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.

October 24, 2024

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A special education teacher resume example

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Special Education Teacher Resume Template

This template uses a professional resume format to quickly communicate your teaching experience and classroom management skills to the employer.

[Your Name]

[Your Address] [City, State]
[Your Email Address] | [Your Phone Number]
[LinkedIn Profile] (optional)

Professional 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.

Skills

Proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint)
Bilingual in Spanish and English

Professional Experience

Special Education Teacher

Woodlawn Community School, Chicago, IL

May 20XX – 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

Network Engineer

Gibraltar School District, Woodhaven, MI

August 20XX – April 20XX

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

Resume Genius University
Bachelor of Science in Special Education-Emotional Impairment
Graduation Date: May 20XX

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, this data is pulled from the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment & Earnings report (as of 10/16/2024), featuring the top states by use.

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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