special education teacher resume examples 2021

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3 Special Education Teacher Resume Examples [& Templates]

Special Education Teacher

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Special Education Teacher Resume

Clean special education teacher resume, modern special education teacher resume.

• Special Education Teacher Resume Writing 101

You’re a passionate teacher dedicated to providing specialized education to children facing a range of disabilities. Whether you work in a dedicated special education school or child care center, it’s a challenging, yet ultimately rewarding job.

It takes a special set of skills to develop teaching plans suited to the wide range of students’ learning needs and often requires working with psychologists, counselors, therapists, and others. Not sure how to translate all your skills and experience into an attention-grabbing resume ? You’re in the right place.

After years of helping special ed teachers land jobs, we’re here to help you get your next interview with these three sample special education teacher resume templates and advice!

or download as PDF

Why this resume works

• Add any degree(s) in Special Education to stand out from candidates who haven’t professionally learned the art of being with emotionally or physically challenged students. Certificates like Education Specialists also improve your chances of getting hired.

Related resume examples

• High school teacher
• English teacher
• Middle school teacher
• Social science teacher

What Matters Most: Skills & Work Experience

What’ll make you stand out when applying for a special education teaching role are your skills. After all, recruiters and schools want to see that you have the experience necessary for the role.

A special education teacher requires a lot of soft skills, but it’s best to provide a mix of more unique soft skills like behavioral analysis, and hard skills like Microsoft Office.

Other soft skills like verbal communication or empathy can be woven in your work experience. While they are crucial for a special education teacher to have, they take up valuable space on your resume. Stick to the ones that can help you stand out in your skills section !

9 most popular special education teacher skills

• Autism awareness
• Dyslexia awareness
• Google Suite
• Crisis intervention
• Case management
• CPR/First Aid

Sample special education teacher work experience bullet points

Once you’ve cleared the skills section, you need to show your impact. It might sound tricky, but it’s actually easier than you think!

What you want to do is show recruiters how your skills and expertise have helped bring about a positive benefit in the workplace. Basically, you want to answer this question: how did I make a difference?

You want to also use quantifiable metrics whenever possible, combined with action verbs to show ownership. By doing so, you’ll stand out from most of the other special education teacher apps.

Here are some examples:

• Taught reading, writing, and general language comprehension utilizing PAF (Preventing Academic Failure) to 20 students with dyslexia
• Addressed systemic disciplinary problems together with teachers, school counselors, and administrators, reducing disciplinary incidents by 15%
• Taught 17 students with emotional disabilities using inquiry-based teaching methods, increasing material comprehension by 45%
• Dedicated an additional 4 hours per week to provide personalized, in-depth feedback on test grades, improving statewide exam scores by an average of 14%

Top 5 Tips for Your Special Education Teacher Resume

• This is worth mentioning again, trust us. You want to use your work experience to take ownership and show the kind of impact you provided throughout your career. It’s the best way to bring your special ed teacher resume to life!
• While you should always include the relevant Bachelor’s degree and state-issued certification or license (if required), it’s also a good idea to include other certifications, like first aid or CPR. This can further cement that you have well-rounded expertise and can help provide the winning edge.
• It’s generally expected that a special education teacher has experience in empathy or collaboration. Don’t include those soft skills in your bullet point skills list. Instead, put ones that further show your unique expertise, like behavior redirection.
• Don’t make your special education teaching resume a nightmare to get through. Like our example resumes , have lots of white space, a clean font, and simple text bullet points. Remember, a good first impression counts!
• Your resume shouldn’t be longer than a page. The more jobs you’ve had, the shorter your educational experience should be. If you’re earlier on in your career, focus on projects or internships, but don’t wax poetic and stretch it out. Save the rest for the interview!

How to Write a Special Education Teacher Resume

Much like children themselves, the world of special needs education is ever-changing, so make sure to put your most recent work experience first when you fill out your resume. Using the reverse-chronological format lets you discuss the methods you use in your daily work and show potential employers the kind of childcare and education you’re best prepared to provide.

Whether you’re a new teacher or you’ve got a career that spans many years, using an objective or summary can be a useful tool. For a summary statement , mention a couple of your key skills that align with the job description and a career-defining achievement in special education. In an objective , focus on how you want to grow as an educator and how you can apply your natural abilities to help children with special needs thrive. Pro tip: In both cases, always mention the school you want to work for by name.

Nothing tells a story as well as your greatest achievements, and those will often be centered around the development of your students. Instead of describing your daily tasks, focus on these accomplishments. Mention how your individualized lesson plans helped students grow and how you’ve worked hard to accommodate various disabilities in the classroom.

It’s one thing to say that you’ve worked with kids, but when you say that you “Taught 8 special education students using inquiry-based teaching methods, increasing material comprehension by 46%,” the impact of your work becomes so much clearer. Talk about how many students you’ve had in your classrooms, the disabilities you specialize in, and the educational growth you were able to assist with

Make sure to choose a resume template that gives you the space to add extra certifications. These credentials will go a long way in expressing the breadth of your experience. Display your mandatory State Teaching Certification in Special Education, but also extra certificates like the BCBA, ABA, or the ATP.

Yes you should! This doesn’t have to be a lot, but make sure that you reference any hard or soft skills in your resume that the description asks for. If there’s a relevant task or project that aligns with what they’re looking for, make sure to highlight it. That’s all!

If you’ve been a special ed teacher for more than a few years, you can include a brief summary highlighting your unique expertise. If you’re earlier on in your career, you can include a short objective . In both cases, only do it if it’s 100 percent customized to the position and adds value. For example, consider mentioning how you see yourself fitting in at that specific school/care center and what your experience would bring. Otherwise, skip it!

Absolutely! No need to sweat it. If you’ve showcased your impact, included your contact info, and added your skills, you should be good to go. Don’t add fluff to pad your word count.

Special Education Teacher Resume [3 Samples + Duties]

A resume for a special education teacher is your first introduction to the employer. If written precisely and appropriately, it can bring an interview.

To get the attention, you need to customize your resume as per the needs of the prospective employer. Add some quantified accomplishments that reflect your potential in special education teaching.

Get help from the following special education teacher resume examples.

Related: Special Education Teacher Cover Letter

Special Education Teacher Resume Sample 1

Maria Wright 70 Greenlee Road, Mansfield, OH 00898 (000) 999-2121 maria.wright @ email . com

SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER

Record of implementing classroom programs that met the educational, social, and vocational needs of students with special needs.

SUMMARY Passionate Special Education Teacher with 10+ years’ verifiable track record of creating and implementing a predominantly designed curriculum for students with special needs. Highly effective in assisting students with specific learning disabilities, speech, or language impairments by providing intensive, individualized instruction.

HIGHLIGHTS • Proactive approach to implementing special education strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory and perceptual skills. • Documented success in instructing students using a variety of techniques such as phonetics and multi-sensory learning to meet students’ varying needs. • Proven track record of planning and conducting activities for a balanced program of instruction to allow students to observe and question. • Well-versed in teaching socially acceptable behavior by employing techniques in an overall positive behavioral support system.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Special Education Teacher   Prospect Hill Academy, Mansfield, OH 11/2020 – Present • Singlehandedly develop an interactive learning program based on individual student’s learning abilities, resulting in an increased positive response from the student body • Train fellow special education teachers in using sign language with students with hearing and speech problems, which resulted in increased student confidence • Create and implement a curriculum based on the individual requirements of each student enrolled in the special needs class • Design, develop, and implement lesson plans to meet each special student’s requirements • Assess each enrolled student to determine his or her individual capabilities and limitations • Provide both direct and indirect instructional support to students by employing special education strategies and techniques • Teach socially acceptable behavior by both instructing it and modeling it effectively

Special Education Teacher   City Elementary School, Mansfield, OH 8/2018 – 11/2020 • Successfully handled adverse situations between students by acting as a mediator • Decreased incidents of hyperactivity in students with diagnosed ADHD by introducing yoga as part of the class curriculum • Established and implemented rules for acceptable behavior • Ensured that the class environment is conducive to learning for all students • Evaluated students through the implementation of non-standard testing techniques and document responses and results • Conferred with parents to provide them with feedback regarding their children’s progress and limitations

Special Education Teacher Assistant   Blackstone Valley Education, Mansfield, OH 2/2014 – 8/2018 • Assisted lead teachers in creating specifically targeted lesson plans for students with special needs • Provided assistance in imparting lessons based on special education techniques approved by the school • Enforced behavior standards and ensured that each student followed them appropriately • Assisted students with special needs in understanding concepts individually and in groups • Ascertained the overall safety and well-being of enrolled students by providing them with physical cover and emotional support

EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education Ohio State University, Mansfield, OH

CORE COMPETENCIES • Direct Instructional Support • Learning Reinforcement • Objectives Establishment • Crises Intervention • Interactive Instructional Techniques • Specialized Testing • Lesson Development • Interest Stimulation • Individualized Education Programs • Communication Plans • Performance Assessment • Sign Language

Special Education Teacher Resume Example 2

John Doe 4 West Road, Mansfield, OH 54121 (000) 854-2121 john.doe @ email . com

SUMMARY Driven, friendly, and resourceful Special Education Teacher with 6+ years’ track record of efficiently teaching children with cognitive, behavioral, and physiological disabilities. A seasoned educationalist who has a strong background in adapting traditional curriculum into meaningful content for special needs students and devising innovative instructional strategies for implementation of the same.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS • Reduced student dropout rate by 30% through the implementation of effective mainstream strategies. • Collected $50K by organizing a fundraiser, enabling the school to purchase specialized AV aids to facilitate the teaching of special needs students. • Identified a case of over-medication in a child with ADHD, and reported the same to the social services, saving the child from a further medical overdose.

Special Education Teacher ABC Elementary School, Austin, TX Aug 2021 – Present • Assess each child for special needs and keep a record of the same. • Develop and implement an individualized educational plan for each child. • Develop self-care skills, confidence, and social skills among special needs children. • Remain in constant communication with the children’s parents and other teachers regarding progress. • Keep track of each child’s progress in learning and behavioral skills. • Devise AV aids and special instructional strategies to cater to the unique needs of children.

Special Education Teacher Assistant City School, Austin, TX May 2017 – Jul 2021 • Provided one on one tutoring and coaching in small groups. • Communicated home assignment details clearly to the students. • Marked the assignments and test papers. • Carefully observed and recorded the behavioral conduct of each student. • Supervised children in their play and lunchtime. • Maintained a cognitively stimulating classroom environment.

EDUCATION Bachelor’s Degree in Education Community College, Austin, TX

ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS • CPR and BCLS Certified • Multilingual: English, French, and Spanish • Computer: MS Word and Excel, Classroom Management Software

Special Education Teacher Resume Example 3 (Less Experience)

Gracy Signor 1234 Maple Avenue – Rapid City, SD 82828 (010) 000-9999 [Email]

OBJECTIVE Self-motivated Special Education Teacher seeking a challenging role at ABC School. Bringing the ability to provide social, educational, and psychological support to children with special needs to enhance their self-esteem and make them valuable members of society.

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Highly skilled in planning, organizing, and presenting activities to help students develop.
• Able to design and use instructional, therapeutic, and skill development programs for assigned students.
• A sensible individual who meets creates and implements proper instruction and learning plans, actions, materials, and tools.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS • Lesson Planning • Classroom Organization • Test Designing • Student Evaluation • Lab Setup • Record-keeping

Special Education Teacher Assistant Rising Sun – Rapid City, SD Jan 2022 – Present • Provide direct services to students with special needs • Organize and communicate class targets, objectives, and requirements and ensure their achievement • Administer tests and conduct evaluations to understand the level and type of disability • Prevent and intervene in student altercations and incidents to comply with the discipline • Ensure all appropriate measures regarding all needs are being employed for students with special needs Key Achievements • Placed a team of 5 entry-level special education aides as part of a training workshop held at Rising Sun • Achieved a 90% success rate in providing near-normal lives to students with special needs

EDUCATION Associate of Arts in Education ABC College, Rapid City, SD – 2018 Majors: Special Education

ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES • Profound ability to formulate eligibility recommendations for students • Able to communicate effectively with parents, supervisors, and staff • Proven record of making decisions in accordance with board policies and established procedures

Job Description for Special Education Teacher Resume

• Evaluated special students’ knowledge and skills to establish their strengths.
• Prepared the courses for presentation to students in keeping with the approved curriculum.
• Taught students using a methodical plan of lessons, discussions, audio-visual presentations, and field trips.
• Guided students in activities to develop their physical, mental, and social deficiencies.
• Worked together with teachers to modify lessons to meet the requirements of special education students.
• Built up Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which outline the services and accommodations every student will receive.
• Prepared, administered, and corrected tests.
• Developed changeover plans that draw services to assist students as they graduate.
• Ensured that students are receiving the best services.
• Met with parents and administrators to discuss students’ progress.
• Directed teacher assistants to make sure that they have the skills and information needed to work with students with special needs.
• Special Education Teacher Assistant Resume Sample
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