INDUSTRY STATS
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Special Education Teacher positions are at a 7% growth rate, which is as fast as average. With that said, there are currently 598,500 jobs in the market right now. The total number of jobs is expected to increase by 44,800 to 643,300 in the period of 2020-30.
What’s more, the median annual wage for the Special Education Teacher jobs was $60,810 in May 2020. The lowest 10% earned less than $40,930, and the highest 10% more than $98,840.
Our conclusion? The Special Education Teacher job market is wide open for candidates.
Top special education teacher sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers and results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
How to write a special education teacher resume experience section
Special education teacher resume's job experience checklist:
- Use 4-6 bullet points per job title;
- Don’t go further than a decade behind when describing your job history, unless you’re applying for an executive position;
- Combine job responsibilities as well as achievements with numbers in results when you describe your past work;
- Start each sentence with a power verb and avoid overused buzzwords;
- Use either C-A-R or S-T-A-R methodology, when describing your experience.
The work experience samples below come from real Special Education Teacher resumes that got people hired at top companies. You can use them as an inspiration to build your own resume:
- Developed and implemented programs as Case Manager for 14 students with significant Emotional/Behavioral Disorders
- Corresponded with families on a daily basis regarding student progress
- Established and manged a team of three paraprofessionals, developed exciting social skills curruiculum based on student interests
- Developed and implemented programs as Case Manager for 12 students with moderate cognitive disabilities
- Assessed student learning through continuous data analysis to ensure mastery of skills
- Created dynamic lessons based on student strengths and interests in the areas of reading, math, and language arts
- Worked collaboratively with families, students, team members to develop meaningful Individualized Education Plans for each of my students
- Grade Level Chair / Department Head for 2016-2017 school year
- Work with students who are diagnosed with autism, oppositional defiant disorder, and other developmental disabilities.
- Worked with families to assist in making sure the basic needs of their child were being met while attending school
- Started teaching career at Mā'ili and worked whole time in a preschool with a range of different disabilities.
- At the end of my time at this school I worked with another SpEd teacher and together we had 19 students (ranging from ages 3-5) in a small portable.
- 2012 - 4A Mobile County Coach of the Year
- Established a winning program and tradition in a brand new school and brand new school system.
- Developed a minute-by-minute daily practice schedule and ran high-energy practices daily.
- Restructured student’s goals and IEP to meet their needs.
- Actively participated in IEP meetings with parents and other professionals.
- Collaborated regularly with general education teacher about lesson adaptations and accommodations for students.
- Implemented positive behavioral and academic goals while working with students throughout the day.
- Maintained open communication with parents regarding students’ academic and behavioral progress.
- Completed assessments to record needed services and priorities of students and their families
- Developed and applied interventions, objectives and goals to support individual growth
- Was part of a multi-disciplinary team to create best practices to support students on plans
- Coached girls volleyball and basketball; taught respect, self-esteem and goal reaching
- I co-wrote and won a grant for classroom materials to enhance writing instruction for my special needs students.
- I supervised two para-professionals and a student teacher.
- I assisted other teachers in providing services to special education students and in developing behavior modification plans.
- Create/implement best practice lesson plans aligned with state and district standards for 9th through 12th grade students with various disabilities for Environmental Science, MCAS Biology, US and World History
- Meet accommodations/create modifications for all students
- Created/implemented IEPs for a caseload of thirteen students, parent communication, team collaboration, and utilizing teaching assistants.
- I taught math to students with a wide range of disabilities. As a teacher, I created lessons, homework assignments, and assessments that were aligned with state and county standards. I wrote the curriculum that I taught to my students.
- A considerable part of special education is knowing and following the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to maintain federally mandated documentation on students. I knew the standards and processes related to IDEA well and was an example of how to maintain documentation as required by IDEA and FCPS.
- In addition to my teaching duties, I was the coordinator of our School's Social Committee and I served as my school's representative to the Superintendent's Advisory Council.
- Teach executive functioning skills to 9th-12th grade students with a range of mild disabilities
- Teach earth science to 10th graders with a range of mild disabilities
- Collect ongoing data via direct observation, work samples, and interviews to determine student eligibility, appropriate services, and legal accommodations
- Ensure that deadlines and legal requirements for students are met
- Manage IEP caseload of up to 25 students
- Classroom teacher: English 9, English 10, Read 180, Algebra
- Varsity Football Coach - Special Teams Coordinator
- Sultana High School (2015-current); Oak Hills High School (2014-2015)
- Authored and implemented Individual Educational Plans (IEP's) for students under my caseload.
- Advocated for students to ensure each student received the rights that were granted them by the law.
- Collaborated with students, parents, teachers, and administrators to ensure the least restrictive learning environment was found for students will various learning, physical, and emotional disabilities.
- Established a winning program and tradition in a brand new school and brand new school system.
- Diagnose and evaluates student abilities and progress in a timely and consistent manner
- Monitor student progress and adjust instruction accordingly
- Refer students for alternative services as provided by the District (ESL, Reading, Special Reading)
- Would successfully get special education students through classes that they sometimes struggle with.
- Made connections with some of the toughest kids in the school.
- Could get all kids in the classes I helped with working.
- Managed individual learning plans of 15-18 students from grades 3-5, covering all subjects
- Problem solved running multi-grade level classroom with student reading levels spanning kindergarten - 5th grade
- Developed engaging & culturally appropriate curriculum
- Monitored student progress & ensured compliance to individualized learning plans
- Coached classroom aid on how to support student needs and implement curriculum to fidelity
- Cultivated relationships with families, administrators and general education teachers to increase wrap around support for students
- Encouraged behavior change through positive reinforcement
- Managed individual learning plans of 15 students across 3 grade levels
- Translated needs of students with disability to general education teachers and families
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Special Education Teacher job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action verbs for your special education teacher resume
Recommended reads:
Special Education Teacher Resume Skills’ Tips & Tricks to Impress Recruiters
Resume Skills Section Checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top skills for your special education teacher resume
Certified Google Apps Administrator
Microsoft Office
Linux
ChromeOS
Audacity
JIRA
PC Hardware
Google AdWords
WordPress
Zoom
Communication
Leardership
Empathy
Problem solving
Team work
Listening
Influencing
Mentoring and coaching
Motivating
Emotional intelligence
PRO TIP
Avoid getting sidetracked by Applicant tracking software by including a tech skills' section matching the job description and your own qualifications.
Special education teacher resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist for your special education teacher resume header
- Your name and surname in a legible and larger resume font
- The job title you’re applying for or your current job title as a subheading to your name
- Link to your portfolio or online profile, such as LinkedIn
- Address (City and State for the US; just your city for rest of the world)
- Email address
- Headshot (required or welcomed in the EU; not required and sometimes frowned upon in the US)
Stick to popular email providers such as Gmail or Outlook. And use these professional formats to create your username:
- first.last@gmail.com
- last.first@gmail.com
- firstlast@gmail.com
- f.last@gmail.com
- first.l@gmail.com
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
Some companies, states, and countries have non-discrimination policies about what kind of information can be included on your Special Education Teacher resume. This might include a photo (which is often included in a resume header and might be on personal web pages you link to). You can always email the company’s HR department to ask about their policies before you apply.
Special education teacher resume summary best practices
Checklist: what to include in your special education teacher resume summary:
- Years of experience;
- Highlight top 3 skills and proficiencies;
- One big professional accomplishment you’re most proud of, that you can tie with the aforementioned skills;
- Use short, direct sentences - but no more than three - to keep the HRs interested.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary section should act as a professional taster. Use it wisely. Effectively convey your professional profile and let the hiring manager know that if they hire you, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure to include keywords from the job description too! Elaborate on your abilities further in your experience section. Again, cater to the job description.
Recommended reads.":
Listing your education, certifications and courses
resume education section checklist:
- Ensure your hard skills section (including technologies) are exactly matching the job description.
- Don’t simply list your soft skills. Apply the “show, don’t tell” principle - let your job achievements speak for themselves.
- Find a way to showcase your skills beyond the skills section.
- Your resume’s skill section is important to ATS systems - so don’t skip it.
Top certifications for your special education teacher resume
Special Education 101 for Teachers
A comprehensive course on special education for new/inexperienced teachers, as well as teachers preparing for the FTCE.
Special Education in America - Essential Knowledge
Rights & Responsibilities for Special Education in America - For School Administrators, Principals, Teachers, & Parents
Educational Psychology & Special Education (Certificate)
Informational content for educators and parents to learn about teaching and understanding exceptional children.
Special Child Education for the Children with Disabilities
A Complete Teaching Course on Special Education covering the Common Disabilities Related to Special Children and Kids
Special Education and Needs: Child Education Certificate
This course about Special Education
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
There are dozens of certifications that you can claim as a Special Education Teacher. But, some are more effective than others. That’s why you mustn’t include every certificate other applicants might have. Try instead to earn and list a few of the difficult ones.
How to write a special education teacher resume
There are three basic resume formats you can choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional resume format;
- Hybrid (or Combination) resume format;
The most optimal format for your particular case will depend on your years of experience, as well as whether you’re switching industries or not.
Reverse chronological resumes are best suited for experienced individuals who are sticking to their industry. The experience section takes a central place, and its bullets contain your responsibilities and achievements, coupled with numbers and results.
Functional resumes are used by less experienced jobseekers or career changers. Note that it’s not a format that recruiters prefer, as most are used to the classic chronological alignment. Instead of a list of job titles, functional resumes focus on your skills, and through what experiences you gained them.
Hybrid resumes are great for both experienced and entry-level candidates, as well as career changers. They combine the best of both worlds - most often in a double column format, where one side of the content is focused on your experience, whereas the other - on your skills, strengths, and proudest moments.
Here are more resume tips regarding your layout and style:
- Clear and legible 12p resume font size;
- Use 10’’ resume margins - that’s default for a great resume design;
- Use a one-page template resume length if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- Save your resume as PDF before sending it to the recruiter.
To take it a step further, check out how your resume can stand out without leaning too much on the creative side.
Recommended reads:
PRO TIP
If you feel that you don’t have high chances in a particular company, due to lack of relevant experience, then you can still consider using a creative layout. That might help you get noticed and invited for an interview, as most of the other applicants will have boring resume designs.
Other sections to include in your resume
Depending on the type of company (corporation or start-up; innovative or traditional), job seniority level and your location, you may want to include more sections to your Special Education Teacher resume:
Special education teacher resume: How to make yours more creative & stand out
When you send your resume to a potential employer, chances are it's the fiftieth one they've seen that day. That's why you need to make your Special Education Teacher resume stand out for the right reasons. That means showing your personality, not just your professional experience. Employers are far more likely to remember a candidate who seems like a genuine person and not a robot. Do this by including your passions (which is also a great place to demonstrate skills on a resume), share your favorite books, or even what your usual day looks like.
What makes a great special education teacher resume: key takeaways
- Choose a resume layout that sends the right message across and fits your current career situation;
- Create a resume header that shows your desired job title, and easy to find contact numbers;
- Be specific about your experience, accomplishments and future goals in your summary;
- Feature detailed metrics and specific examples that show the impact you made in your previous roles when describing your experience;
- List soft skills backed by examples;
- Add all of your technical skills and certifications that you have and match the job description;
- Show off a dash of personality in your resume that will demonstrate your culture fit and the right mix of hard and soft skills.
