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Special Education Teacher Resume—Examples and 25+ Tips

Your students are the coolest people you know, and you learn a lot from them. Prove you have a teacher’s heart with your head-of-the-class special education teacher resume.

Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Career Writer at ResumeLab
Special Education Teacher Resume—Examples and 25+ Tips

The special education teacher resume sample below stands out like Maria Montessori.

 

That’s vital.

 

Teaching special ed students is a thankless job. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get.

 

You have to prove your whole brain teaching skills.

 

But how can you do that it one skimpy piece of paper?

 

Don’t worry. If you show the right special education moments, you’ll have a Temple-Grandin level resume in minutes.

 

In this guide:

  • A special education teacher resume sample better than most.
  • How to write a special education teacher resume that passes the assessment.
  • How to target your special education teacher job description for resumes.
  • Why you can’t just list special education teacher skills (and what to do instead).

 

Save hours of work and get a job-winning resume like this. Try our resume builder for free. Start by choosing a resume template.

 

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Got other teaching talents? See these guides:

 

Haven't found what you're looking for? Check all our Resume Examples.

 

Sample Special Education Teacher Resume You Can Copy and Use

 

Morgan Masic

Special Education Teacher

 

Personal Info

 

Phone: 347-850-0843

E-mail: morganzmasic@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/morganzmasic

twitter.com/morganzmasic

 

Summary

 

Efficient special education teacher with 7 years of experience and skills in lesson plans and mentoring. Seeking to raise student scores at Grant-Fayette Elementary School. At Independence Elementary, managed classrooms of 10–20 students and received JKO Education Award for excellence in teaching assistance.

 

Experience

 

Special Education Teacher

Independence Elementary School

2016–2019

  • Received JKO Education Award for special education teacher excellence. Singled out for skills in mentoring and research.
  • Monitored and assisted with classroom management in classes of 30–40 students each with 95% effectiveness scores.
  • Planned and created educational materials, including 50+ homework assignments and daily lesson plans.

Key Achievement

  • Assisted with practice test strategy that raised math scores 25%.

 

Teacher's Aide

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

2012–2016

  • Proctored and graded 130+ quizzes and tests.
  • Used motivational talks to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared 60+ research-based in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.
  • Assisted 5 teachers with creation of new curricula.

Key Achievement

  • Mentored 15 students with behavioral problems, resulting in 30% drop in non-age-appropriate incidents in 6 months.

 

Education

 

AA Education, University at Buffalo

2010–2012

  • Excelled in classroom management classes.
  • Pursued a passion for research and lesson plan creation.

 

Certifications

 

  • 2017 — First Aid, CPR, American Red Cross
  • 2018 — Conflict Resolution, Mediation Training Institute

 

Volunteer Fundraiser, 78th Street Animal Shelter 

 

  • Raise over $40,000 per year for animal welfare.
  • Conduct 50+ meetings per year with donors.
  • Write 10+ documents per month, including correspondences.

 

Hard Skills: working with students with autism and disabilities, mentoring, computer skills

 

Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, collaboration, active listening

 

Here’s how to write a special education teacher resume you can adapt to any job:

 

1. Choose a Respected Special Education Teacher Resume Format

 

Sad but true.

 

Research from Leadership IQ says 46% of new employees fail.

 

Bad hires waste time and money for the school.

 

The principal’s first clue is resumes with poor formatting.

 

Show you can reach one mind at a time with the reverse-chronological resume format.

 

Use these tips:

 

Special Education Teacher Resume Format

 

  • Write resume sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
  • Present your last job first.
  • Use white space to make your words inviting.
  • For easy reading, set 1-inch margins.
  • Pick a professional resume font like 10–12pt Didot or Georgia.
  • Make your resume length one page for special ed jobs.
  • To look the part on all platforms send a PDF resume.

Expert Hint: A study in the Journal of Special Education found that 50% of special ed programs rigorously evaluate teacher performance. If you’ve received high scores in past assessments, show that in your elementary special education teacher resume.

2. Write a Special Education Teacher Resume Objective or Summary

 

Here’s a bad dream.

 

The principal has a stack of special education resumes on her desk.

 

She gets to yours, but misses your best moments.

 

She moves on to the next, and you don’t get the job.

 

That’s a waking nightmare. But—

 

You can avoid it with a quick summary of your talents near the top.

 

It’s called a resume summary statement or resume objective statement.

 

Write it with:

 

  1. An adjective (caring, dedicated)
  2. “Special education teacher”
  3. Years of experience (2+, 3+)
  4. Who you’ll help and how (raise student scores...)
  5. Best special education teacher moments (managed classrooms of 10–20 students...)

 

See these special education teacher resume examples:

 

Special Education Teacher Resume Summary—Example

Good Example
Efficient special education teacher with 7 years of experience and skills in lesson plans and mentoring. Seeking to raise student scores at Grant-Fayette Elementary School. At Independence Elementary, managed classrooms of 10+ students and received JKO Education Award for excellence in teaching assistance.
Bad Example
Special education teacher skilled in mentoring and research. Adept at raising student scores, performing assessments, and classroom management. A highly competent special education teacher with strong interpersonal skills.

Promises, promises.

 

It’s one thing to say, “I’m a great teacher.” It’s quite another to say, “I won an award, managed 20+ students, and have 7 years of experience.”

 

The first of our special education teacher resume samples does it oh so well.

 

The same magic works in a special ed resume with no experience.

 

See this sample entry-level resume for special education teacher jobs:

 

Entry-Level Special Education Teacher Resume Objective

Good Example
Enthusiastic special education teacher, skilled in grading and classroom management. As teacher’s aide at the Susan B. Anthony Elementary School proctored classrooms of 30+ and graded 130+ tests and quizzes. Assisted with 90+ parent meetings.
Bad Example
Entry-level special education teacher, skilled in proctoring, grading tests, grading quizzes, and assisting with parent meetings. An expert at classroom management. Can start immediately and will work hard to learn fast on the job. 

The second of those special education teacher assistant resume samples doesn’t make the grade.

 

It’s the difference between saying you can teach special needs and showing proof.

 

3. Write a Job-Appropriate Special Education Teacher Job Description and Skills Section

 

What special education teacher skills on resumes will get you interviewed?

 

Here’s a list:

 

Teacher Assistant Skills for Resumes

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

Working with Disabilities

Interpersonal Skills

Student Assessment

Collaboration

Creating Lesson Plans

Communication

Classroom Management

Organization

Computer Skills

Time Management

Conflict Resolution

Problem Solving

Instructional Equipment

Compassion

Basic Medical Care

Empathy

Microsoft Office

Stress Management

Student Progress Monitoring

Attention to Detail

 

But—

 

Don’t force the entire set on a resume for special education teacher jobs. That’s a cookie-cutter strategy, and it won’t work.

 

Write a customized resume to get the most response.

 

To write a targeted special education teacher job description for resumes:

 

  1. Find resume keywords in the job posting. Those are the resume skills the principal wants.
  2. In your resume bullets, show when you’ve used those skills.
  3. Include a few metrics to impress the hiring team.

 

See these special education teacher resume samples:

 

Say the job wants these special education teacher skills: mentoring, classroom management, and creating educational materials.

 

Special Education Teacher Job Description for a Resume [Sample]

Good Example

Experience

 

Special Education Teacher

Independence Elementary School

2016–2019

  • Received JKO Education Award for special education teacher excellence. Singled out for skills in mentoring and research.
  • Monitored and assisted with classroom management in classes of 30–40 students each with 95% effectiveness scores.
  • Planned and created educational materials, including 50+ homework assignments and daily lesson plans.
Bad Example
  • Recognized for excellent teaching and research skills.
  • Responsible for leading classroom activities, meals, and assisting with student needs.
  • Sourced, created, and implemented new classroom activities.
  • Worked with students to expand life skills and quality of life.

Don’t miss this.

 

Both of those examples pass.

 

But only the first targets this special ed teacher job.

 

“Hey, hold on. I just got my degree. I can’t say all that!”

 

Entry-level resumes can still adapt.

 

Check out these special education teacher resume examples with no experience:

 

The job needs these special ed skills: positive discipline, research, and classroom activity creation.

 

Entry-Level Special Education Teacher Resume Job Description [Sample]

Good Example

Teacher's Aide

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

2018–2019

  • Used positive discipline skills to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared 60+ research-based in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.
  • Assisted 5 teachers with creation of new classroom activities.
Bad Example
  • Proctored and graded quizzes and tests.
  • Used motivational talks to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.

Wow.

 

That’s the same person in both examples, but—

 

The first of those entry-level special education teacher resume examples has numbers like 22% and 60+.

 

It also has research and other skills the school demands.

 

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your resume in our resume builder now.

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOW

 

CREATE YOUR RESUME NOWcreate your resume now

Nail it all with a splash of color, choose a clean font, and highlight your skills in just a few clicks. You're the perfect candidate, and we'll prove it. Use our resume builder now.

 

4. Include Details in Your Education Section

 

Are you qualified?

 

Your resume education section will answer that. But—

 

Add a couple school facts that prove your skills would make Jean Little proud.

 

This special education teacher resume sample shows how:

 

Special Education Teacher Resume Example—Education

Good Example

Education

 

AA Education, University at Buffalo

2010–2012

  • Excelled in classroom management coursework.
  • Pursued a passion for research and lesson plan creation.

Excellent.

 

That adds classroom management and lesson plan creation to your pitch.

 

5. List “Other” Items in Your Special Education Teacher Resume

 

Caution.

 

The principal wants someone who can teach the unteachable.

 

You can’t show your full potential with just past jobs and school.

 

So—

 

Include one or two additional sections to show Rachel-Coleman-level skills.

 

Select from this list:

 

See these special education teachers resume examples:

 

Special Education Teacher Resume—Extra Sections

Good Example

Certifications

 

  • 2017 — First Aid, CPR, American Red Cross
  • 2018 — Conflict Resolution, Mediation Training Institute

 

Volunteer Fundraiser, 78th Street Animal Shelter 

 

  • Raise over $40,000 per year for animal welfare.
  • Conduct 50+ meetings per year with donors.
  • Write 10+ documents per month, including correspondences.
Bad Example

Additional Activities

 

  • Using rowing machine.
  • Riding my motorcycle.

Expert Hint: Know how to write a cover letter to complement your special education teacher resume. Show your passion for teaching special needs students and your top occupational moments.

Double your impact with a matching resume and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter generator and make your application documents pop out.

 

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Want to try a different look? There's 21 more. A single click will give your document a total makeover. Pick a cover letter template here.

 

Key Points

 

Here’s how to write a special education teacher resume:

  • Start with our special education teacher resume template up top. Inform it with the best moments from your special ed career.
  • Add special ed teacher skills like student assessment. But use numbers to show you thrived.
  • Write a special education teacher resume objective for the top. Put your most exceptional features in it.
  • Write “other” resume sections that show you’re a gifted special ed teacher.

 

Got questions on how to write great resumes for special education teacher jobs? Not sure how to put special education teacher on a resume? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply! 

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Tom Gerencer, CPRW
Tom Gerencer is a career advice writer and a resume expert at ResumeLab. Tom has been featured on BBC News, NBC, The Economist, Business Insider, Fast Company, and dozens of other outlets. His insights, commentary, and articles reach over a million readers every month. With inside knowledge of key industry players and in-depth research, Tom helps job seekers with advice across all professions and career stages. Tom holds a degree in English from Colby College.

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