Whether you’re fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview.
Interview questions range, especially when it comes to being a special education teachers. We do so much and it rarely feels like we have enough time in a day… let alone enough time to thoroughly explain our teaching procedures and strategies in a one hour interview.
Stress no more! Get ready to feel confident and prepared at your next interview for a special education teaching position.
Below is a list of 58 (and growing!) interview questions for special ed teachers, and a few questions you could potentially ask the interview team.
How do you plan to adapt lessons to allow your students to access grade level content?
Do you have any experience with writing a Manifestation Determination or a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)?
How would you handle a situation with a parent who is upset at an IEP meeting?
What would you do if a parent calls or emails you upset about something that happened at school?
The following questions are for you to ask the interview team at the end of an interview.
Looking for interview tips to nail the job? Check out my guest blog post over at Full Sped Ahead here.
Special Education Teacher Interview Questions (With Example Answers)
Regardless of your overall experience, having the proper skills and patience to teach students with special needs is part of what makes you so valuable.
After all, many of these students have complex physical, emotional, mental, and learning disabilities that wouldn’t be addressed in a typical classroom. With that in mind, the qualifications that an effective special ed teacher needs can be numerous, and in many ways, are incomparable to that of other teachers.
Employers know this, and will interview you with a critical eye. Remember, they want teachers that understand students who function and learn in non-typical ways.
Therefore, answering their questions in a professional and prepared manner, as well as showing that you have knowledge of special education teaching methods, will give you the best chance of moving forward in the hiring process.
This can be a bit overwhelming, considering all of the daily strategies you likely employ to help your kids. Maybe the thought of giving concise and straightforward answers in your interview seems overwhelming and difficult.
However, the more confident and prepared you are, the better you’ll be able to explain your strengths, strategies and methods.
Fortunately, this article will address common and important questions you may be asked in your interview, as well as provide sample answers you can use as a guide.
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When thinking about the kinds of questions you’ll be asked in your interview, it’s important to be mindful of the requirements and qualifications the hiring manager will be looking out for.
While odds are that you wouldn’t have received an interview unless you already have these requirements, you might still see them pop up in interview questions.
Generally speaking, you should have a recognized degree in Special Education, and/or several years of work experience. Expect the employer to ask about your educational background, as well as any relevant jobs you’ve had in the past. With that in mind, you’ll want to provide sample lesson plans from your previous work experience.
Overall, the hiring manager will be looking for a candidate who’s experienced with special ed students, as well as an inspiring teacher, excellent communicator, and empathetic listener. Their questions will reflect that.
During your interview, be on the lookout for behavioral and situational interview questions. These questions will give the employer vital information about your teaching experience, system knowledge and your overall thought process.
In the case of teaching a classroom, both types of questions are important and will crop up during your interview. The best way you can prepare is by thinking about your answers and potential examples beforehand.
Special education teacher responsibilities may include:
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