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Special educator skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted experts
Dr. Tsung-Hui Tu Ph.D.,
Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian
Special educator example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical special educator skills. We ranked the top skills for special educators based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 8.7% of special educator resumes contained autism as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a special educator needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 special educator skills for your resume and career

1. Autism

Here's how special educators use autism:
  • Created a self-contained classroom environment to provide one-on-one instruction with a fourth grade student with autism and an intellectual disability.
  • Develop group lesson plans and individualized academic programming for students with autism spectrum disorders and multiple disabilities.

2. Student Learning

Here's how special educators use student learning:
  • Collaborate with educational team to provide optimal student learning and a positive school environment.
  • Modify student learning materials, test, and assist students with supplemental learning material during scheduled independent study time.

3. Math

Here's how special educators use math:
  • Developed appropriate educational math and reading goals and objectives in the individualized education program for students with special needs.
  • Developed interactive computer lessons to enhance science and math curriculum and student engagement utilizing technology.

4. Public Schools

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.

Here's how special educators use public schools:
  • Participated in a two-year alternative certification route in Baltimore City Public Schools.
  • Tried to help acculturate them for the environment at their public schools.

5. Learning Environment

Here's how special educators use learning environment:
  • Created a learning environment and curriculum which incorporated these techniques into daily routines and lessons.
  • Implemented instructional and behavioral strategies in the classroom and other supervised learning environments.

6. Mathematics

Here's how special educators use mathematics:
  • Created and delivered a curriculum to empower youths in areas of physical education, languages and mathematics
  • Worked collaboratively with teachers in mathematics and writing.

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7. Classroom Management

Here's how special educators use classroom management:
  • Executed high level of classroom management and effective procedures increasing overall quality and productivity.
  • Trained and provided supervision to Teaching Assistants for initiating best practices in classroom management.

8. Behavior Management

Here's how special educators use behavior management:
  • Prepared Individual Education Plans and Behavior Management plans for Special Education socially emotionally disturbed youth.
  • Designed and executed behavior management plans to encourage the development of self-esteem and independence.

9. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how special educators use data collection:
  • Track and monitor data collection for weekly goals and IEP expectations, including instructional academics and behavior growth.
  • Experience with behavior modification, discrete trails, social skills training, data collection and PMT trained.

10. Professional Development

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.

Here's how special educators use professional development:
  • Led professional development activities for colleagues and paraprofessionals in the area of connecting assessment to instruction and student portfolio development.
  • Provided professional development to regular and special education personnel on new policies, and/or compliance in relation to special education.

11. Para

Here's how special educators use para:
  • Supported four Para professionals and provided with assistance with individual children and their instructional programming.
  • Employed as a Para Educator in a self-contained classroom working with kids with autistic students.

12. Student Achievement

Here's how special educators use student achievement:
  • Instituted a Foundation Skills and Guided Reading Program that significantly increased student achievement and supported the existing balanced literacy program.
  • Provided strategies and implemented programs and practices for improving student achievement as well as school climate.

13. Written Expression

Here's how special educators use written expression:
  • Specialized instruction in written expression and reading comprehension.

14. Instructional Materials

Here's how special educators use instructional materials:
  • Demonstrated art historical knowledge, during guided gallery tours and interpretive instructional material.
  • Implemented programs and instructional materials under the guidance of the class teacher and modified work as necessary per student's IEP.

15. ABA

ABA, an abbreviation for applied behavioral analysis, is a scientific behavior study.

Here's how special educators use aba:
  • Self-employed, independent special educator providing one-on-one instruction and ABA to children with delays and disabilities.
  • Provide home-based ABA and Special Instruction services to developmentally at risk students from birth to age three.
top-skills

What skills help Special Educators find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on special educator resumes?

Dr. Tsung-Hui Tu Ph.D.Dr. Tsung-Hui Tu Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Program Director, Kent State University at Salem

For a teaching job, typically, the skills that would stand out on resumes are organizational skills, problem-solving skills, and teamwork skills. In light of the pandemic, regardless if your classes are face-to-face, blended, or remote learning, teachers face many challenges. Therefore, I think adaptability becomes an essential skill, especially since we live in a world that rapidly changes. Effective teachers need to be able to deal with changes positively, which will create a supportive learning environment for their students. Other skills that will look good on resumes are technology skills, such as knowing how to use Zoom, Google Classroom, Class Dojo, and Seesaw.

What soft skills should all special educators possess?

Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian

Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, Ashland University

Communication skills are the key soft skills for educators. The ability to communicate ensures that ideas and information are effectively presented during instruction. It also helps regulate the social tone of the learning environment and resolve classroom management issues. Of increasing importance is the ability of educators to effectively engage with their students' families. They need to demonstrate that they are ready and able to initiate contact, establish good relationships, and build trust.

What hard/technical skills are most important for special educators?

Dr. Peter G. Ghazarian

Assistant Professor of Leadership Studies, Ashland University

Beyond licensure and content area knowledge, teachers are increasingly required to have strong technical skills. As schools adopt new technologies and software to enhance students' learning, educators must integrate these resources into their instruction and troubleshoot issues that emerge. A technologically adept teacher can ensure that their students effectively engage with this new technology and serve as a mediator and facilitator of their students' learning.

What special educator skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Stephen Graves Ph.DDr. Stephen Graves Ph.D LinkedIn profile

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Assistant Professor, University of Missouri

If they plan on taking a gap year before going back to grad/law school or work, it would be wise for those students to stay current. A lot can happen in a year so students would be smart to stay current in their field's professional trends. You don't want to be left behind or out of the loop with current trends in your industry. Identify the most critical skill in your field and work hard on it. Stay relevant, stay in tune with the trends, and work on your personal development.

What type of skills will young special educators need?

Michelle Sobolak Ph.D.Michelle Sobolak Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Director of Teacher and Professional Education, University of Pittsburgh

All teachers need a myriad of skills to be effective educators. In addition to the traditional skills required of teachers, new graduates also need an understanding of anti-racist and culturally relevant and sustaining educational practices to improve schooling for all students, a deep understanding of child and adolescent development to guide instruction and engagement, the ability to connect with students and build strong relationships with both students and families, the ability to manage their own online presence and time online, and strong technological skills. Not only do new graduates need these skills, but current teachers also need to develop or strengthen their skill set in these areas to best support all learners and improve our school systems.

What technical skills for a special educator stand out to employers?

Linda DauksasLinda Dauksas LinkedIn profile

Director of Early Childhood and Special Education, Professor, Elmhurst University

School districts are seeking resilient teachers. These teachers can teach using a variety of different instructional delivery systems (traditional face to face, remote or hybrid instruction). ALL of these formats will be desired after the health pandemic. Districts will continue to use a variety of instructional formats for a variety of reasons (e.g. health-related needs, weather related, natural disasters).
Do you want to know more?
Read more about what experts have to say about special educator

List of special educator skills to add to your resume

Special educator skills

The most important skills for a special educator resume and required skills for a special educator to have include:

  • Autism
  • Student Learning
  • Math
  • Public Schools
  • Learning Environment
  • Mathematics
  • Classroom Management
  • Behavior Management
  • Data Collection
  • Professional Development
  • Para
  • Student Achievement
  • Written Expression
  • Instructional Materials
  • ABA
  • General Education Curriculum
  • Language Arts
  • Educational Programs
  • IEPs
  • K-12
  • Student Performance
  • Early Intervention
  • Applied Behavior Analysis
  • Instructional Support
  • Kindergarten
  • Developmental Disabilities
  • Behavior Analysis
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Social Studies
  • Academic Support
  • Behavior Modification
  • IFSP
  • Learning Styles
  • Child Left Behind
  • Instructional Techniques
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Social Development
  • Co-Taught
  • Alertness
  • Informal Assessments
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Developmental Delays
  • Remainder
  • School Administration
  • Standardized Testing
  • K-5
  • ADHD
  • Progress Monitoring

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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