Special educational needs teacher secondary school
Also known as: high school special needs teacher, high school special education teacher, special educational needs teacher in high school, secondary school special education teacher, high school special educational needs teacher, secondary school special educational needs teacher
About this occupation
Special educational needs teachers at secondary schools provide specially-designed instruction to students on with a variety of disabilities on a secondary school level and ensure they reach their learning potential. Some special educational needs teachers at secondary schools work with children who have mild to moderate disabilities, implementing a modified curriculum to fit each student's specific needs. Other special educational needs teachers at secondary schools assist and instruct students with intellectual disabilities and autism, focusing on teaching them basic and advanced literacy, life and social skills. All teachers assess the students' progress, taking into account their strengths and weaknesses, and communicate their findings to parents, counselors, administrators and other parties involved.
A specialisation of special educational needs teacher.
Essential skills and knowledge
- monitor developments in field of expertise
- provide specialised instruction for special needs students
- guarantee students' safety
- give constructive feedback
- teach secondary education class content
- maintain students' discipline
- balance participants' personal needs with group needs
- children's physical development
- learning difficulties
- curriculum objectives
- monitor student's behaviour
- liaise with educational support staff
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Special Education Teachers, Secondary School (O*NET 25-2058.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Establish and enforce rules for behavior and policies and procedures to maintain order among students.
- Maintain accurate and complete student records, and prepare reports on children and activities, as required by laws, district policies, and administrative regulations.
- Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual educational plans (IEPs) for students' educational, physical, and social development.
- Employ special educational strategies and techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, and memory.
- Establish clear objectives for all lessons, units, and projects, and communicate those objectives to students.
- Prepare materials and classrooms for class activities.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Social, Investigative, Artistic
Top skills: Learning Strategies, Instructing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, Writing
US median pay: US$74,260 a year (2025), 163,930 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageExtremely important (4.6)
- PsychologyO*NET: PsychologyVery important (4.2)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsVery important (3.5)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsImportant (3.4)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementImportant (3.3)
- SociologyO*NET: Sociology and AnthropologyImportant (3.3)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.1)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
- Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
- Special Education Teachers, Middle School
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool
- Teaching Assistants, Special Education
- Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
- Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education
- Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, and English as a Second Language Instructors
- Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
- Tutors
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.