Special Ed Teacher Jobs in Indiana

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A TEACHING CAREER IN IPS OFFERS…

Purpose and Impact:

• Students First: Teaching for IPS is a rewarding opportunity to support bright, curious students as they shape their futures. We hold ourselves to the highest expectations of excellence, focusing on students’ holistic needs during their educational journey with us.
• Community: Working in a school means it is your home away from home, and you have a school family who supports you and leads with empathy and vision.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Grow Your Career: We offer professional development and career advancement opportunities, including dedicated mentorship programs for early career teachers.
• Generous Compensation: We’re proud to offer the highest teacher starting pay in Indianapolis and one of the most competitive in the state, with teachers starting at $54,800 depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package. Our teacher salaries are continually on the rise, as IPS regularly advocates for stronger teacher compensation.
• Access to Financial Benefits: Working in IPS makes it possible to benefit from federal programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) or Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), helping reduce the financial burden of student loans.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Access top-tier health plans covering medical, dental, and vision needs, plus IPS offers a private clinic for staff and their families through our partners at Ascension St. Vincent.
• Flexible Wellness Leave: Take the time you need to care for yourself and your family with our generous leave policies. Teachers receive 70 hours of sick leave in their first year (56 hours annually after) for illness, family, or mental health, plus three personal days, two floating holidays, and school breaks. Unlimited accumulated sick leave adds flexibility, supporting teachers’ health and work-life balance.
• Incentivized Discounts through IPS Wellness Program: Opportunities to earn hundreds of dollars off your medical premium by participating in proactive and simple health screenings, plus discounted group fitness classes, health and fitness assessments, personal training, and more.

WHAT WE EXPECT...

Commitment to Excellence:

• High Standards: Strive for the very best in all you do, maintaining high standards for yourself, your students, and your colleagues. Embrace lifelong learning and adapt to new teaching methods and challenges.
• Educational Equity: IPS is deeply committed to breaking down systemic inequities. We do this by “walking the walk” on new policies and practices, building diverse and inclusive classrooms and staff teams, and ensuring our environments are grounded in our values of respect, inclusivity, and educational equity.

Resilience and Passion:

• Dedication to Students: Put students at the heart of your work. Be passionate about their success and well-being.
• Adaptability: Handle adversity with resilience and flexibility. Be prepared for a dynamic work environment.

Professional Integrity:

• Ethical Conduct: Uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. Act responsibly and respectfully toward all individuals, communicate with candor and care.
• Team Player: Be dependable, punctual, and collaborative, contributing positively to our supportive work environment.

JOIN US!

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

We are looking for a Special Education Teacher who will positively impact student success by planning, carrying out, evaluating, and supervising instructional activities. Our Special Education Teacher plays a key role in ensuring that students receive access to rigorous math curriculum and instruction through authentic engagement. As a member of the Unified Student Supports Team, you will receive excellent benefits, opportunities to grow within your role and the organization, and collaborative and supportive colleagues who put students first.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The following outlines what your core duties and responsibilities will be for this position and provides a sample overview of what your day-to-day may look like.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

• May serve as Teacher of Record or Teacher of Service in accordance with the District’s Special Education Procedures Manual and Article 7
• Participates in case conference committee meetings as students’ teacher to assist in developing measurable goals, benchmarks, and objectives to meet student needs.
• Regularly monitor the implementation of the student’s IEP and provide progress reports to the student’s parent.
• Ensures students’ IEPs are available to the appropriate teachers and service providers who are responsible for implementation of the IEP.
• Ensures all supplementary aids, services, program modifications and supports for school personnel are provided in accordance with each student’s IEP.
• Ensures any accommodations on statewide or district assessments are implemented according to the student’s IEP.
• Participates in reevaluations of the student.
• When serving as Teacher of Records, ensures the case conference committee is informed of any modifications made to the student’s IEP in accordance with 511 IAC 7-42-9(e)(2) and 511 IAC 7-42-9(g).
• Works with administrators, other Teachers, and/or instructional teams to plan and implement instruction according to the District approved and adopted curriculum;
• Develops daily lesson plans and presents lessons, using a variety of instructional methods and techniques, to ensure that the Teacher effectively covers the curriculum in a timely manner throughout the semester or school year
• Monitors, assists, corrects, re-teaches and remediates student performance to ensure student progress;
• Diagnoses and analyzes student progress and programs for the purpose of providing appropriate instruction based on the developmental stages and needs of students;
• Effectively manages student behavior in the classroom and throughout the building, and administers appropriate discipline when necessary to achieve proper behavior;
• Maintains contact with parents through parent-teacher conferences, telephone, written communications, and District approved platforms; adjustments (error pattern analysis), evaluate social growth, keep appropriate records, and prepare progress reports
• Participates in faculty meetings, staff development activities, and personal professional growth activities focused on the acquisition of new and improved skills and knowledge;
• Conducts standardized tests in accordance with State guidelines, District policies, the Principal’s expectations;
• Maintains all records as required, including but not limited to grade books, attendance records and student progress reports;
• Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology, as job appropriate, being used in the District. With the support of the District, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position;
• Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities his or her designee may assign.

“Day In the Life” Overview

On a regular day, as the Special Education Teacher, you might:

• Prepare rigorous, engaging lessons and other instructional materials to meet the individual needs of all students
• Support students in reaching their individualized education plan goals and standards
• Provide direct, explicit comprehension instruction
• Write Individualized Education Plans for students on your caseload
• Hold parent conferences regarding academic achievement and behavioral issues
• Work collaboratively with other staff

WHAT YOU’LL BRING: SKILLS AND MINDSETS

As an ideal candidate for this role, you will be able to achieve the following:

• Highly-developed communications skills (written/verbal) and interpersonal savvy
• Results/action-orientation; project management skills
• Racial equity mindset and other critical indicators related to DEI
• Organizational agility; developed negotiation skills
• Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust
• Able to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
• Strong strategic analysis skills
• Ability to be creative in developing alternatives to meet IPS Instructional needs
• A track record of developing and maintaining strong working relationships with and among a diverse group of actors
• Excellent communication skills and strong analytical and writing capabilities
• Close attention to detail coupled with the ability to exercise good judgment
• Strong organizational, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills
• Proactive nature; able to anticipate conflicts before they arise
• Ability to work well independently as well as collaboratively
• Ability to execute meetings, calls and emails with professionalism, courtesy and accuracy
• Personal qualities of maturity, humility, strong work ethic, sense of humor, and diligence
• Ability to effectively allocate and prioritize time to several tasks to ensure completion of all

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree in Education (B.A. or B.S.) from a four-year college or university
• Valid Indiana Teaching License in Special Education
• Working knowledge of federal and state special education laws, rules, and practices including IDEA and Article 7
• Broad knowledge of Indiana and IPS special education policies, practices and programs

FLSA CLASSIFICATION:

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK:

Not eligible

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one, small group, and large group situations.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Must hold a valid Indiana State Teacher's License in Elementary Education (K-6). Must be deemed Highly Qualified in accordance with the Indiana Department of Education.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and use hands to find, handle, or feel. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear. The employee is required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and humid conditions and outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DISCLAIMER:

The above job description is designed to denote the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications of employees assigned to this job.