2027-28 Middle School Special Education Teacher

Locations: North Nashville, East Nashville, Antioch. Salary: BA Scale $56,000–$92,000; MA+ Scale $61,000–$100,000. $5,000 sign‑on bonus included.

About KIPP Nashville Public Schools

KIPP Nashville Public Schools is a network of high‑performing, free, open‑enrollment K‑12 schools committed to positively affecting student outcomes in Nashville since 2005. Part of the national KIPP Network educating 100,000+ students, KIPP Nashville operates 4 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools serving over 3,000 students. The mission: together with families and communities, create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose — college, career, and beyond — so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world. Core values are GROWTH, TEAM, and SHINE.

Responsibilities

• Special Education Coordination
  • Ensure compliance with federal, state, and district Special Education and ELL regulations
  • Develop processes for entering and exiting students into services
  • Design and execute RTI processes for behavior and academics with support of school staff
  • Administer relevant assessments
  • Oversee development, revision, and execution of student IEPs and 504 Plans
  • Lead IEP and 504 Plan meetings
• Special Education Leadership
  • Meet with general education teachers to review IEPs, answer questions, provide strategies and supports
  • Adapt and differentiate general education teachers’ weekly lesson plans, assessments, and homework to meet individual student goals
  • Support teacher development in serving Special Education and Multilingual Learner students through individual coaching and group professional development
• Curriculum Development and Instruction
  • Plan and use appropriate instructional strategies, activities, materials, and equipment reflecting understanding of individual learning styles and needs
  • Use progress‑monitoring tools to analyze student results for modifying strategies, programming, and IEPs
  • Use data to inform instructional decisions
  • Provide students with daily feedback on mastery performance in character and academics and plan for individual learning needs
  • Demonstrate strong pedagogy
• Commitment to School and Classroom Culture
  • Work collaboratively with school team and across KIPP Nashville
  • Help develop school‑wide culture that fits the needs of students, teachers, and families
  • Attend and participate in all staff meetings and communicate openly with staff
  • Develop positive rapport with students
  • Create and foster a positive and calm learning environment
  • Enforce, uphold, and exhibit school’s values, student management policies, and culture
• Family Engagement
  • Establish and maintain strong communication lines with all parents and share progress
  • Be available for open houses, parent‑teacher conferences, and other events involving parents
  • Make yourself available to students, parents, and other staff members
• Growth Mindset
  • Pursue challenging professional goals each year
  • Willing to offer support and receive constructive feedback to create a professional atmosphere conducive to change and improvement
  • Participate in school‑wide and individual professional development, including pre‑service training over the summer and weekly during the academic year (held during school hours)

Qualifications

Required Experience and Certifications

• Valid Tennessee teaching license with one or more of the following endorsements:
  • Special Education Interventionist K‑8 (144)
  • Special Education Interventionist 6‑12 (145)
  • Special Education Comprehensive K‑12 (461 or 460)
• CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) certification required or willingness to complete training upon hire
• Conferred Bachelor’s degree
• Pass Criminal Background Check

Desired Qualities

• Commitment to working with students from educationally under‑resourced communities (highly preferred)
• Experience and demonstrated success teaching students from educationally under‑resourced communities (highly preferred)
• At least two years of teaching experience (preferred)
• Passionate about data‑driven instruction
• Unwavering commitment to KIPP Nashville’s mission, core values, students, families, and community
• Demonstrates excitement in growing students into their highest selves and believes excellent education is the largest lever to improve student outcomes
• Eagerness to collaborate and problem‑solve with a variety of stakeholders
• Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting salary for first‑year teachers begins at $56,171; those with a conferred advanced degree begin at $61,909. Salary is commensurate with experience.
• Staff receive up to a 2% yearly raise. Compensation derived from the regional KIPP Nashville Public Schools pay scale.
• Robust benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, supplemental insurance,