Special Education Teacher

Position Description

Rocketship Special Education Teachers, known as Education Specialists, play a critical role in ensuring every student has access to an excellent education and a joyful, inclusive school experience. Specialists serve students with significant support needs, including those with intellectual disabilities, autism, multiple disabilities, and communication or behavioral challenges.

At Rocketship, we believe every child deserves to be known, loved, and challenged. Our inclusive model ensures that students with disabilities learn alongside their peers whenever possible, while also receiving individualized instruction in smaller group or specialized settings. Education Specialists collaborate closely with general educators, paraprofessionals, and families to provide accommodations, modifications, and targeted supports that help students build independence, confidence, and academic growth.

To ensure students and families receive highly individualized support, Education Specialists maintain a capped caseload of no more than 18 students. This intentional structure allows specialists to deeply know their students, build strong family partnerships, and provide high-quality, responsive services tailored to each learner’s unique needs.

Specialists manage their caseload at a single school site, delivering instruction in functional academics, adaptive skills, communication supports, and behavior interventions while ensuring compliance with IDEA and state law. Education Specialists also benefit from dedicated time for case management (2-4 hours each week) to focus on IEP preparation, progress monitoring, family communication, documentation, and collaboration with service providers.

At Rocketship, Education Specialists are empowered to focus fully on special education support and student success. Unlike many school settings, specialists are not responsible for operational duties such as arrival, dismissal, lunch coverage, or other classroom coverage (subbing), allowing them to devote their energy to instruction, intervention, family partnership, and individualized student support.

Behavior support is also central to the role. Specialists partner with families and staff to implement Behavior Support Plans (BSPs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs), model strategies for paraprofessionals, and utilize approaches such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and crisis intervention to create safe, structured, and supportive learning environments where students can thrive.

Education Specialists receive ongoing support through weekly coaching from school leaders, in addition to specialized coaching from a Special Education Program Specialist to strengthen instructional practice, compliance systems, and long-term professional growth.

Education Specialists report to their Principal or Assistant Principal.

Location: Rocketship Nashville Northeast Elementary - 2526 Dickerson Pike