Special Education Teacher - Middle School Learning & Social/Behavioral Support

Grade Levels: 6th-8th Grade
Position Type: Full-Time
Staff Hours: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Position Overview:

Onward Education is seeking a dedicated Special Education Teacher to support students in grades 6-8 with learning, social-emotional, and behavioral needs. This role is ideal for an educator who is passionate about creating a structured, supportive, and inclusive learning environment while helping students build academic skills, confidence, self-regulation, and positive social behaviors.

The Special Education Teacher will collaborate with general education teachers, school staff, families, and related service providers to implement IEPs and provide individualized instruction and behavioral support based on each student's unique needs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide specialized instruction to 6th-8th grade students with learning, social-emotional, and behavioral needs.

• Develop and implement instruction aligned with students' Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

• Support students in accessing grade-level curriculum through accommodations, modifications, differentiated instruction, and targeted interventions.

• Provide instruction in inclusive, small-group, resource, or specialized classroom settings as appropriate.

• Address students' social-emotional and behavioral needs through positive, evidence-based strategies.

• Teach and reinforce skills related to self-regulation, coping strategies, executive functioning, organization, communication, and peer relationships.

• Monitor student academic and behavioral progress and maintain accurate documentation.

• Collaborate with general education teachers to support successful participation in the general education environment.

• Communicate regularly with families, administrators, related service providers, and other members of the educational team.

• Participate in IEP meetings, progress monitoring, and multidisciplinary team meetings.

• Create a structured and supportive classroom environment that promotes student independence, engagement, and success.

Ideal Candidate:

The ideal candidate will have experience working with middle school students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral needs, social-emotional challenges, or other disabilities. Experience with IEP implementation, behavior support, differentiated instruction, and collaborative teaching environments is highly valued.

Candidates should be comfortable supporting students who may require additional structure, behavioral interventions, social-emotional instruction, and individualized academic support.

Qualifications:

• Valid Special Education teaching license/certification appropriate for the position and state requirements.

• Experience working with students in grades 6-8 preferred.

• Experience supporting students with learning, social-emotional, or behavioral needs preferred.

• Knowledge of IEPs, accommodations, modifications, progress monitoring, and evidence-based instructional practices.

• Strong communication, collaboration, classroom management, and organizational skills.

• Commitment to creating an inclusive and student-centered learning environment.