Middle School Exceptional Education Teacher (2026-2027 SY)

Valor Collegiate Academies; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 51,204 - 62,583; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

75% coverage of health, dental, and vision benefits

8 weeks of fully-paid parental leave

Access to on-campus gym

100+ hours of professional development annually

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Nashville, Tennessee, is seeking a full-time lead teacher for the 2026-2027 school year. The position offers a starting salary of $56,794 for certified teachers, with opportunities for professional growth and development. Exceptional Education Teachers play a vital role by collaborating with general education instructors and are integral to shaping diverse learners’ educational experiences. The school provides comprehensive benefits, emphasizing community and inclusivity.

Qualifications

• Must have an active Tennessee teaching license.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.
• Proven track record in student growth.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver engaging lessons tailored to individual student needs.
• Collaborate with general education teachers to support diverse learners.
• Develop and manage IEPs for students in caseload.

Skills

Collaboration with teachers

Data analysis

Classroom management

Positive behavior support

Lesson planning

Education

Active Tennessee teaching license with Special Education endorsement

Employment Standard waiver in Gifted Education (preferred)

Job description

Location: Nashville, Tennessee

Employment Type: Full-time, in-person lead teaching position for the 2026-2027 school year

Salary: Starting salary is $56,794 for certified teachers, with salaries determined based on completed years of K-12 teaching experience. Pre-licensure candidates without an active TN license begin at $45,856.

Why Choose Valor?

Valor Collegiate Academies is a top-performing public charter school network in Nashville, Tennessee, serving 1,900 students in grades 5-12. Our mission is to empower our diverse community to live inspired and purposeful lives. This mission is made possible through an innovative school model that blends rigorous academics and whole-child education, within an intentionally diverse school environment. Our results include:

• A-Rated Charter Network in Tennessee: Scored as an "A" charter school network by the Tennessee Department of Education, earning perfect scores in areas of Academic Achievement, Academic Growth, Growth of Highest Need Students, and College & Career Readiness.
• Top 1% for Student Growth: Our middle schools consistently rank in the 99th percentile in student growth statewide, based on TVAAS data from the past 5 years.
• National Leader in SEL: Over 50 partner schools nationwide have adopted and implemented Valor’s Compass model for social-emotional learning.

At Valor, you'll join an academically excellent and supportive community that is dedicated to your growth as an educator. With personalized coaching and high-quality professional development, we invest in your development so you can make the greatest impact for students.

Why Join our Exceptional Education Team?

Our Exceptional Education Teachers are valued for the deep expertise and leadership they bring to their work. As specialists, they are trusted to guide student development by collaborating closely with general education teachers to co‑teach, offer critical insight, and ensure that Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are thoughtfully crafted and implemented.

What truly makes Exceptional Education at Valor unique is our strong system of support. Our Exceptional Education Teachers belong to a cohesive, dedicated team that prioritizes ethical, responsive, transparent, and accountable care for all scholars. This team‑based approach ensures that no challenge is faced alone and every student's learning journey is a shared responsibility among our community of educators.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Planning & Instruction

• Prepare, internalize, and plan daily lessons for intervention spaces based on individual learners’ needs.
• Partner and collaborate with EL teachers and general education teachers to ensure all students are receiving appropriately scaffolded grade‑level content and academic support across class settings.
• Prepare materials for resource class activities, do nows, and exit tickets.
• Use scholar work and data to inform instruction and intervention strategies in both general education and intervention settings.
• Collect, enter, and analyze academic data to provide targeted instruction and interventions that promote a culture of learning.
• Engage in weekly 1:1 coaching meetings to deepen content and case management expertise.
• Submit lesson plans weekly for feedback and review by instructional coach.
• Engage in weekly collaborative curriculum meetings (known as Intellectual Preparation) with a planning partner and instructional leader (for one cotaught content area).
• Proactively communicate academic progress with parents/guardians, other teachers, administrators, and/or school counselors.
• Co‑teach in 3‑4 core content classes daily (including content knowledge to efficiently co‑teach and support caseload students).

Case Management Responsibilities

• Develop and manage individualized education programs (IEPs) for students on your caseload.
• Collaborate with school psychologist and related service providers to plan and conduct reevaluation meetings for your caseload.
• Collect and track data on individual student skills to determine the effectiveness of programming and measure progress toward IEP goals.
• Maintain reports to be in compliance with federal, state, and local district requirements.
• Collaborate and co‑teach with general education/core content teachers to ensure the successful implementation of established curriculum and/or individual student plans.
• Collaborate with paraprofessionals to serve the needs of individual students.

School‑Based Responsibilities & Faculty Engagement

• Enforce, uphold, and exhibit school’s values, student management policies, and culture systems.
• Own an arrival, recess or lunch, transition, or dismissal duty daily.
• Participate in school events that occur outside of normal school hours, such as parent‑teacher conferences, signature experiences, field trips, IEP meetings, report card conferences, and new student orientation (estimated 25 hours per year).
• Engage in ongoing professional development, which includes attending 3 weeks of faculty training in July 2025 and weekly PL sessions throughout the school year.
• Participate in faculty Circle once a week; complete and present 2‑3 pieces of faculty Badge Work per year.

Student Behavior Support

• Respond to students’ behavior in real‑time using school‑wide intervention systems and classroom management practices.
• Track and input student behavior feedback and data through Kickboard by the daily school deadline to share with families, school leaders, and the Compass team.
• Maintain a 4:1 positivity ratio to strengthen school culture and student relationships.
• Serve as the main point‑of‑contact for case load’s families to communicate any student‑specific/IEP related information.

Benefits We Offer

• Childcare Benefit: subsidized childcare and priority seating at Little Wonders Day Care.
• Family Leave: 8 weeks of fully‑paid parental leave.
• Waitlist Priority: Priority spot on the Valor waitlist for new student enrollment.
• Comprehensive Benefits: 75% coverage of health, dental, and vision benefits; retirement benefits including a hybrid pension and 401(k) with 5% employer matching.
• Paid Time Off: 8 PTO days annually and access to an org‑wide PTO sharing program.
• Professional Growth: 100+ hours of PD annually, 1:1 coaching, and career advancement opportunities.
• Additional Perks: Access to an on‑campus gym, unlimited classroom supplies, and a dedicated course budget for each teacher.

Compensation

Our salary schedule is designed to be fair and transparent, based solely on years of K‑12 teaching experience and standardized across the organization at the BA degree level. Starting at $56,794 for certified teachers with no prior experience, salaries increase annually. We also recognize long‑term commitment with $2,500 years‑of‑service bonuses awarded after 3, 5, 7, and 10 years of teaching in a Valor classroom.

Role Requirements

• Must have an active Tennessee teaching license with a Special Education or Interventionist endorsement or be actively enrolled in an approved job‑embedded program.
• Must have authorization to work in the United States without requiring employer sponsorship.

Additional Requirement for Gifted Endorsement

• In addition to the Special Education license, candidates who possess or are willing to obtain a Gifted Education endorsement are highly preferred. To become certified in Gifted Education, teachers must either engage in coursework through an approved Educator Preparation Program or work to obtain a gifted Employment Standard waiver by completing courses in gifted education.

Key Mindsets

• Proven track record of growth and achievement in your classroom.
• Unwavering belief that all students can succeed in school and beyond.
• Craving feedback and relentless drive to develop practice.
• Passion for serving a culturally and socioeconomically diverse community.
• Willingness to quickly learn and adopt school‑wide tech platforms (Kickboard, Infinite Campus, Google Suite, Google Classroom).
• Enjoyment cultivating meaningful relationships with students, families, and staff.
• Ability to model, live, and reinforce school’s core values, commitments, and policies.

Interview Process

• Resume Review
• Phone Interview
• Teacher Performance Task
• Virtual Sample Lesson & Leadership Interview
• Reference Checks
• Offer Extension

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Valor believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization that enables students and staff to thrive. As an equal‑opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to thrive in a diverse world.