Substitute Teacher: Special Education

Generalasp; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is seeking a dedicated Special Education Substitute Teacher to support elementary and middle school students. Substitutes are embedded within school communities, creating an inclusive learning environment and maintaining positive rapport with students.

The ideal candidate will implement evidence-based instructional strategies, follow lesson plans, communicate with parents and administrators, and contribute to the district's equity commitments as outlined in

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree or higher is required or preferred.
• Professional Educator or Substitute license is required.
• Previous elementary or middle school teaching experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Communicate and collaborate regularly with teachers for planning, assessment, and meetings.
• Instruct students using lesson plans provided by the teacher or new plans.
• Convey information to students to prepare for testing and maintain instructional continuity.
• Develop lesson plans as needed to support curriculum goals.
• Gain familiarity with district curriculum and resources.
• Attend staff meetings, professional development activities, and institutes.
• Assist in developing curricular materials as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Supervision

Collaboration

Parent communication

Adaptability

Teach day-to-day or longer terms

Elementary & middle school instruction

Oral and written communication

Interpersonal skills

Office and classroom equipment use

Special needs understanding

Policy and procedures adherence

Team collaboration

Time management

Record keeping and reporting

Punctual attendance

Education

Professional Educator License or Substitute License

Bachelor's degree or higher

Teaching experience in elementary or middle school (preferred)

Tools

Office software

Classroom technology

Job description

Frontline Applicant Tracking - Oak Park Elementary School District 97

Openings as of 10/4/2026

We are only accepting applications for the jobs listed below.

Substitute Teacher: Special Education JobID: 3260

• Position Type: Substitute/ Substitute Teacher
• Date Posted: 10/1/2026
• Date Available: SY26-27

Special Education Substitute Teacher

August 2024

Term/contract:

School Year

Department:

Human Resources

Primary Reporting Location:

Assigned School Building

Level:

Substitute

$150 or $160/day (depending on building)

$254 or $281

Date Available:

As Soon As Possible

About the District

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is a PK-8 elementary school district serving the students of Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois. Oak Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, adjacent to Chicago. It is the 29th-most populous municipality in Illinois with a population of 54,583 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. The district consists of 8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools which serve 5,532 students.

Oak Park School District is a highly diverse and welcoming school community for all. Our community has a history of being forward-thinking and inclusive. We are racially and economically diverse with about 46% of our students identifying as African-American, Hispanic, multiracial, or Asian.

Portrait of a District 97 Leader:

• Champions the vision of the school district.
• Leads with an unrelenting commitment to serve ALL students.
• Embraces the connection between public school leadership, student learning and equity.
• Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
• Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset.
• Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility.
• Balances a drive to lead with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work.
• Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals.
• Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community.
• Demonstrates a passion to work in collaboration with a culturally, racially and linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles.
• Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth.
• Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations.

About the Role

District 97 seeks a dedicated and dynamic individual to work as a special education substitue teacher. Substitutes are embedded within a school community, demonstrating a passion for working with elementary and middle school age students. The ideal person has the ability to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They establish a positive rapport with students, motivating them to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to pursue their full potential.

Substitutes commit to learning and implementing evidence-based instructional strategies, as well as program planning, supporting students' individual needs, effectively communicating and collaborating with parents, administrators, and fellow educators as needed. The ideal candidate will work in support of the district's equity commitments as expressed in BoardPolicy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity

• Communicate and collaborate regularly with other teachers in regards to planning, assessment, parent and community contact, and grade level meetings;
• Instruct students in assigned classroom by using lesson plans provided by the teacher or by enacting new lesson plans;
• Convey information to students to prepare them for testing, achieve curriculum goals, and ensure the teacher’s absence does not cause an interruption in classroom instruction;
• Develop lesson plans as needed;
• Gain familiarity with district curriculum and resources;
• Attend and contribute in staff meetings, professional development activities and teacher institutes;
• Assist in development of curricular materials as assigned; and
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Content Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Willingness to help supervise;
• Ability to collaborate with others;
• Ability to communicate with parents;
• Flexible and willing to adapt to change at short notice;
• Ability to teach day to day assignments or longer term positions;
• Ability to instruct and communicate well with elementary and middle school students;
• Effective oral and written communication skills;
• Strong interpersonal skills, utilizing tact, patience, and courtesy;
• Competent in operating standard office and classroom equipment, including computers and assigned software;
• Ability to understand and relate to students with special needs;
• Adherence to District organization, operations, policies, and objectives, as well as department and program goals;
• Skillful interpretation, application, and explanation of policies, procedures, rules, and regulations;
• Effective communication, cooperation, and maintenance of cooperative working relationships with others;
• Accurate analysis of situations and adoption of effective courses of action;
• Ability to prioritize and schedule work efficiently;
• Proficient in maintaining records and preparing reports; and
• Consistent, punctual, and regular attendance.

Qualifications:

• Professional Educator License or Substitute License
• Previous teaching experience preferred (elementary or middle school).
• Bachelor's Degree, or higher.

Physical Requirements:

This position requires the performance of light work�which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our company. 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 are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Postings current as of 10/4/2026 10:56:44 AM CST.

Need Help?

We're here to help! For questions regarding position qualifications or application procedures, please contact District 97 directly.

For technical questions regarding the Applicant Tracking system, please contact the Applicant Tracking help desk using the Request Technical Help link below.