Substitute Teacher: Special Education

Oak Park Elementary District 97; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 seeks a Special Education Substitute Teacher to support elementary and middle school students with diverse needs. Substitutes are embedded within a school community, delivering instruction, adapting plans, and maintaining an inclusive learning environment.

Candidates should hold a Professional Educator License or Substitute License and a Bachelor's degree; prior elementary or middle school teaching experience is preferred.

Qualifications

• Willingness to help supervise students.
• Strong collaboration with teachers and families.
• Ability to communicate with parents and staff.
• Flexibility to adapt to changes on short notice.
• Experience teaching elementary or middle school is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Communicate and collaborate regularly with teachers on planning, assessments, and meetings.
• Instruct students in assigned classroom using provided lesson plans or new plans.
• Convey information to prepare students for tests and ensure instruction continues during teacher absence.
• Develop lesson plans as needed and align with district curriculum.
• Attend staff meetings and contribute to professional development activities.
• Assist in developing curricular materials as assigned; perform other duties.

Skills

Collaboration

Communication

Adaptability

Instruct students

Classroom management

Interpersonal skills

Equity & inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Professional Educator License or Substitute License

Job description

Openings as of 10/10/2026 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.

The mental demands, physical demands, and work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to allow an employee with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Postings current as of 10/10/2026 4:25:16 AM CST.

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