Post job

Special education teacher resume examples for 2025

Zippi

Build a better special education teacher resume with Zippi, your AI resume builder robot.

Updated March 26, 2025
6 min read
Resume example

All resume examples

How to write a special education teacher resume

Craft a resume summary statement

A resume summary is your opening statement that highlights your strongest skills and top accomplishments. It is your chance to quickly let recruiters know who you are professionally - and why they should hire you for the special education teacher role.

Step 1: Start with your current job title, or the one you aspire to. Are you a passionate manager? A skilled analyst? It's a good starting point.

Step 2: Next put your years of experience in special education teacher-related roles.

Step 3: Now is the time to put your biggest accomplishment or something you are professionally proud of.

Step 4: Read over what you have written. It should be 2-4 sentences. Your goal is to summarize your experience, not recite your resume.

Hiring managers spend under a minute reviewing resumes on average. This means your summary needs to demonstrate your value quickly and show why you are the perfect fit for the special education teacher position.

Hi, I'm Zippi, your job search robot. Let me write a first draft of your summary statement.

Zippi waving

List the right project manager skills

Use your Skills section to show you have the knowledge and technical ability to do the job. Here is how to make the most of your skills section and make sure you have the right keywords:

  1. Look to the job listing. You often need to include the exact keywords from the job description. Take note of the skills listed for the job.
  2. Put all relevant hard and soft skills in your skills section.
  3. Be specific. If you are too broad, you may not be giving the best picture of your skills and leave the hiring manager uncertain of your abilities.
  4. Be up to date. Software names change and companies merge. Don't look out of touch by being careless.
  5. Be accurate. Spelling and even upper or lowercase can dramatically change meanings. Make sure you are correctly listing your skills.
These five steps should give you a strong elevator pitch and land you some special education teacher interviews.

Here are example skills to include in your “Area of Expertise” on a special education teacher resume:

  • Classroom Management
  • Autism
  • Behavior Management
  • IEPs
  • Professional Development
  • Student Learning
  • Mathematics
  • Math
  • Instructional Materials
  • K-12
  • Public Schools
  • Classroom Environment
  • Learning Environment
  • Education Programs
  • General Education Curriculum
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Data Collection
  • Progress Monitoring
  • Learning Styles
  • Language Arts
  • Student Achievement
  • ABA
  • Behavior Analysis
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Student Performance
  • Social Studies
  • Resource Room
  • Kindergarten
  • State Standards
  • Instructional Techniques

You can let Zippi customize your resume.

Zippi waving

How to structure your work experience

Your employment history is arguably one of the most important parts of your resume. It shows you have experience and foundation in your field to successfully master the special education teacher position. Here is how to most effectively structure your work experience:

  1. List your most recent experience first, followed by earlier roles in reverse chronological order. Employers care about your most recent experience the most.
  2. Start with your job title, company name, city, and state on the left. Align dates in month and year format on the right-hand side.
  3. Include only recent, relevant jobs.

How to write special education teacher experience bullet points

Effective job bullet points do more than just describe your job duties. Instead, they should be specific and measurable accomplishments. Here are some strategies to mastering job bullet points:

  • Use strong action verbs like Led, Built, or Optimized.
  • Follow up with numbers when possible to support your results. How much did performance improve? How much revenue did you drive?
  • Wrap it up by explaining the actions you took to achieve the result and how you made an impact.

Here are great bullet points from special education teacher resumes:

Work history example #1

Preschool Disability Teacher

Central High School

  • Implemented Everyday Math and Comprehensive Literacy Program.
  • Maintained student data records, developed IEP instructional goals and objectives, and completed student re-evaluations.
  • Assisted in coordinating and implementing literacy program instruction.
  • Modeled lessons for teachers in reading and writing Facilitated ESL instruction and conversation in an adult community setting.
  • Led instruction resource services at the elementary level in Literacy, Mathematics and Social Studies.

Work history example #2

Self Contained Behavior Unit Teacher

Central High School

  • Assisted in coordinating and implementing literacy program instruction.
  • Maintained student data records, developed IEP instructional goals and objectives, and completed student re-evaluations.
  • Developed IEPs (Individualized Education Plans) for a caseload of students.
  • Worked closely with school psychologist to write reevaluation reports and IEPs based on report data.
  • Developed IEPs and maintained parent contact.

Work history example #3

Resource Specialist

Macy's

  • Observed checkout procedures to ensure accuracy with service and cash handling.
  • Maintained communication with store management to discuss business performance.
  • Downloaded and fulfilled internet orders daily.
  • Communicated with HR Service Center and corporate Benefits team to inquire about and resolved issues related to Leave of Absence.
  • Advised employees and managers of regulations, policies and procedures which affected the administrative and support functions.

Work history example #4

Special Education Teacher

Long Term Care Group

  • Monitored implementation of IEPs, reviewed IEP's, wrote/modified IEP's, and scheduled IEP's review meetings.
  • Managed a self-contained classroom Prepared and implemented IEPs
  • Monitored student progress and update information in past IEPs.
  • Implemented daily instruction in Mathematics, Reading, Intervention, Writing and Science.
  • Met/communicated with parents on a daily basis, as well as, IEP meetings, parent teacher conferences and open house.

You can let Zippi customize your resume.

Zippi waving

Add an education section to your resume

The education section should display your highest degree first.

Place your education section appropriately on your resume. If you graduated over 5 years ago, this section should be at the bottom of your resume. If you just graduated and lack relevant work experience, the education section should go to the top.

If you have a bachelor's or master's degree, do not list your high school education. If your graduation year is more than 15-20 years ago, it's better not to include dates in this section.

Here are some examples of good education entries from special education teacher resumes:

Master's Degree in special education

Touro College, New York, NY

2014 - 2015

Highlight your special education teacher certifications on your resume

If you have any additional certifications or education-like achievements, add them to the education section.

Include the full name of the certification, along with the name of the issuing organization and date of obtainment.

If you have any of these certifications, be sure to include them on your special education teacher resume:

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

Special education teacher resume FAQs

Search for special education teacher jobs

Browse education, training, and library jobs