How to hire special education teachers, middle school
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions. • Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students. • Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory. • Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. • Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation. • Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology. • Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities. • Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: Bachelor's degree] • Strong learning strategies, active learning, active listening, critical thinking, monitoring and reading comprehension skills • Working knowledge of English Language, education and training, mathematics and administrative • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $66,810 a year. [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for special education teachers, middle school
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- How do you teach yourself a new process, and how would you teach it to someone else?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What special education teachers, middle school do
- Develop and implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of handicapping conditions.
- Develop or write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Instruct students in daily living skills required for independent maintenance and self-sufficiency, such as hygiene, safety, and food preparation.
- Modify the general education curriculum for students with disabilities, based upon a variety of instructional techniques and instructional technology.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification and positive reinforcement.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for special education teachers, middle school
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Job outlook: -0.4% over ten years, little or no change · about 6,000 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay special education teachers, middle school
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| California | $101,530 |
| Washington | $99,520 |
| New York | $93,820 |
| Connecticut | $92,900 |
| Massachusetts | $84,550 |
| Mississippi | $50,750 |
| Oklahoma | $50,450 |
| Missouri | $50,370 |
See special education teachers, middle school pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
- Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
- Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School
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Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.