How To Write a Special Education Teacher Resume

A resume for a special education teacher should focus on your background in traditional education methods and highlight your special education skills, such as developing individualized education plans (IEPs). Find out how to create a cohesive document that outlines your qualifications and can help you get your next job.

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-career
  • Senior-level
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1. Craft an outstanding profile with a summary of your special education teacher qualifications

Hiring managers are looking for special education teachers with a specific skill set, and your profile needs to be rich with relevant keywords. Include any specializations you have, such as the autism spectrum, behavioral analysis, or child psychology.

Don’t forget to include other basics, such as your years of experience or the types of environments you’ve worked in. Keep this section short — a few sentences should be enough to pique the hiring manager’s interest.

Senior-Level Profile Example


A Special Education Teacher with 10+ years of experience, specializing in curriculum development, ISP interventions, and program management. A strong history of building and managing multidisciplinary teams to deliver quality education to diverse student populations. Adept at leading the development of education programs to drive student success.

Entry-Level Profile Example


A Special Education Teacher with entry-level experience specializing in curriculum development, classroom management, IEPs, and lesson planning. A strong background in building relationships with students to aid academic and personal growth.

2. Create a powerful list of your special education teacher experience

The hiring manager will learn the most about you in this section and decide if your experience aligns with the role’s responsibilities. Vary what you include in the job duties and responsibilities bullets, even if you’ve held similar positions.

For example, if you worked as a special education teacher at two different schools, you could focus one of them on classroom management, lesson planning, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. The other could highlight your experience with research-based interventions for students with learning disabilities or behavior disorders.

Senior-Level Professional Experience Example


Lead Special Education Teacher, Austin West Elementary, Austin, TX

September 2016 – Present

  • Oversee the development of special education curriculum for students with mental and physical disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and hearing impairments
  • Manage a team of seven special education teachers, analyze student progress, evaluated teaching performance, and provide coaching and mentorship
  • Support the transition to E-learning environments during Covid-19 and coordinate with teachers and parents to implement Zoom classroom instruction
  • Build learning environments centered on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) to facilitate a safe learning experience that encapsulates cultural awareness

Entry-Level Professional Experience Example


Special Education Teacher, South Los Angeles Elementary, Los Angeles, CA

September 2021 – Present

  • Develop lesson plans and deliver instruction in alignment with IEPs for students ranging from kindergarten through 5th grade
  • Collaborate with ABA therapy, physical, occupational, and speech therapy personnel
  • Coordinate evaluation schedules with parents, speech pathologists, classroom teachers, and occupational therapists
  • Track, monitor, and evaluate student performance and tailor lesson plans to individual strengths and weaknesses to improve academic performance

3. Include your special education teacher education and certifications

Most positions for special education teachers require at least a bachelor’s degree, with a master’s degree preferred. A degree in special education can give you an edge over applicants who only have traditional education degrees, but a special education certificate can help compensate for the lack of a specialized degree.

Other high-value certifications for this field include being Board Certified or a Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS). A state-issued teaching license is also likely to be required. Make sure all of your credentials are listed clearly on your resume.

Education

Template

  • [Degree Name]
  • [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] | [Graduation Year]

Example

  • Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Special Education
  • University of Austin, Austin, Texas | 2011

Certifications

Template

  • [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]

Example

  • Special Education Certification (K-8), State of Texas | 2021

4. List your special education teacher-related skills and proficiencies

Hiring managers only have a few seconds to spend on each resume, so create yours to be as skimmable as possible. One of the best ways to do this is to include a relevant key skills list. This simple bulleted list on your resume includes high-value industry skills, such as crisis intervention, creating IEPs, and classroom management.

Look through the job description to find the desired skills to add to your resume. Or use this list as a starting point:

Key Skills and Proficiencies
American Psychological Association (APA) advocate Autism
Behavioral analysis Case management
Classroom management Communication
Crisis intervention Curriculum development
Early childhood education Elementary education
English IEPs
Individualized service plans (ISPs) Instruction
Interventions Lesson plan implementation
Microsoft Office Suite Program management
Psychology Special education
Student assessment Teaching
Team leadership Tutoring

How To Pick the Best Special Education Teacher Resume Template

Just like you write IEPs and ISPs with a framework adapted to each student, a template lets you create a resume quickly and easily. Choose a template with your contact information prominently in a header and the rest of the resume divided into clearly marked sections.

Avoid anything too flashy. Bright and colorful is great for the classroom, but your resume should be polished and professional. Stick to traditional font choices, and use bold formatting and bullets to ensure it’s easy to skim.

Special Education Teacher Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

  • Entry-level
  • Mid-career
  • Senior-level

Joshua Gordon
(123) 456-7890
[email protected]
123 Your Street, Philadelphia, PA 12345

Profile

A Special Education Teacher with five years of experience specializing in autism, behavioral analysis, child psychology, and elementary education. A proven track record of coordinating with multidisciplinary education teams to develop and refine curriculum for special education students. Adept at delivering instruction in individual and small group settings.

Professional Experience

Special Education Teacher, Chester Charter, Chester, PA
September 2018 – Present

  • Provide small group and individual instruction to students ranging from third grade to eighth grade, develop individualized education plans (IEPs), and monitor student progress
  • Implement, plan, and deliver research-based interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders, dyslexia, and behavioral disorders
  • Coordinate with psychologists, parents, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe learning environments and identify appropriate resources for students
  • Deliver training and mentorship to 10+ student teachers completing internships to drive professional development and enhance teaching capabilities

Special Education Teacher, North Philadelphia Elementary, Philadelphia, PA
September 2016 – September 2018

  • Develop individualized service plans (ISPs) for children with cognitive, learning, and emotional disorders and fostered a positive and empathetic learning environment
  • Collaborate with classroom teachers and academic teams to develop and enhance the curriculum to improve education outcomes for students

Education

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) Special Education
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2012 – May 2016

Key Skills

  • Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Early Childhood Education
  • Curriculum Development
  • Behavioral Disorders
  • Individualized Service Plans (ISPs)

Certifications

  • Special Education Certification (K-8), State of Pennsylvania, 2016

Frequently Asked Questions: Special Education Teacher Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for special education teacher resumes?-

The words you choose to use with students can mean the difference between cooperation and conflict. Using engaging action verbs on your resume can make the difference between a hiring manager being excited about you as a candidate or moving forward with someone else.

Each professional experience bullet should start with a strong action verb. Look through the job description to find some options in alignment with the hiring manager’s needs, or try some from this list:

Action Verbs
Assessed Collaborated
Communicated Demonstrated
Designed Differentiated
Documented Educated
Encouraged Enhanced
Evaluated Fostered
Improved Integrated
Modified Monitored
Performed Presented
Taught  
How do you align your resume with a job description?-

The Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates little to no change in how many open jobs are available for special education teachers. But some small tweaks to your resume can help you stand out in a competitive field. 

Look through the job description to ascertain what’s most important to the hiring manager. Are they seeking someone with extensive experience with behavior challenges and accommodation? Or do they want someone who can advise on supplementary programs and resources?

Change up your key skills list and the wording in your professional experience to reflect what the hiring manager is looking for. Add any required qualifications, such as a master’s degree or certification, in your profile. 

What is the best special education teacher resume format?-

The reverse chronological format demonstrates that you have a strong track record of experience working in special education. Start with your most recent position and work backward. The reverse chronological resume can still work if you move from traditional teaching to special education. However, a combination format may be better if you’re going through a complete career change.

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Expert Advice
Include a cover letter with your resume

Give the hiring manager an additional chance to connect with you by including a cover letter with your resume. A cover letter can explain job gaps, provide context on career achievements, or explain why you want to work for this particular institution. Learn how to format a cover letter and what to include by looking at our special education teacher cover letter examples.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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