[2025-26] Special Education Teacher

Position Overview

Prep Public Schools Special Education (SPED) Teachers ensure that our students who have a wide range of learning, cognitive, emotional, and physical disabilities, are held to very high achievement expectations so that they reach their fullest potential. Our SPED teachers teach all subjects such as reading, writing, math, history, and others to students who have but are not limited intellectual, behavioral, and physical disabilities. SPED teachers also provide resources, education, training, and emotional support to the families they serve so families are prepared for long-term plans for their children.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement state learning standards and Prep curricula, ensuring accommodations and modifications are in place to meet the needs of students with disabilities
• Learn, master, and deliver content and high-quality instruction that aligns with IEP goals and supports students in accessing grade-level content in inclusive and pull-out settings
• Develop and execute individualized lesson plans that integrate research-based instructional strategies and specialized interventions
• Submit weekly lesson plans two weeks in advance for feedback, ensuring alignment with both general education curriculum and students’ individualized needs
• Monitor student progress through formal and informal assessments, adjusting instruction accordingly, and maintaining updated gradebooks and IEP progress reports on TNPulse
• Conduct IEP meetings, write and implement IEPs, and ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local special education regulations
• Communicate student progress and needs with students, families, general education teachers, and related service providers on a weekly basis
• Leverage technology to provide instructional accommodations, track student data, and manager tasks related to student progress and IEP compliance
• Establish a structured and consistent behavior management system aligned with campus-wide initiatives, fostering student character and classroom community
• Advocate for students with disabilities, ensuring equitable access to resources, services, and rigorous learning experiences
• Contribute to a positive and engaging school culture that supports student learning, enthusiasm, and a culture of brotherhood
• Build and maintain strong relationships with students and families through trust, understanding, and respect for their communities
• Provide individualized and small-group instruction through targeted interventions and specialized supports, including co-teaching, pull-out services (if endorsement on license allows) and in-class support
• Collaborate with general education teachers and campus administrators to ensure inclusive practices and seamless instructional support for students with disabilities
• Actively participate in weekly manager check-ins, grade-level meetings, school duties, and campus-wide meetings and events
• Engage in ongoing professional development through summer and year-round learning opportunities at the network, school, and personal levels that includes, but not limited to, network-wide SPED training and compliance workshops
• Commit to a minimum of 37.5 hours spend at school per week
• Take on additional responsibilities, such as after-school tutoring or Saturday school, as needed to support student success

We look for adults that embody the following core values:

• One Big Family: We are a community who look out for one another, showing up like family. We take the time to open up, share our stories, and be vulnerable with each other. We strive to be positive role models within our community, holding each other accountable to do what’s right and what’s required. As friends and family, we also make sure to have fun and find joy together, strengthening our bonds of family.
• Grit: We are “all in” everything we do. We have courage when facing challenges and are resilient in the face of adversity. Only by leaning into difficult experiences do we discover what we’re truly capable of. Education empowers us to prove what is possible despite the obstacles we encounter.
• Do More, Achieve More: Success requires hard work, and we work harder than anyone. With a growth mindset, we view every opportunity as a chance to improve. We cultivate a “winning mentality,” striving for excellence in everything we do. We believe every Prep scholar is capable of being on a path to achieving a post-secondary pathway of their choice to reach their full potential.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year educational institution required
• Certifications: Must hold a valid Tennessee teaching license with the proper special education endorsement code required for the intervention and co-teaching services
• Experience: Experience in an urban 6-12 classroom setting strongly preferred 

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of special education laws, IEP implementation, and best practices for differentiated instruction
• Knowledge of evidence-based interventions and instructional strategies to support students with disabilities
• Strong collaboration skills to co-teach and partner with general education teachers, teacher assistants, and related service providers
• Ability to collect and analyze student data to inform instruction and intervention planning
• Basic knowledge of curricula and instructional practices or implementation
• Ability to instruct students and manage student behavior
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to adjust and adapt to a multitude of situations in the school environment

Performance Goals

You will be responsible for achieving the following ambitious targets:

• Academic Excellence: Ensure 100% of students with disabilities make measurable academic progress, with targeted interventions that contribute to school-wide proficiency and growth goals.
• Attention to Details: Maintain 100% compliance with IEP timelines, evaluations, and documentation requirements.
• High Quality Instruction: Achieve an “Effective” or higher rating on Project COACH rubric in the summative evaluation.
• Forging Relationships: Achieve an 80% or higher on the parent survey and student survey at the end of year in May.

Compensation & Benefits

Prep Public Schools offers competitive salary and benefits, competitive retirement plans through Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), including a hybrid 401K and pension plan. TCRS has been ranked in the top five best funded state pension plans by the Pew Charitable Trust.

This job posting will close on July 1, 2025.