paperwork and meeting time.

Pay and benefits

$[min]–$[max] per [hour/year], depending on experience. [List benefits: health insurance, paid time off, retirement plan, training and certification support.]

Equal opportunity

[Company name] is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law, and we provide reasonable accommodations upon request.

Tips for a special education teacher job posting that attracts applicants

  • Use the title candidates search for. “Special Education Teacher” is the clearest; alternates include Special Ed Teacher, Resource Teacher, Intervention Specialist.
  • Show the pay range. Postings with pay get more qualified applicants, and a growing number of states and cities require pay ranges in job postings.
  • Separate must-haves from nice-to-haves. Long requirement lists discourage qualified candidates, especially career changers.
  • Describe a real day. Borrow from our day in the life of a special education teacher so applicants self-select accurately.
  • Mention training. Highlighting structured onboarding: such as Special Education Teacher training: widens your applicant pool.

Next steps

Screen and interview with our Special Education Teacher hiring guide, then onboard with the 30-60-90 day plan.

Team pricing