Resource – Special Education Teacher

INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCE TEACHER – Middle School
2026–2027 School Year | Placed by Spotter Staffing

About the Role

Spotter Staffing is seeking a dedicated Instructional Resource (IR) Teacher to serve students with disabilities at a middle school in northeast Lake County, IL. This is a full-time, benefited placement for the 26–27 school year working alongside a strong building leadership team (one principal, two assistant principals) and existing Spotter staff placed at both the middle school and neighboring elementary school.

Pay: Up to $55.00/hour
Hours: 7:40 AM – 2:50 PM | Monday–Friday
Setting: Middle School (Grades 6–8)

An Instructional Resource (IR) Teacher operates with a broader, more integrated model. They work primarily outside the general education classroom providing specialized support in a one-on-one or small-group setting, while also collaborating with general education teachers to adapt and modify curriculum, develop IEPs, and offer targeted interventions to help students succeed academically and socially. The IR teacher functions as both a direct service provider and an instructional consultant to the building. 

This position is not a self-contained classroom. Students will push out into general education classes throughout the day and receive services through a combination of pull-out resource instruction and push-in co-teaching or support.

Student Population

Students served range from mild to moderate/severe in disability classification across a variety of eligibility categories. While students do not present with significant behavioral challenges, refusal to work is a common barrier and the ideal candidate will be skilled at building rapport, increasing student motivation, and using engagement strategies that reduce avoidance behaviors.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized and small-group instruction aligned to each student's IEP goals in a pull-out resource setting
• Serve as the case manager for an assigned caseload — write, maintain, and implement legally compliant IEPs
• Regularly assess student progress, collect data, and adjust instructional strategies to meet individual goals and objectives outlined in IEPs 
• Collaborate with general education teachers to modify curriculum, adapt assignments, and ensure students can access core content
• Facilitate and lead IEP meetings; communicate progress with parents, administrators, and related service providers
• Coordinate with related service providers (speech, OT, social work, etc.) as part of each student's IEP team
• Implement engagement-based instructional strategies to address work refusal and promote student motivation and independence
• Maintain accurate records, documentation, and compliance with IDEA and Illinois state special education requirements

Qualifications

• Illinois Professional Educator License (PEL) with a Learning Behavior Specialist I (LBS1) endorsement required
• Experience working with students with mild to moderate/severe disabilities in a middle school setting preferred
• Strong knowledge of IEP development, case management, and IDEA compliance
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and build positive relationships with students, staff, and families
• Experience with or ability to learn strategies for addressing work refusal and low academic motivation
• Patience, adaptability, and a genuine passion for helping students with disabilities succeed 

Why Join Through Spotter Staffing?

Spotter Staffing specializes exclusively in K–12 education staffing across Illinois and Texas. We work closely with the schools we serve and are already embedded in Zion District #6 — with Spotter teachers active at both Shiloh Middle School and East Elementary. You'll have a knowledgeable support team behind you and a school building with strong leadership invested in your success.