Special Education Teacher

Rocketship Public Schools•Nashville, TN

9d•$54,048 - $86,260•Onsite

About The Position

Rocketship Public Schools' Special Education Teachers, known as Education Specialists, support students with significant support needs, including intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, and communication or behavioral challenges. They provide individualized instruction and help ensure students with disabilities can learn alongside peers whenever possible, while also receiving support in smaller groups or specialized settings. Specialists collaborate with general educators, paraprofessionals, families, and service providers to provide accommodations, modifications, and targeted supports that foster student independence, confidence, and academic growth. Each specialist manages a caseload of no more than 18 students at a single school site. They provide instruction in functional academics, adaptive skills, communication supports, and behavior interventions while maintaining compliance with IDEA and state law. Dedicated case-management time of 2–4 hours per week supports IEP preparation, progress monitoring, family communication, documentation, and collaboration. Specialists are not responsible for operational duties such as arrival, dismissal, lunch coverage, or substitute classroom coverage. The role includes implementing Behavior Support Plans and Behavior Intervention Plans, modeling strategies for paraprofessionals, and using approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis and crisis intervention. Education Specialists receive weekly coaching from school leaders and specialized coaching from a Special Education Program Specialist. The position reports to the Principal or Assistant Principal and is located at Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary, 2526 Dickerson Pike.

Requirements

Hold a B.A. or B.S. degree from an accredited institution.
Hold a valid Practitioner License with a 144–145 Special Education Interventionist Endorsement upon hire.
Maintain active, good-standing credential status throughout employment.

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years of experience working with children in special education, behavioral support, or related settings.
Background in or understanding of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) principles.
Knowledge of special education law, IDEA compliance, and effective inclusion practices.

Responsibilities

Help students work toward and achieve the academic goals in their IEPs, aligned with Common Core standards and Rocketship core content.
Provide individualized and small-group instruction, including push-in and pull-out support, to help students access grade-level content.
Co-teach with general education teachers and support accommodations, modifications, and inclusion in the classroom.
Partner with paraprofessionals to provide consistent, high-quality student support across settings.
Manage an IEP caseload in compliance with state regulations, IDEA, and state law.
Draft and write compliant IEPs, facilitate IEP meetings, and maintain accurate, current records in the IEP system.
Collaborate with psychologists and related service providers, including speech and occupational therapy providers, to interpret assessments and ensure appropriate services.
Communicate with families and team members about IEP goals, accommodations, and student progress.
Work with students, families, and staff to develop and implement responsive behavior supports, including BSPs and BIPs.
Apply ABA principles and other strategies to promote positive behavior and supportive learning environments.
Partner with families through IEP meetings, regular communication, and home visits.
Participate in weekly coaching and ongoing professional development, including real-time classroom coaching.
Engage in self-reflection, take ownership of outcomes, and collaborate with colleagues and families to support students.
Uphold legal and instructional compliance standards for IEPs and services and contribute to a positive, team-oriented staff culture.