Self Contained – Special Education Teacher
Self Contained – Special Education Teacher
Life Skills Special Education Teacher
4th–5th Grade | Full-Time | Up to $55/Hour
Help Students Build Independence, Communication, and Real-Life Skills That Carry Into Adulthood
Spotter Staffing is seeking a compassionate, structured, and highly adaptable Special Education Teacher to support a Life Skills classroom serving 4th and 5th grade students. This position is ideal for someone who values relationship-building, functional learning, and helping students make meaningful progress both academically and personally.
This classroom will focus heavily on communication, emotional regulation, adaptive behavior, social interaction, functional academics, and daily living skills while supporting students with varying cognitive, behavioral, developmental, and learning needs.
This is a full-time school-year opportunity with strong support, competitive compensation, and the ability to make a measurable impact on students during critical developmental years.
Schedule & Compensation
- Up to $55/hour
- Monday–Friday
- Hours: 8:20 AM – 3:55 PM
- 30-minute unpaid lunch
- Full school-year opportunity
What the Role Looks Like Day-to-Day
Life Skills teachers play a critical role in helping students gain the tools necessary to become more independent, confident, and successful both inside and outside the classroom. This position combines academics, behavior support, communication development, and functional skill instruction throughout the school day.
Daily responsibilities may include:
- Teaching functional academics in reading, math, communication, and problem-solving
- Supporting students with social skills, emotional regulation, and behavioral development
- Implementing structured classroom routines and visual supports
- Helping students build independence with daily living and adaptive skills
- Collaborating closely with paraprofessionals, therapists, psychologists, and related service providers
- Writing and implementing IEP goals while monitoring student progress
- Modifying curriculum and instructional methods to meet diverse learning needs
- Creating a classroom environment built around predictability, encouragement, and consistency
- Communicating regularly with families and multidisciplinary teams
What Makes Someone Successful in This Position
The strongest Life Skills teachers are typically:
- Highly patient, calm, and emotionally consistent
- Strong relationship-builders who can earn student trust
- Comfortable balancing academics with behavioral and functional support
- Structured and organized while remaining flexible when student needs shift
- Skilled at de-escalation, positive reinforcement, and proactive classroom management
- Team-oriented and collaborative with support staff and service providers
- Passionate about helping students build independence and confidence over time
Why Educators Tend to Like This Opportunity
- Opportunity to make a visible and meaningful impact on students’ daily lives and long-term development
- Smaller, more relationship-focused classroom environment
- Collaborative support system with paraprofessionals and related service staff
- Upper elementary age group where students are still highly moldable and responsive to strong support systems
- Structured school environment within a well-established Lake County district known for supporting diverse student populations and comprehensive student services (en.wikipedia.org)
Why Work Through Spotter Staffing
Spotter Staffing specializes in supporting school districts with special education professionals throughout Illinois. Our approach is relationship-driven, local, and built around long-term partnerships with educators and clinicians.
Our team focuses heavily on:
- Consistent communication and accessibility
- Local support and responsiveness
- Helping educators find positions aligned with their strengths and interests
- Long-term professional relationships rather than transactional placements
- Providing meaningful support throughout the school year
We understand special education because it is all we do.
Requirements
- Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with LBS1 endorsement
- Experience working with students with developmental, behavioral, cognitive, or communication needs preferred
- Experience in self-contained, instructional, or Life Skills environments preferred
- Strong communication, classroom management, and collaboration skills