Senior Level Special Education Teacher Jobs
Senior level special education teacher jobs place experienced educators in charge of program leadership, individualized education plan oversight, and mentoring the colleagues and paraprofessionals who carry out daily instruction. Most openings are on-site, with some hybrid opportunities across Education and Healthcare & Medical Services, and employers like Oakland Unified School District, Friends School, and St Mary's Center are hiring at this level now.
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More than ever, we appreciate our Oakland educators. We can agree that we have experienced an unprecedented year in education as our students, communities and families have returned to in-person school. We are continuously learning that we are stronger together - Oakland educators are passionate, equity-focused, and resilient. Oakland Unified is an incredible place to build and develop your career in service of our core values: students first, joy, equity, excellence, integrity, and cultural responsiveness.
Our Mission and Vision
The Oakland Unified School District’s mission is to build a Full Service Community District focused on high academic achievement while serving the whole child, eliminating inequity, and providing each child with excellent teachers, every day.
Our vision is that all OUSD students will find joy in their academic experience while graduating with the skills to ensure they are caring, competent, fully-informed, critical thinkers who are prepared for college, career, and community success.
Our Strategic Plan
The four key initiatives of our current district wide strategic plan are:
- Ensuring Strong Third Grader Readers ( Catalyze citywide effort to guarantee literacy for all third graders )
- Supporting Powerful Graduates ( Develop essential skills to secure post secondary success ),
- Creating Inspiring Schools ( Redesign schools to be places of joy, inclusion and beauty )
- Growing a Diverse and Stable Staff ( Attract and retain staff reflective of Oakland’s rich diversity )
We are seeking educators who believe that :
- Building and maintaining caring relationships with students and families is a key part of the foundation of teaching;
- Maintaining high expectations for all students is best accomplished through a persistent asset-based lens of what students can do;
- Your actions can directly lead to creating more equitable conditions in public schools;
- Your work is most effective in collaboration with colleagues, families, and students;
- Developing as an anti-racist educator requires investing time in self-reflection, listening and incorporating feedback from students, their families, other educators, and school leaders and is critical to your growth as an educator and leader.
- Working for racial justice requires close attention to educational systems and policies, and working to eliminate racism is critical to the educational success of all students.
What we offer teachers:
Oakland Unified has received substantial funding to support pathway programs including tuition and debt relief for selected middle school teachers, Special Education teachers, and for pathway programs, including Classified-to-Teacher, Maestr@s, and the After-School-to-Teacher programs. We are invested in creating and maintaining affinity spaces for educators that support retention and socio-emotional support. We provide extensive professional development and training for teachers, innovative curricula, ongoing mentoring and advancement opportunities. Our teachers are also given abundant opportunities to work together in Professional Learning Communities within and across schools in the District.
In addition to professional development and training, we offer a comprehensive compensation package that includes:
- Competitive salaries determined by experience, education level, and credentials
- We accept up to twelve years of full time teaching experience in other school settings on the salary schedule (please see our salary schedule here: https://www.ousd.org/Page/16118 )
- Full medical, dental, and vision benefits, including Flexible Spending Accounts, plus life insurance and long-term disability coverage
- Retirement benefits through the CALSTRS Retirement System
- Read more about benefits here: https://www.ousd.org/benefits
Qualifications:
Candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree, must be eligible for employment in the US and pass a criminal background check. Candidates must possess, or be willing to earn, a California teaching credential authorizing instruction in core curriculum.
Additional requirements:
- Completed online application
- Resume and cover Letter
- Two current professional references, including from a Supervisor
- Upon request, must be able to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination or commitment to weekly testing
You can also learn more about our teaching opportunities and hiring events here: https://www.ousd.org/careers
If you have questions or would like more information, please email recruitment@ousd.org
To hear about news and events to support you in becoming an OUSD educator, please fill out this form .
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
The Oakland Unified School District does not discriminate in any program, activity, or in employment on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, gender, sex, or sexual orientation.
See All 11 Senior Level Special Education Teacher Jobs
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Find JobsSenior Level Special Education Teacher Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Oakland Unified School District4
- Friends School1
- St Mary's Center1S
- KVC Health Systems1

- Bethel School District1
Top Industries Hiring
- Education8
- Healthcare & Medical Services1
Senior Level Special Education Teacher Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level special education teacher job?
Employers at this level look for candidates who have led IEP development across a caseload, supervised or mentored other educators or paraprofessionals, and demonstrated measurable student outcomes over time. Expertise in a specific disability category, familiarity with compliance requirements under IDEA, and experience presenting to administrators or families all give candidates a clear edge over generalist applicants.
Which companies hire senior level special education teachers?
Companies hiring senior level special education teachers right now include Oakland Unified School District, Friends School, and St Mary's Center, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. Hiring at this level comes primarily from public school districts, charter networks, private therapeutic schools, and state-funded early intervention programs that need experienced educators to anchor their special education teams.
Are there remote senior level special education teacher jobs?
Yes, though most positions in this field remain on-site given the hands-on nature of the work. About 0% of senior level special education teacher openings are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those roles tend to focus on curriculum development, IEP consulting, compliance coordination, or virtual instruction for students in telehealth or homebound programs.
What makes a special education teacher role senior level?
Senior level roles go beyond direct instruction to include program oversight, caseload leadership, and responsibility for outcomes across a team or department. These positions typically involve developing district-wide curriculum or IEP frameworks, mentoring less experienced teachers or paraprofessionals, leading compliance reviews, and serving as the primary point of contact for families, administrators, and outside service providers.
Which industries hire the most senior level special education teachers?
Senior Level special education teacher roles concentrate in Education and Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they operate structured special education programs that require experienced educators to lead compliance, shape curriculum, and ensure consistent service delivery across multiple classrooms or sites.