Special Education Teacher Resume
As a special education teacher, you need to show principals that you can guide students with a range of disabilities. Our special education resume example and writing tips will help you put together a resume that's sure to impress any school.
If you’d like to freshen up your application, our array of free resume templates has some cutting-edge options.
Special Education Teacher Cover Letter & Related Resumes
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FIRST AND LAST NAME
Email: your.email@email.com
Phone: (123) 456-7891
Address: Street, City, State
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yourprofile
Summary
Special Education Teacher with 9+ years of experience in teaching diverse student populations in emotionally impaired and general education classroom settings. Skilled in delivering effective educational programs for special students with serious emotional, mental, and learning disabilities. Adept at creating lesson plans that capture the diverse learning styles, interests, imagination, and abilities of all students.
Professional Experience
Woodlawn Community School, Chicago, IL
Special Education Teacher, September 2015 – Present
- Develop interactive lesson plans to deliver high-quality special education instructions in an emotionally impaired classroom consisting of 20 students
- Work with general education teachers to plan and implement instructions while ensuring 100% compliance with IEP standards
- Manage students’ behavior while developing and teaching behavioral strategies to support students’ self-control
- Formulate and implement rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining a well-disciplined learning environment
- Assess students’ skills to determine their needs and develop effective teaching plans particular to each student’s abilities
Gibraltar School District, Woodhaven, MI
Network Engineer, June 2010 – August 2015
- Created individualized education programs for each special education student in an emotional impairment classroom
- Facilitated presentations and recommended readings while providing interventions and methods on behavior management
- Employed diverse techniques to promote active learning such as individualized instruction and problem-solving assignments
- Conducted evaluation of 30+ students’ performance, behavior, social development, and physical health on regular basis
- Ensured the delivery of Fountas & Pinnell (F&P) reading level 2 times a year and North West Evaluation Association (NWEA) measure of academic progress 2-3 times a year
Education
Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI
Bachelor of Science in Special Education-Emotional Impairment, May 2011
Additional Skills
- Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
- Bilingual in Spanish and English
Average special education teacher salaries in the US
The following table includes information from O*NET Resource Center by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. The data is presented based on the top states in the USA.
Average special education teacher annual salaries by state
States | Salary / Year |
---|---|
California | $90,700 |
New York | $97,910 |
Texas | $65,510 |
Florida | $55,370 |
Pennsylvania | $83,630 |
Illinois | $62,500 |
Ohio | $49,940 |
Georgia | $51,630 |
North Carolina | $67,190 |
Michigan | $78,920 |
National Average | $64,330 |
How to write a special education teacher resume
Writing your resume for special education teaching isn’t always easy. As a special educator, you know your skills are diverse and your daily responsibilities vary widely. It’s difficult to simplify all that you do in a one-page resume.
Use these tips to help you put together a great special education teacher resume that will make a good impression on any principal:
1. Highlight your special education teacher skills
Addressing the needs of students with disabilities is a difficult task. To make sure you’re capable of handling the job, school administrators and hiring managers will be looking to see that you have the specific skills needed to help these students excel.
Show them you can be trusted to lead a classroom by highlighting important hard and soft skills in the skills section of your resume.
Don’t forget to add any certifications you’ve attained for special education in this section too.
Here is a diverse list of the top skills included in special education teacher resumes:
- State certification in special education
- Functional and Life Skills curriculum
- Differentiated instruction
- Working with students with physical disabilities, speech or hearing impairment
- Working with autistic children, children with mental disabilities
- Faculty collaboration
- First-aid certified or basic medical care skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Behavior redirection
- Student needs assessment
- Classroom management
- Basic computer skills
- Empathy
- Stress management
2. Emphasize your soft skills
Soft skills are the skills that cannot necessarily be taught and reflect how you interact with others and respond to difficult situations.
As a special educator, schools will want to see you have the patience and empathy to deal with students with behavioral difficulties, and keep parents informed about their child’s progress.
While you shouldn’t overload your skills section with soft skills, it’s important that you emphasize a few key credentials specific to special education teaching, such as:
- Adaptability and problem-solving skills
- Interpersonal skills (empathy, patience)
- Organizational skills (time management)
3. Tailor your special education teacher resume to the job post
One of the best ways to show principals that you’re perfect for a special education teacher role is to describe your experience and skills in a way that addresses the needs of the specific position or school.
Not all special education teaching jobs are the same and neither are schools. What about the role or the school is unique? Is there anything about the job or mission statement that matches specifically your background or career goals?
Tailoring your resume to the job post will help you think through which skills are most relevant to include. Additionally, take note of any resume keywords and desired skills from the listing so you can highlight your best skills and omit those that are less relevant.
4. Highlight your education section
Special education teachers are typically required to hold certain degrees or certifications to be eligible for teaching jobs.
You don’t need a long resume education section to get an interview. However, there are certain items you should include, such as:
- Institutions you have attended
- Dates attended and degree awarded
- Special education teaching certification
- First aid certification or other relevant certificates
Additionally, any certifications for teaching students with disabilities should be mentioned in your education section. And then expand on these certifications (for example, how you got them) in your special education teacher cover letter.
Resume objective examples for special education teachers
Start your resume with a resume objective that includes your key skills and career ambitions. Here are some examples to use as inspiration:
Experienced special education teacher with a passion for supporting students with diverse learning needs in achieving their full potential. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with other educators, specialists, parents, and support staff to create a comprehensive and cohesive approach to student development and success. Eager to contribute my skills in developing and implementing effective instructional strategies, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and fostering a positive and inclusive classroom environment.
Committed special education teacher with expertise in developing and implementing individualized education plans to meet the diverse needs of students. Experienced in conducting thorough assessments to identify students’ strengths and areas of improvement, using data to inform instructional decisions and create effective Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). Seeking a position to apply my skills in adapting curriculum materials, utilizing assistive technology, and collaborating with colleagues to create an inclusive and supportive educational environment.
Compassionate special education teacher with a strong background in designing and implementing individualized education plans. Skilled in incorporating assistive technology tools and resources to enhance the learning experience for students with diverse abilities, promoting engagement and accessibility. Seeking a position to apply my expertise in adapting curriculum materials, utilizing assistive technology, and collaborating with colleagues to create an inclusive and supportive educational experience.
3 resume objective examples for special education teacher assistants
If you’re applying for a special education teacher’s assistant position, check out these examples to use as a guide when writing your own:
Dedicated special education teacher’s assistant with a passion for supporting students with diverse learning needs. Provide essential assistance to special education teachers in implementing lesson plans, ensuring a smooth and efficient learning environment. Seeking a position to apply my strong communication skills, patience, and commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students with special needs.
Compassionate special education teacher’s assistant with a background in providing individualized support to students with disabilities. Work collaboratively with special education teachers, school staff, and other professionals to create a cohesive and supportive team approach to student success. Eager to contribute my skills in collaborative teamwork, behavior management, and assisting in the implementation of Individualized Education Plans (IEPs).
Proactive special education teacher assistant with a commitment to supporting the academic and social development of students with special needs. Skilled at tailoring assistance to meet the unique needs of students with diverse abilities, facilitating their academic, social, and emotional development. Eager to apply my skills in providing individualized support, collaborating with teachers, and fostering positive peer interactions in a special education setting.
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