Special Education Teacher

Tulsa Honor Academy, Inc.; Tulsa (OK); On-site; USD 42,300 - 51,700; Full time

Job summary

Tulsa Honor Academy, Inc. is looking for passionate educators to teach grades 5-12 and ensure all scholars achieve success through rigorous academic instruction. Ideal candidates will demonstrate a commitment to the structure and engage actively with diverse stakeholders in a positive classroom environment.

The role requires Oklahoma educational certification and offers a starting salary of $47,000 plus benefits. Prior teaching experience in a similar population is preferred, along with a drive to help all scholars graduate from college.

Qualifications

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree and Oklahoma special education certification.
• Preferred subject area certification in early childhood or elementary education.
• Prior experience in teaching similar populations is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Advance the mission of THA through effective teaching methods.
• Create a positive classroom environment encouraging participation.
• Ensure all scholars complete necessary cognitive work in lessons.
• Monitor scholar progress and ensure mastery of course goals.

Skills

Commitment to structure

Proactive communication

Engagement with diverse stakeholders

Ability to provide rigorous academic instruction

Goal-oriented

Ability to tackle complex problems

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Oklahoma special education certification (mild/mod)

Subject area certification or early childhood/elementary education certification

Job description

2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR ROLE

At Tulsa Honor Academy (THA), we are on a mission to equip all scholars with the academic skills, content knowledge, and ethical character required for college graduation and life success. We believe ALL scholars, regardless of race, background, income or ability, can achieve at high levels. We work relentlessly to ensure 100% of scholars are on a path to go to and graduate from a college of their choice, beginning in the fifth grade. Opening our doors in 2015 with 92 fifth grade scholars, THA will grow to serve over 1,400 scholars in grades 5-12 across our three schools in the 2026-2027 academic year.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are a firm believer that all scholars can go to and graduate from college
• You demonstrate determination and know that the work is hard, but worth it
• You display humility through consistent self-reflection, problem solving and implementation of feedback
• You believe in team first and know that success is not defined by individuals, but by the team itself
• You demonstrate a commitment to structure knowing that school‑wide systems are critical to scholars’ success
• You are a proactive communicator who does so clearly and concisely with scholars, families and staff
• You are nerdy about ensuring scholars have access to rigorous academic instruction, including deep and complex content
• You desire to be in the trenches with us and our kids and can engage and motivate diverse stakeholders
• You are goal‑oriented and set meaningful, ambitious goals and achieve success despite potential obstacles or setbacks
• You are always hungry for more and have a deep desire to be an expert in your field
• You display grit when the work is hard and use ingenuity, resourcefulness and tenacity to tackle complex problems

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Teachers are entrusted with advancing the mission of Tulsa Honor Academy through the execution of a standards‑aligned curriculum and continuous improvement of their instructional practices based on feedback and support.

Core Commitments

• Develop a palpably positive classroom and school climate with frequent and authentic instances of shared smiling, laughter and enthusiasm where joy is deeply rooted in achievement, the content, and team/individual successes
• Believe that scholar actions and mindsets stem from teacher actions and mindsets
• Develop a strong skill foundation
• Ensure all scholars complete the cognitive work during the lesson, such as reading, writing, discussion, analysis, meaning‑making, computation and problem‑solving
• Display that you value risk‑taking, especially when the work is challenging; expect all scholars to attempt all work, take academic risks and learn from their mistakes
• Sweat the small stuff
• Believe that scholars want and need to be held to a higher standard and that scholars are capable of making good choices
• Teach and enforce school‑wide systems, rules and consequences, disciplinary codes, and rewards at all times
• Know that warmth and strictness are not opposites
• Value parents as our partners
• Model what we expect because we know adults drive culture
• Believe in a all‑hands‑on‑deck mentality
• Gain energy from the feedback cycle; use feedback to make productive changes in performance
• Ensure our community is an inclusive and safe place
• Execute rigorous instructional materials
• Support teammates, families and scholars
• Do whatever it takes to ensure our scholars go to and graduate from college

Core Responsibilities

• Classroom Culture: A Teacher ensures scholars are full participants in a structured, productive and safe learning environment through participation, internalization of class/school culture systems, consistent routines, engaging in meaningful work, celebration of character values and a belief that one can be both warm and strict.
• Ambitious Content: A Teacher ensures scholars work with content that will best develop their understanding of ideas and skills essential to the course by backwards planning, clearly communicating objectives, executing rigorous course materials, assisting scholars in making meaningful connections and frequently utilizing formal and informal data to ensure mastery.
• Ownership and Engagement: A Teacher must ensure scholars are deeply engaged in the work. Scholars synthesize diverse information, consistently complete the cognitive work during the lesson, build upon peers’ thinking, receive feedback from teacher and peers, take academic risks and provide meaningful oral or written evidence to support their thinking.
• Demonstration of Learning: A Teacher ensures scholars are able to demonstrate their learning, including the mastery of rigorous course goals, by knowing each scholar’s progress, using formal and informal assessments, monitoring their own progress and ensuring scholars are on track to achieve or surpass rigorous course learning goals.
• Commitment to Excellence: A Teacher displays a commitment to their team and improving their craft through collaborative relationships, remaining engaged, demonstrating ownership for shared culture, remaining solutions‑oriented and embodying THA’s commitment to continual improvement. Teachers receive regular observations and coaching from an Assistant Principal of Instruction or Principal.

THE DETAILS

Qualifications/Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Oklahoma special education (mild/mod) certification is required OR standard certification with acquisition of mild/mod certification within one year of employment.
• Subject area certification, early childhood, or elementary education certification is preferred.

Experience

• Prior teaching experience in a school serving a similar population to THA’s is preferred.
• Charter school experience is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

• THA's certified salary schedule starts at $47,000 plus incentives for certified Special Educators. Salary is commensurate with full‑time, K‑12 teaching experience in accredited schools. THA’s compensation includes a comprehensive benefits package.

The Role

• Reports to and is held accountable by the school’s Principal.
• Provides minutes of service according to scholars' IEPs and ensures scholars achieve the goals set forth in their IEPs.
• Consults with teachers and site leaders to ensure scholars receive appropriate accommodation.
• Accurately archives scholars' Special Education documentation and collects forms required for meeting.
• Crafts instructionally appropriate IEPs.
• Participates in or leads the MEEGS, REDS, and IEP meetings for their scholars.
• Completes compliance tasks as assigned by the Special Education Manager.
• Follows THA’s Academic Calendar.
• Full‑time, exempt.