Special Education Needs (SEN) Teacher CV Guide & Examples

Your students are the coolest people you know, and you learn a lot from them. Prove you have a teacher’s heart with your head-of-the-class SEN teacher CV.

Tom Gerencer
Tom Gerencer
Career Expert
Special Education Needs (SEN) Teacher CV Guide & Examples

 

Teaching special ed students is a thankless job. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get. You have to prove your whole brain teaching skills. But how can you do that it one skimpy piece of paper? Don’t worry. If you show the right special education moments, you’ll have a Temple-Grandin level SEN teacher CV in minutes.

In this guide:

  • A SEN teacher CV sample better than most.
  • How to write a special education needs teacher CV that passes the assessment.
  • How to target your SEN teacher job description for CVs.
  • Why you can’t just list SEN teacher skills (and what to do instead).

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SEN Teacher CV Example

Morgan Masic

Special Education Needs Teacher

Personal Info

Phone: 347-850-0843

E-mail: morganzmasic@gmail.com

linkedin.com/in/morganzmasic

twitter.com/morganzmasic

Summary

Efficient special education needs teacher with 7 years of experience and skills in lesson plans and mentoring. Seeking to raise student scores at Grant-Fayette Elementary School. At Independence Elementary, managed classrooms of 10–20 students and received JKO Education Award for excellence in teaching assistance.

Experience

Special Education Needs Teacher

Independence Elementary School

2016–2019

  • Received JKO Education Award for special education teacher excellence. Singled out for skills in mentoring and research.
  • Monitored and assisted with classroom management in classes of 30–40 students each with 95% effectiveness scores.
  • Planned and created educational materials, including 50+ homework assignments and daily lesson plans.

Key Achievement

  • Assisted with practise test strategy that raised math scores 25%.

Teacher's Aide

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

2012–2016

  • Proctored and graded 130+ quizzes and tests.
  • Used motivational talks to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared 60+ research-based in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.
  • Assisted 5 teachers with creation of new curricula.

Key Achievement

  • Mentored 15 students with behavioural problems, resulting in 30% drop in non-age-appropriate incidents in 6 months.

Education

AA Education, University at Buffalo

2010–2012

  • Excelled in classroom management classes.
  • Pursued a passion for research and lesson plan creation.

Certifications

  • 2017 — First Aid, CPR, American Red Cross
  • 2018 — Conflict Resolution, Mediation Training Institute

Volunteer Fundraiser, 78th Street Animal Shelter 

  • Raise over £40,000 per year for animal welfare.
  • Conduct 50+ meetings per year with donors.
  • Write 10+ documents per month, including correspondences.

Hard Skills: working with students with autism and disabilities, mentoring, computer skills

Soft Skills: interpersonal skills, collaboration, active listening

Here’s how to write a special education needs teacher CV you can adapt to any job:

1. Choose a Respected SEN Teacher CV Format

Sad but true.

Research from Leadership IQ says 46% of new employees fail. Bad hires waste time and money for the school. The principal’s first clue is CVs with poor formatting. Show you can reach one mind at a time with the reverse-chronological CV format.

Use these tips:

Special Education Needs Teacher CV Format

  • Write CV sections for Heading, Summary, Experience, Education, and Skills.
  • Present your last job first.
  • Use white space to make your words inviting.
  • For easy reading, set 1-inch margins.
  • Pick a professional CV font like 10–12pt Didot or Georgia.
  • Make your CV length one page for special ed jobs.
  • To look the part on all platforms send a PDF CV.

Expert Hint: A study in the Journal of Special Education found that 50% of special ed programs rigorously evaluate teacher performance. If you’ve received high scores in past assessments, show that in your SEN teacher CV.

2. Write a SEN Teacher CV Objective or Summary

Here’s a bad dream.

The principal has a stack of SEN teacher CVs on her desk. She gets to yours, but misses your best moments. She moves on to the next, and you don’t get the job. That’s a waking nightmare. But—

You can avoid it with a quick summary of your talents near the top. It’s called a CV summary statement or CV objective statement.

Write it with:

  1. An adjective (caring, dedicated)
  2. Job title (Special education needs teacher, SEN teacher)
  3. Years of experience (2+, 3+)
  4. Who you’ll help and how (raise student scores...)
  5. Best special education teacher moments (managed classrooms of 10–20 students...)

See these special education needs teacher CV examples:

SEN Teacher CV Summary—Example

Good Example
Efficient special education needs teacher with 7 years of experience and skills in lesson plans and mentoring. Seeking to raise student scores at Grant-Fayette Elementary School. At Independence Elementary, managed classrooms of 10+ students and received JKO Education Award for excellence in teaching assistance.
Bad Example
Special education teacher skilled in mentoring and research. Adept at raising student scores, performing assessments, and classroom management. A highly competent special education teacher with strong interpersonal skills.

Promises, promises.

It’s one thing to say, “I’m a great teacher.” It’s quite another to say, “I won an award, managed 20+ students, and have 7 years of experience.” The first of our SEN teacher CV samples does it oh so well.

The same magic works in a special ed CV with no experience. See this sample entry-level CV for SEN teacher jobs:

Entry-Level SEN Teacher CV Objective

Good Example
Enthusiastic special education needs teacher, skilled in grading and classroom management. As teacher’s aide at the Susan B. Anthony Elementary School proctored classrooms of 30+ and graded 130+ tests and quizzes. Assisted with 90+ parent meetings.
Bad Example
Entry-level special education needs teacher, skilled in proctoring, grading tests, grading quizzes, and assisting with parent meetings. An expert at classroom management. Can start immediately and will work hard to learn fast on the job. 

The second of those SEN teacher assistant CV samples doesn’t make the grade. It’s the difference between saying you can teach special needs and showing proof.

3. Write a Job-Appropriate SEN Teacher Job Description and Skills Section

What SEN teacher skills on CVs will get you interviewed? Here’s a list:

SEN Teacher Skills for CVs

Hard Skills

Soft Skills

Working with Disabilities

Interpersonal Skills

Student Assessment

Collaboration

Creating Lesson Plans

Communication

Classroom Management

Organisation

Computer Skills

Time Management

Conflict Resolution

Problem Solving

Instructional Equipment

Compassion

Basic Medical Care

Empathy

Microsoft Office

Stress Management

Student Progress Monitoring

Attention to Detail

But—

Don’t force the entire set on a CV for SEN teacher jobs. That’s a biscuit-cutter strategy, and it won’t work. Write a customised CV to get the most response.

To write a targeted SEN teacher job description for CVs:

  1. Find CV keywords in the job posting. Those are the CV skills the principal wants.
  2. In your CV bullets, show when you’ve used those skills.
  3. Include a few metrics to impress the hiring team.

See these special education needs teacher CV samples:

Say the job wants these SEN teacher skills: mentoring, classroom management, and creating educational materials.

SEN Teacher Job Description for a CV [Sample]

Good Example

Experience

Special Education Needs Teacher

Independence Elementary School

2016–2019

  • Received JKO Education Award for special education teacher excellence. Singled out for skills in mentoring and research.
  • Monitored and assisted with classroom management in classes of 30–40 students each with 95% effectiveness scores.
  • Planned and created educational materials, including 50+ homework assignments and daily lesson plans.
Bad Example
  • Recognised for excellent teaching and research skills.
  • Responsible for leading classroom activities, meals, and assisting with student needs.
  • Sourced, created, and implemented new classroom activities.
  • Worked with students to expand life skills and quality of life.

Both of those examples pass. But only the first targets this special ed teacher job.

“Hey, hold on. I just got my degree. I can’t say all that!”

Entry-level CVs can still adapt. Check out these SEN teacher CV examples with no experience:

The job needs these special ed skills: positive discipline, research, and classroom activity creation.

Entry-Level Special Education Needs Teacher CV Job Description [Sample]

Good Example

Teacher's Aide

Susan B. Anthony Elementary School

2018–2019

  • Used positive discipline skills to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared 60+ research-based in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.
  • Assisted 5 teachers with creation of new classroom activities.
Bad Example
  • Proctored and graded quizzes and tests.
  • Used motivational talks to raise homework completion 22%.
  • Prepared in-class assignments.
  • Facilitated 90+ parent-teacher meetings.

Wow. That’s the same person in both examples, but—

The first of those entry-level special education needs teacher CV examples has numbers like 22% and 60+. It also has research and other skills the school demands.

The ResumeLab builder is more than looks. Get specific content to boost your chances of getting the job. Add job descriptions, bullet points, and skills. Easy. Improve your CV in our CV builder now.

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4. Include Details in Your Education Section

Are you qualified?

Your CV education section will answer that. But—

Add a couple school facts that prove your skills would make Jean Little proud. This SEN teacher CV sample shows how:

SEN Teacher CV Example—Education

Good Example

Education

AA Education, University at Buffalo

2010–2012

  • Excelled in classroom management coursework.
  • Pursued a passion for research and lesson plan creation.

Excellent. That adds classroom management and lesson plan creation to your pitch.

5. List “Other” Items in Your SEN Teacher CV

Caution.

The principal wants someone who can teach the unteachable. You can’t show your full potential with just past jobs and school. So—

Include one or two additional sections to show Rachel-Coleman-level skills. Select from this list:

See these special education needs teachers CV examples:

SEN Teacher CV—Extra Sections

Good Example

Certifications

  • 2017 — First Aid, CPR, American Red Cross
  • 2018 — Conflict Resolution, Mediation Training Institute

Volunteer Fundraiser, 78th Street Animal Shelter 

  • Raise over £40,000 per year for animal welfare.
  • Conduct 50+ meetings per year with donors.
  • Write 10+ documents per month, including correspondences.
Bad Example

Additional Activities

  • Using rowing machine.
  • Riding my motorcycle.

Expert Hint: Add a cover letter to your SEN teacher CV. Show your passion for teaching special needs students and your top occupational moments.

Double your impact with a matching CV and cover letter combo. Use our cover letter builder and make your application documents pop out.

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Key Points

Here’s how to write a SEN teacher CV:

  • Start with our special education needs teacher CV template up top. Inform it with the best moments from your special ed career.
  • Add special ed teacher skills like student assessment. But use numbers to show you thrived.
  • Write a SEN teacher CV objective for the top. Put your most exceptional features in it.
  • Write “other” CV sections that show you’re a gifted special ed teacher.

Got questions on how to write great CVs for SEN teacher jobs? Not sure how to put special education needs teacher skills and achievements on a CV? Leave a comment. We’ll be happy to reply! 

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Tom Gerencer
Written byTom Gerencer
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Tom Gerencer is a career expert covering a wide range of job-related topics. He’s shared his insight for jobseekers at all career levels in over 200 articles, reaching over a million readers every month. His written pieces are based on meticulous research and feature insider tips from key industry experts.

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