Research Summary. We analyzed 12,908 special education teacher resumes to determine which ones land the most jobs. Below you'll find examples of resumes that can help you get an interview (and a job offer) from companies like Baltimore City Public Schools and Prince George's County Memorial Library System. Here are the key facts about special education teacher resumes to help you get the job:

  • The average special education teacher resume is 383 words long
  • The average special education teacher resume is 0.9 pages long based on 450 words per page.
  • Classroom management is the most common skill found on a special education teacher resume. It appears on 11.3% of resumes.
After learning about how to write a professional special education teacher resume, you can make sure your resume checks all the boxes with our resume builder.

Resume

Special Education Teacher Resume Example

Choose From 10+ Customizable Special Education Teacher Resume templates

Zippia allows you to choose from different easy-to-use Special Education Teacher templates, and provides you with expert advice. Using the templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your Special Education Teacher resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume
Special Education Teacher Resume

What Should Be Included In A Special Education Teacher Resume

1

1. Add Contact Information To Your Special Education Teacher Resume

Your name should be the biggest text on the page and be at or near the top of the document.

Your address doesn't need to include your street name or house number - listing your city and state works just fine.

Your email address should be professional, but not your current work email address. It's not a good look to use your work email for personal projects (job-searching).

Your social media can be included if you have a fully-fledged LinkedIn page or another social media page that showcases your relevant skill set.

Special Education Teacher Resume Contact Information Example #1

Hank Rutherford Hill

St. Arlen, Texas | 333-111-2222 | hank.hill@gmail.com

Do you want to know more?
How To Write The Perfect Resume Header
2

2. Add Your Relevant Education To The Resume

Your resume's education section should include:

  • The name of your school
  • The date you graduated (Month, Year or Year are both appropriate)
  • The name of your degree
If you graduated more than 15 years ago, you should consider dropping your graduation date to avoid age discrimination.

Optional subsections for your education section include:

  • Academic awards (Dean's List, Latin honors, etc. )
  • GPA (if you're a recent graduate and your GPA was 3.5+)
  • Extra certifications
  • Academic projects (thesis, dissertation, etc.)

Other tips to consider when writing your education section include:

  • If you're a recent graduate, you might opt to place your education section above your experience section
  • The more work experience you get, the shorter your education section should be
  • List your education in reverse chronological order, with your most recent and high-ranking degrees first
  • If you haven't graduated yet, you can include "Expected graduation date" to the entry for that school

Special Education Teacher Resume Relevant Education Example #1

Master's Degree In Special Education 2014 - 2016

Touro College New York, NY

Special Education Teacher Resume Relevant Education Example #2

Master's Degree In Special Education 2014 - 2016

Ball State University Muncie, IN

3

3. Next, Create A Special Education Teacher Skills Section On Your Resume

Your resume's skills section should include the most important keywords from the job description, as long as you actually have those skills. If you haven't started your job search yet, you can look over resumes to get an idea of what skills are the most important.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when writing your resume's skills section:

  • Include 6-12 skills, in bullet point form
  • List mostly hard skills; soft skills are hard to test
  • Emphasize the skills that are most important for the job
Hard skills are generally more important to hiring managers because they relate to on-the-job knowledge and specific experience with a certain technology or process.

Soft skills are also valuable, as they're highly transferable and make you a great person to work alongside, but they're impossible to prove on a resume.

Example Of Special Education Teacher Skills For Resume

  • Professional Development Skills

    Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

  • K-12 Skills

    K12 is a term that incldues all 12 years of education in the US education system. It includes the education offered at the primary stage, middle stage, and secondary stage. It includes children of ages as young as 5 to 18 years. The grades included in K12 are Kindergarten, the initial 5 stages, grades 6 to 8, and 9 to 12. This system is followed specifically followed in the US and may vary in other countries.

  • Public Schools Skills

    Public schools are available for everyone. They are funded and controlled by the government. With state guidance, each school board determines the curricula, finances, and jobs for schools within its borders. The government also decides on academic standards and standardised tests.

  • Education Programs Skills

    Education program refers to a program written by the institution or ministry of education meant to determine each subject's learning progress in formal education stages.

Top Skills for a Special Education Teacher

Source: Zippia.com
  • Classroom Management, 11.3%
  • Autism, 9.5%
  • Behavior Management, 6.4%
  • IEPs, 6.0%
  • Other Skills, 66.8%
Not sure which skills are really important?
3 Big Tips For Listing Skills On Your Resume
4

4. List Your Special Education Teacher Experience

The most important part of any resume is the experience section. Recruiters and hiring managers expect to see your experience listed in reverse chronological order, meaning that you should begin with your most recent experience and then work backwards.

Don't just list your job duties below each job entry. Instead, make sure most of your bullet points discuss impressive achievements from your past positions. Whenever you can, use numbers to contextualize your accomplishments for the hiring manager reading your resume.

It's okay if you can't include exact percentages or dollar figures. There's a big difference even between saying "Managed a team of engineers" and "Managed a team of 6 engineers over a 9-month project."

Most importantly, make sure that the experience you include is relevant to the job you're applying for. Use the job description to ensure that each bullet point on your resume is appropriate and helpful.

What Experience Really Stands Out On Special Education Teacher Resumes?

A

Andrew Burgess

Special Education Teacher, Gibraltar Public School

I think the experience that showcases their use of technology and how to fill out IEP paperwork will stand out for them.

Don't have any experience?
How To Show Your Experience On a Resume... Even When You Don't Have Any
Work History Example # 1
Science Teacher
Grace Christian Schools
  • Incorporated math and literacy-based curriculum into developmentally appropriate lessons for 10 students, ages 4-5.
  • Planned and executed daily lessons and interactive laboratory experiments; utilized PowerPoint presentations in class.
  • Traveled with and taught writing, literature, current events and environmental science to incarcerated youths on a wagon train.
  • Attended and participated in ESL professional development activities, conferences/workshops, curriculum/program planning, & special events and activities.
  • Instructed K-12 students with reading, writing, vocabulary, phonics and mathematics
Work History Example # 2
Special Education Teacher
MESA PUBLIC LIBRARY
  • Assisted Special Education teacher in all daily activities, including: paperwork, lesson preparations, and teaching
  • Created detailed PowerPoint presentations for a more visual learning experience.
  • Trained in CPR, First Aid and Behavior Management.
  • Coached special education students to participate in educational opportunities such as reading, writing, and mathematics.
  • Participated in weekly Professional Learning Communities and TAP cluster meetings.
Work History Example # 3
Self Contained Behavior Unit Teacher
Anoka-Hennepin School District
  • Managed all aspects of day-to-day planning and activities for kindergarten classroom.
  • Developed curriculum for a 32 student classroom that fostered independence and encouraged social development while teaching reading, writing and mathematics.
  • Self-contained classroom, Math, Science, Social Studies, Literature Highly diversified class, including ESS and Gifted/Talented
  • Conducted community-based ESL instruction for adult learners.
  • Developed curriculum for "Reading American Literature" course.
Work History Example # 4
Emotionally Impaired Teacher
Mason City CSD
  • Followed Literacy and Math Block mandated by Network.
  • Led students on an experiential learning mini-course, sailing down the Ganges to explore India's geography and culture.
  • Spearheaded a grade specific reading program that served over 40 second and fourth grade students to improve literacy.
  • Initiated that FBA assessments be conducted for all students with existing behavior intervention plans.
  • Developed Individualized Education Program's (IEP) with transition plans.
5

5. Highlight Your Special Education Teacher Certifications On Resume

Certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers that you know your stuff. If you have any of these certifications, make sure to put them on your special education teacher resume:

  1. Educational Certificate: K-12 (Ed:)
  2. Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES)
  3. Certified Disability Management Specialist (CDMS)
  4. Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)
  5. Special Program Security Certification (SPSC)
  6. Certified Adapted Physical Educator (CAPE)
  7. Certified Professional - Human Resource (IPMA-CP)
  8. Certified Advertising Specialist (CAS)
  9. Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

6

6. Finally, Add a Special Education Teacher Resume Summary Or Objective Statement

A resume summary statement is a 1-3 sentence spiel at the top of your resume that quickly summarizes who you are and what you have to offer. In this section, include your job title, years of experience (if it's 3+), and an impressive accomplishment, if you have space for it.

Remember to address skills and experiences that are emphasized in the job description.

Are you a recent grad?
Read our guide on how to write a resume summary statement

Five Key Resume Tips For Writing A Special Education Teacher Resume:

1.
Relevant Experience
Make sure that the jobs, experience, and accolades that you include are relevant to the position you’re applying for.
2.
The Right Skills
This is a great time to run wild with those keywords from the job description. For example, if they’re looking for someone with experience in Special Needs, be sure to list it in your resume’s skills section.
3.
Quantifiable Achievements
Your workplace accomplishments tell the story of the unique value you bring to an organization. Stay away from dry descriptions of job duties. Use numbers to help contextualize your achievements..
4.
ATS-Friendly
An applicant tracking system (ATS) is a piece of software employers use to collect, scan, organize, and rank applications. The key to getting your resume past ATS and into the hands of hiring managers is smart keyword usage.
5.
Impeccable Formatting
Formatting a resume so that it looks professional and attractive is important. With Zippia’s resume builder, you can put together a modern-looking resume in less than 10 minutes. Just choose a resume template that suits your style, answer some questions about your background, and you’ll have a resume that’ll pass muster with both the ATS and the hiring manager.
Not sure how to make a resume that stands out?
See sample resumes for the job you want
resume document icon

Don't Have A Professional Resume?

Special Education Teacher Jobs You Might Like

Ready To Start Your Special Education Teacher Resume?

Choose Your Current Work Experience To Start Creating Your Resume

Entry Level icon

Entry Level

Junior Level icon

Junior Level

Mid Level icon

Mid Level

Senior Level icon

Senior Level

Management icon

Management

Executive icon

Executive

Related Special Education Teacher Resume Templates

Special Education Teacher Resumes FAQs

What Are The Skills Of A Special Needs Teacher?

Key special needs teaching skills include organization, creative thinking, patience, and acceptance. These skills are needed to ensure that a professional working as a special needs teacher can successfully work with students who have learning, mental, emotional, or physical disabilities.

What Are The Three Most Important Roles Of A Special Education Teacher?

The three most important roles of a special education teacher are being a resource, support, and mentor to their students. Special education teachers have a big impact on their students, and it is important to understand the nuances of the roles that a teacher fills to be successful within the role.

What Should A Special Education Teacher Put On A Resume?

A special education teacher should put all relevant information regarding their skills and expertise in special education on a resume. A special education teacher should include any prior work experience in special education, their teaching license, and bachelor's degree in special education on their resume.

Search For Special Education Teacher Jobs