Life Skills Teacher (Elementary)

Some teachers are good at this work. A few are made for it.

We are looking for the second kind.

If you are a certified special education teacher who genuinely loves students with significant needs, who finds meaning in the moments other people overlook, and who understands that structure and routine are acts of love not just classroom management, we want to talk.

Who You Are

You chose special education on purpose. And within special education you are drawn to the students who need the most. The ones who communicate differently, experience the world differently, and have more to offer than people sometimes take the time to see.

You are consistent and warm and you know how to hold a boundary without losing a relationship. You celebrate wins that nobody else in the building noticed. You show up on the hard days because you know your students need you to and because honestly, you cannot imagine doing anything else.

You are not looking for a stepping stone. This is where you want to be.

Why Prelude Prep

Teachers at Prelude Prep receive:

• Weekly instructional coaching and dedicated support
• Dedicated planning time built into every school day
• A team that genuinely includes you and your students in school culture
• Leadership that invests in your growth and has your back
• A school community that sees and values your work
• Meaningful relationships with students and families
• Real opportunities for leadership and growth as you develop

What You Will Do

You will build a classroom that is structured, predictable, and full of purpose. You will know every student's goals and you will chase them relentlessly. You will teach life skills and functional academics in a way that is meaningful and appropriately challenging for each learner. You will be a partner to families who are trusting you with the most important person in their lives.

• Design and deliver individualized instruction aligned to each student's IEP goals
• Build a structured, routine driven classroom where students feel safe and ready to learn
• Collaborate with related service providers, paraprofessionals, and general education staff
• Maintain accurate IEP documentation and meet all special education timelines
• Build trust based relationships with families and communicate with consistency and care
• Participate meaningfully in ARD meetings and each student's educational plan
• Show up to coaching and professional development ready to grow
• Contribute to a school culture where every student is known and valued

What We Are Looking For

• A genuine love for students with significant needs and an unshakeable belief in what they are capable of
• Someone who chose this population on purpose and wants to stay
• Deep understanding of structure and routine and how to use both as tools for student growth
• Patience, consistency, and warmth in equal measure
• The ability to partner with families who need someone they can trust
• Humility and coachability, you want feedback and you use it
• Grit, because this work is meaningful and it is also hard and the right person shows up anyway

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Valid Texas special education certification

Preferred:

• Experience in a life skills or self contained special education setting
• Experience working with students with significant cognitive, developmental, or communication needs
• Familiarity with AAC devices and alternative communication strategies
• Strong ability to track student data and monitor progress toward individualized goals

This role requires the right certification and the right heart. We are looking for both.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary: $55,000–$65,000
• Teacher Retirement System (TRS)
• Health insurance benefits
• Weekly coaching and professional development
• A real path to leadership and growth

Prelude Prep is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability in admission, access to, or treatment in its programs and activities, including employment practices.

If this is the room you have been looking for, we want to meet you. Apply today and become part of the Prelude Prep family.