Nashville - Special Education Teacher

About the role

Thrive is seeking a Special Education Teacher to design and deliver specialized instruction to students K–12 with disabilities. The role involves managing Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and implementation, collaborating with related services providers, communicating with families, and serving as an anchor member of the multidisciplinary team supporting students.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the IEP case manager for an assigned caseload of students with disabilities — coordinating evaluation timelines, annual reviews, amendment meetings, and progress reporting in compliance with IDEA and state requirements
• Develop individualized IEP goals that are measurable, standards-aligned, and meaningful to each student’s educational participation and post-secondary trajectory
• Write IEP present levels, goals, accommodations, and services sections with clinical and legal precision; ensure all documentation is accurate, timely, and complete
• Coordinate with SLPs, OTs, PTs, BCBAs, school psychologists, and mental health clinicians to align related services goals with classroom instruction
• Facilitate IEP meetings with families, general education teachers, administrators, and related services providers in a collaborative, family-centered way
• Design and deliver differentiated, evidence-based instruction aligned to each student’s IEP goals and grade-level standards across academic, functional, and communication domains
• Implement a range of instructional approaches — including explicit instruction, systematic phonics, structured literacy, task analysis, visual supports, and modified curricula — matched to each student’s disability profile
• Provide instruction across service delivery models: resource room pull-out, co-teaching in general education, self-contained classrooms, and community-based instruction as appropriate
• Monitor student progress toward IEP goals through systematic data collection; use data to adjust instruction in a timely and documented manner
• Develop and implement accommodation and modification plans that allow students to access the general education curriculum
• Establish and maintain a structured, positive, and predictable classroom environment that supports student regulation, engagement, and independence
• Implement Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) developed by BCBAs with fidelity; collect required behavioral data and communicate patterns to the behavior team
• Apply trauma-informed, positive behavior support approaches that prioritize teaching replacement behaviors and building student self-regulation skills
• Supervise and direct paraprofessionals and instructional aides assigned to your classroom, providing clear direction and performance feedback
• Partner with general education teachers on co-teaching, inclusion support, and co-planning for students in the general education setting
• Communicate regularly with families about student progress, IEP implementation, and upcoming team decisions in a way that is warm, jargon-free, and culturally responsive
• Collaborate with school administrators on scheduling, caseload management, eligibility decisions, and placement recommendations
• Coordinate with transition specialists and outside agencies for students approaching post-secondary transition
• Participate in building-level professional learning communities, PBIS teams, and RTI/MTSS problem-solving processes
• Develop Transition Plans for students age 14 and older (or per state requirement) that are individualized, outcome-oriented, and coordinated with community agencies and post-secondary institutions
• Facilitate student-led IEP meetings and self-advocacy skill development as part of the transition process
• Connect students and families with community resources, vocational rehabilitation, supported employment, and adult services agencies

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Special Education or a related field from an accredited program
• Active state Special Education teaching license or certification in good standing, or documented initiation of licensure transfer prior to start date
• Knowledge of IDEA, IEP development and case management, special education eligibility categories, and applicable state regulations
• Experience or training in evidence-based instructional approaches for students with disabilities

Prior to start

• Experience as an IEP case manager with a caseload of students with varied disability profiles
• Training or certification in structured literacy or Orton-Gillingham-based approaches
• Experience co-teaching or providing inclusion support in general education settings
• Bilingual (Spanish) — bilingual SpEd teachers are strongly encouraged to apply
• Familiarity with transition planning, VR coordination, and post-secondary planning for students with disabilities

Compensation

• Compensation is paid over 10 months, aligned to the school-year calendar. All figures below reflect the Greater Nashville, TN market.
• Base Compensation: W-2 Base Salary $50,000 – $90,000, based on experience
• A salary that reflects the expertise you bring. W-2 employment means full benefits, paid time off, retirement match, disability coverage, and malpractice insurance — all on us.
• Your total compensation is built to reflect what this work is worth.
• Additional Earning Potential: Sign-On Bonus $4,000 — paid 25% at 30 days, 25% at 90 days, 50% at 6 months
• Longevity Structure: Up to $2,000 — paid after completing your first full school year
• CEU Stipend: $750 your first year → growing up to $2,000 after five years
• Performance Bonus: Paid annually after exceeding performance metrics

Benefits

• Health Coverage — At No Cost to You (W-2 Employees Only): Medical, dental, and vision insurance — Thrive covers 100% of employee premiums
• Time Off & Schedule (W-2 Employees Only): School-year calendar — school holidays off, amounting to 30+ paid days annually
• PTO and Sick days
• Additional Professional Supports: Malpractice and professional liability insurance — fully covered by Thrive; no personal policy required
• Quarterly professional development led by clinical leadership — school-based, substantive, and paid
• Paid Summer Intensive — pre-year clinical PD that brings the full Thrive team together annually
• No non-compete agreement — your professional mobility is yours to keep
• State teaching license renewal and professional dues reimbursed annually