How To Write A Good Special Education Teacher Resume?

July 19, 2019

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Are you looking for a special education teacher job? Kudos! But do you really know how to write a good special education teacher resume? Emphasizing on the right things in your resume helps you win a job interview. Your skills, your education, and certifications matter a lot. In addition to this, a teacher’s classroom experience plays a major role. However, just by mentioning these you cannot guarantee success. What all you must include and how is really important.

The following guide along with the sample resume below will enhance your selection chances.

So, leave no stone unturned.

We also suggest that you must incorporate a cover letter.
Make sure that you specifically tailor the letter to the position you are applying for.

What Does A Special Education Teacher Do?

Before we move on to resume writing, it is really important to know what all a special education teacher does.

A special education teacher work with students with a wide range of mental, emotional, learning, and physical disabilities. They foster learning and growth in students with mild and moderate disabilities. Teaching them basic skills, imparting literacy, and communication techniques, are some key roles of a special education teacher. Moreover, handing children with care and sensitivity is the art of a special education teacher.

Key Roles of Special Education Teachers

Special education teachers perform the following tasks:

Firstly, they assess their students’ skills and determine their needs.
Plan and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for every student.
Assess students’ performance and keep track of their progress.
Discuss and Supervise teacher assistants.
Discuss and plan out with parents and counselors.

So, keeping all the key roles in mind now we will move on to creating a perfect resume.

How To Write A Good Special Education Teacher Resume?

Given below are steps on how to write a special education resume. Follow these and create a perfect one. Also, check out the sample special education teacher resume.

1. Writing A Compelling Resume Summary

A summary statement at the top of your resume is a great start. Here you can briefly summarize your teaching capabilities. Moreover, emphasize on the attributes that make you a great special education teacher is a must.

Writing a resume summary or objective statement is your choice. However, most of the employers consider objectives to be outdated. If you wish to include resume objective, check here – All You Wanted to Know About Resume Objectives

2. Highlight Your Education and Certifications.

A position in a school typically requires some specific degrees and certifications. Therefore, firstly you must scan the job description for requirements. Use the words from the special education teacher job description in your resume. These act as keywords. Place the education section towards the top of your resume. This ensures that the sees it first and realizes that you are a potential candidate.

Special Education Teacher Certifications/Licences

All special education teachers need to have a state license to teach in public schools. A private one does not require as such.

Special Education Teacher Degree /Courses- All schools require their teacher to either have a bachelor’s or a master degree. However, specialization in special education is usually expected.

Therefore, a teacher must possess-

a focused special education degree.
Internship in special education teaching.
passed tests for special education and earn a teaching license.

Related- Council for Exceptional Children provides detailed information on the requirements of a special education teacher.

3. Emphasize Your Teaching Experiences

Employers look forward to this section. So, make sure you frame it well. Highlight your teaching experience in special education settings.

Now, if you possess limited teaching experience, include internships, volunteer work, and extra-curricular activities. For fresher resumes, these are great options. However, ensure that they are relevant to teaching.

Accomplishments Rather Than Duties-

In your experience section make sure you follow the below-mentioned guidelines.

-Rather than simply stating your duties, list accomplishments.
-Ensure that your achievements are in bullet points.
-Follow the PAR rule. Problem > Action > Result. So, mention at least one problem that arose, your action to the problem, and the final result.

For instance- For students with weak mathematics, planned and implemented special remedial classes with abacus which improved their calculations up to 80%.

Use statistics and Numbers- It is certainly better to add numbers and statistics wherever possible in your resume. This gives a clearer idea.

4. Special Education Teacher Resume Skills

A number of skills are essential for such teachers. It adds on to the beauty of your resume. Furthermore, it gives a better chance to understand your personality.

Here are some good skills to mention on your resume.

-Communication skills. It is a prerequisite for special education teachers to have good communication skills. This enables them to discuss students’ needs and performances. Moreover, explaining difficult concepts and new terms to students with learning disabilities is certainly better for a good communicator.

-Interpersonal skills. Working with the team requires sound interpersonal skills. Teamwork, adaptability help build positive working relationships.

-Critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. Special education teachers should be adept at assessing students’ progress. Moreover, they should be able to use that information and plan lessons accordingly.

-Patience. working with students with special needs and varied abilities can be challenging. A patient special education teacher is a must.

5. Tailor your resume to the organization and the job position.

A general resume that is used for all job applications is certainly not a good option. Customize each resume to fit the specific job position as well as the school. Add keywords from the job description. Moreover, if they have mentioned any particular skills, highlight these in your resume.