Special Education Teachers, Preschool

What the job really is

Teach academic, social, and life skills to preschool-aged students with learning, emotional, or physical disabilities. Includes teachers who specialize and work with students who are blind or have visual impairments; students who are deaf or have hearing impairments; and students with intellectual disabilities.

At a glance

• Sector: Education & Library
• O*NET-SOC code: 25-2051
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Employ special educational strategies or techniques during instruction to improve the development of sensory- and perceptual-motor skills, language, cognition, or memory.
• Teach socially acceptable behavior, employing techniques such as behavior modification or positive reinforcement.
• Communicate nonverbally with children to provide them with comfort, encouragement, or positive reinforcement.
• Teach basic skills, such as color, shape, number and letter recognition, personal hygiene, or social skills, to preschool students with special needs.
• Develop individual educational plans (IEPs) designed to promote students' educational, physical, or social development.
• Confer with parents, administrators, testing specialists, social workers, or other professionals to develop individual education plans (IEPs).
• Teach students personal development skills, such as goal setting, independence, or self-advocacy.
• Develop or implement strategies to meet the needs of students with a variety of disabilities.
• Observe and evaluate students' performance, behavior, social development, and physical health.
• Instruct and monitor students in the use and care of equipment or materials to prevent injuries and damage.
• Administer tests to help determine children's developmental levels, needs, or potential.
• Establish and enforce rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order among students.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Adaptive paint brushes, Adaptive scissors, Adaptive utensils, Alternative computer keyboards, American Sign Language Browser, Braille writers, Canes

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten
• Special Education Teachers, Elementary School
• Special Education Teachers, Middle School
• Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
• Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education
• Teaching Assistants, Special Education
• Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education
• Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Special Education Teachers, Preschool — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.