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What is a special education supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Chris Craig,
Tara Kirton

Special education directors develop individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with special needs. They collaborate with other school administrators, faculty, counselors and psychologists, therapists, social workers, and other professionals that provide special education services to develop these programs. Also, they oversee policy implementation, adherence to legal regulations, and maintenance of educational standards. Aside from that, they oversee curricula and helps teachers in implementing IEPs. Additionally, they direct human resources, which include hiring staff and providing professional development.

Generally, special education directors begin their careers with a bachelor's degree in education. They follow it with a master's degree in special education. They need two different licenses to become directors, and it varies by state. Additionally, they possess at least two years of experience in a related role. Also, they have communication, leadership, decision-making, and interpersonal skills. Annually, they earn about $62,450, but the salary ranges from $48,497 to $76,414.

What general advice would you give to a special education supervisor?

Chris Craig

Deputy Provost, Missouri State University

Need to be a strong advocate during COVID 19, as the general approach that has been proposed by school districts during the reopening creates unique challenges for children with disabilities and their families. More than ever, I need to thoroughly understand the role of the family, as a partner, in meeting milestones leading to a successful transition and employment/post-secondary education.
ScoreSpecial Education SupervisorUS Average
Salary
5.6

Avg. Salary $72,268

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
8.9

Growth rate 3%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.9
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.38%

Asian 3.64%

Black or African American 9.58%

Hispanic or Latino 11.74%

Unknown 3.97%

White 70.70%

Gender

female 58.15%

male 41.85%

Age - 42
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 42
Stress level
8.9

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.8

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Special education supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a special education supervisor

  1. Explore special education supervisor education requirements

    Most common special education supervisor degrees

    Bachelor's

    55.5 %

    Master's

    18.8 %

    Associate

    15.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific special education supervisor skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Autism15.65%
    Professional Development14.71%
    IEP11.81%
    Education Programs7.22%
    K-126.57%
  3. Complete relevant special education supervisor training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-2 years on post-employment, on-the-job training. New special education supervisors learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a special education supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real special education supervisor resumes.
  4. Research special education supervisor duties and responsibilities

    • Manage internal and external matters for the OSSE programs from vendors including getting estimates for services and arranging site visits.
    • Create PowerPoint slides for Sunday services.
    • Integrate complex QuickBase HTTP API interfaces.
    • Comply with Medicaid standards of practice and documentation.
  5. Prepare your special education supervisor resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your special education supervisor resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a special education supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable special education supervisor resume templates

    Build a professional special education supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your special education supervisor resume.
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
    Special Education Supervisor Resume
  6. Apply for special education supervisor jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a special education supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first special education supervisor job

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Average special education supervisor salary

The average special education supervisor salary in the United States is $72,268 per year or $35 per hour. Special education supervisor salaries range between $49,000 and $105,000 per year.

Average special education supervisor salary
$72,268 Yearly
$34.74 hourly

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How do special education supervisors rate their job?

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Special education supervisor reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2024
Cons

As a paraprofessional, you often get left out of Professional Development activities, vertical team meetings, etc. and have a limited capacity to influence educational decisions within the organization.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Cons

The demand and low pay. Teachers have families, too.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Cons

I can't say, maybe because there is none.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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