Special education teachers should understand why continued assessments for each student are paramount to their education and that having the child’s parents involved in the process is critical. Pay attention to the steps the applicant discusses in their answer. To gauge their abilities further, you could ask follow-up questions about the fine details of their techniques. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience conducting Individualized Education Program meetings
• Ability to form creative plans for improving each child’s education
• Willingness to involve parents in the process

Advocating for students to ensure that all pupils receive a high-quality education is an important part of a special education teacher's role. This question requires candidates to form a concise yet persuasive argument for an improvement that could benefit students, giving you insight into how well they may be able to handle real-world situations that require advocacy. What to look for in an answer:

• Verbal communication skills to provide a persuasive argument
• Demonstrated appreciation for the importance of individualized attention
• Self-confidence when expressing opinions

A special education teacher must be prepared to work with students who have a wide range of physical, mental and learning disabilities, so previous experience working with a diverse group of students can be beneficial. In addition, they should know the indicators of serious challenges or risks to the children or others in the classroom and have strategies for addressing them. Pay attention to the level of compassion the applicant exhibits when answering the question. What to look for in an answer:

• Previous experience working with students similar to those that your school serves
• Proven ability to manage challenging behaviors
• Willingness to seek input from professionals to benefit students

A professional should understand that some public schools have limited funding and cannot offer multiple special education teachers for each grade level. If your school mixes grade levels, a quality candidate will need to possess the necessary skills to tailor lesson plans for each grade level successfully and display a willingness to do so. What to look for in an answer:

• Experience teaching multiple grade levels
• Willingness to teach mixed grades, if required
• Commitment to providing individualized instruction for students

If you’re expecting the candidate to work in an all-inclusive classroom at your school, you want them to have a good understanding of what it takes to create a positive environment for all students. Instructors should have strategies for implementing IEPs in an inclusive classroom environment and for responding to crises, should they arise. What to look for in an answer:

• Openness to collaborating with other teachers to meet students' needs
• Willingness to provide additional supports when needed
• Commitment to following IEPs

Students' needs can change over time and vary greatly. Because of this, special education teachers must know how to change their teaching style to fit each student and be willing to change how they do things when necessary. This question will help you see how flexible and adaptable a candidate is. What to look for in an answer:

• Compassion for students
• Innovative mindset
• Adaptability and flexibility

Collaboration between general and special education teachers is vital to the success of students who split their time between different classrooms. This question lets you see what strategies the candidate has developed to ensure an easy flow of communication so that you can assess how well they will function in a team-oriented environment once on the job. What to look for in an answer:

• Willingness to involve fellow teachers in lesson planning
• Evidence of a proactive approach to collaboration
• Commitment to using IEPs to inform decisions regarding instruction

Behavioral issues are common in special education and inclusive classrooms, and instructors need to act quickly and effectively to address them for the safety and well-being of all students. Asking this question lets you gauge how prepared a candidate is to calm students and de-escalate situations before they can become full-blown crises. What to look for in an answer:

• Familiarity with common calming strategies
• Ability to use listening and problem-solving skills to resolve issues
• Demonstrated empathy for students

Taking proactive measures to prevent issues before they arise can help foster a positive learning environment. This question gives you a feel for how well a candidate can identify potential barriers to learning and come up with creative ways to mitigate them. Although the example uses ADHD, you can substitute another common diagnosis to better tailor the question to your student population as needed. What to look for in an answer:

• Problem-solving skills to come up with solutions
• Familiarity with the symptoms of ADHD
• Oral communication skills to clearly explain their ideas

Burnout is a concern in the field of special education. Candidates who can remember what encouraged them to enter the field may be more resilient and able to cope with stressors. From this question, you can get a sense of how the candidate feels about their work and how passionate they are about teaching. What to look for in an answer:

• Positive facial expressions and demeanor
• Ability to come up with an answer promptly
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for working as an educator