Top Careers for Special Education Teachers Looking for Alternative Roles
- Sean G. McCormick
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
This article is brought to you by the Special Educator's 10-Minute Transition Toolkit.
Find your niche, run your first session, set your price, and grab a ready-to-use coaching contract. Designed for special educators exploring executive function coaching.
If you’re a special education teacher, chances are, you’ve had moments where you’ve asked yourself, “Is this really sustainable?”
In this post, we'll go over 19 career options for special education teachers who want to transition into something more sustainable, why executive function coaching is the best career change to make, and how to get started now.👇
Table of Contents:
Teaching (and especially special education teaching) can be an incredibly challenging career.
One national study revealed that 23% of all teachers report their work as being constantly stressful, while 38% feel their work is often stressful.
Those aren’t small numbers. Burnout is real, and sometimes, it’s okay to say, “This isn’t working for me anymore.”
The good news is that your skills as a special education teacher are highly transferable, and there are countless rewarding careers just waiting for someone with your unique expertise.
Whether you’re looking for a fresh start or are just exploring options, we’ve put together a list of alternative (and incredibly awesome) career paths that are perfectly suited for special education teachers just like you.
What Other Jobs Can a Special Education Teacher Do?
If you’re curious about what else the world might hold for you outside of teaching special education, here are some career paths to explore:
1. Math or Reading Specialist
Maybe you love teaching but want to focus on specific subjects that light you up.
As a Math or Reading Specialist, you’ll work one-on-one or in small groups with students who need extra help in these areas.
It’s a chance to dig deeper into academic growth without managing a large classroom.
As a bonus, specialists often have more predictable schedules and less administrative paperwork.
2. School Counselor
You probably already spend much of your time helping students with emotional regulation and problem-solving.
Becoming a school counselor takes those skills further.
You’d help students tackle everything from academic challenges to emotional hurdles, while building long-term relationships.
On top of that, school counseling jobs often come with an improved work-life balance.
3. School Psychologist
Take your understanding of student behavior to new heights.
School psychologists assess and diagnose learning difficulties, behavioral challenges, and mental health concerns.
With your experience, you already understand how to connect with students.
This career just gives you the resources to dig deeper and provide critical interventions.
4. Educational Writer
Got a knack for crafting lesson plans or simplifying tricky concepts?
Educational writing might be your jam.
Companies hire writers like you to create teaching materials, articles, or even curriculum guides.
Plus, writing can be done remotely.
Say hello to comfy pants and coffee at home.
5. Consultant
Your years of navigating IEPs, ADA compliance, and individualized instruction make you a goldmine of expertise.
Organizations, schools, and even educational companies hire consultants to help them improve accessibility, training, and more.
6. Corporate Trainer
Believe it or not, the corporate world is hungry for someone with your skills.
Training adults isn’t so different from teaching kids; both need engagement, clear instructions, and patience.
Corporate trainers design and deliver workshops on everything from leadership to communication, often earning competitive salaries.
7. Special Education Advocate
Have you ever thought, “If only I had more time to dedicate to family advocacy?”
Now's your chance.
Special Education Advocates work on behalf of families, helping them understand their rights, secure necessary accommodations, and craft the best educational plans for their children.
8. Virtual Assistant
If you’re looking for flexibility, becoming a virtual assistant could be your dream job.
Use your organization and communication skills to support business owners, nonprofits, or even educational organizations without being tied to a physical location.
9. Ed Tech Specialist
Technology in education is booming, and as someone familiar with hands-on learning tools, transitioning into ed tech is a natural fit.
Many specialists work to develop technology that improves learning outcomes for students, particularly those with unique educational needs.
10. Curriculum Designer
Ever thought, “I could totally build a better one of these!” while flipping through a textbook?
Curriculum designers develop the materials and programs that teachers use in classrooms every day.
Your time-tested knowledge of what works (and what doesn’t) is invaluable here.
11. Fundraising Manager
Nonprofits are in constant need of dynamic, empathetic leaders to help secure funding.
With your persuasive communication skills and genuine care for people, stepping into a role as a fundraising manager could be fulfilling.
12. Advocacy Manager
If you’ve got a passion for creating social change, you may want to consider a role as an Advocacy Manager.
This job involves developing and directing campaigns for organizations focused on causes like disability rights, education reform, or accessibility.
13. Instructional Designer
Think of yourself as an educational architect.
Instructional Designers create effective learning experiences for students, employees, or even online courses.
Your teaching background will help you design programs that actually work.
14. Recreation Coordinator
Want to inject a little more fun into your career?
Recreation Coordinators develop and oversee activities that keep kids and families engaged, whether at community centers, camps, or hospitals.
15. Psychometrist
The job title here sounds complicated, but the simplest explanation is that a psychometrist administers and scores the psychological tests designed by school psychologists or researchers.
You’d be behind the scenes identifying strengths and challenges in students.
16. Occupational Therapist
Given your experience supporting students’ needs, occupational therapy might feel like a natural extension of your work.
OTs help individuals overcome physical or developmental barriers to everyday tasks, making it a deeply hands-on and rewarding role.
17. Principal
Have you dreamed of improving the entire school, rather than just one classroom?
Becoming a principal puts you in the driver’s seat, shaping school culture and decision-making.
Naturally, it’s a lot of responsibility, but the potential for meaningful impact is huge.
18. Special Education Administrator
Your expertise in special education makes you uniquely qualified for higher-level leadership roles like Special Education Administrator.
These professionals oversee programs for students with disabilities, ensuring compliance and effectiveness.
The average salary? Around $90,560 annually. Not too shabby!
19. Early Intervention Specialist
As a special education teacher, you’ve likely seen firsthand how critical early support can be.
As an Early Intervention Specialist, you’d work with children under five, addressing developmental or educational challenges as they arise.
It’s deeply rewarding and incredibly impactful.
What is the Best Career Change for a Special Education Teacher?
After such a stellar lineup of options, you might be wondering,
“But which one is the best?”
Well, the truth is, it depends on you.
But if you’re looking for flexibility, independence, and meaningful work, you may want to consider executive function coaching.
EF coaching allows you to help kids and adults strengthen their organizational, time management, and decision-making skills.
Essentially, the skills that help people succeed in all walks of school, work, and life.
Best of all? You’re in charge.
You can decide how many clients you want to take on, whether you work in person or online, and set your own rates.
If you’re not sure how to make the leap, we have an amazing resource to help.
The Special Educator’s 10-Minute Transition Toolkit is specifically designed for people like you who are ready for a change but don’t know where to start.
For just $27, this toolkit walks you through the process of translating your experience into an EF coaching career.
It’s a small investment for what could be a massive leap forward in your life.
And if you know you're in and want to launch your own EF coaching business, apply for my certification course to get certified and finally step into a career that doesn't lead to burnout.
Ultimately, no one becomes a special education teacher without a heart for helping others.
That core part of you doesn’t have to go anywhere with EF coaching.
It can just evolve into something new.
Whether you decide to step into counseling, curriculum design, or executive function coaching, the skills and compassion that got you here will serve you well wherever you go.
Now, it’s over to you.
Which career speaks to you most?
Wherever this path leads, just know you’ve built a foundation of skills that matter.
And that makes you unstoppable.
The Bottom Line
Your special education skill set is marketable in a lot of directions, and you get to choose a path that does not chew you up and spit you out by spring break.
If you want the most flexibility with the least bureaucracy, executive function coaching is a strong next move because you already know how to build trust, break skills into steps, and help people follow through.
If you want a low risk way to test the waters, start with the Special Educator’s 10 Minute Transition Toolkit for $27 and map your first steps today.
And if you already know you are done with burnout and ready to build your own executive function coaching business, apply for the certification and get the training, support, and structure to launch it the right way.
Hope this helps! 🤙🏻
FAQs
Do I need another degree or certification to switch careers from special education?
Not always. Some paths like counseling, school psychology, or OT require additional schooling and licensure, while options like executive function coaching, consulting, and educational writing can be started with your current experience plus targeted training.
How fast can I realistically make the transition without blowing up my finances?
You can start by testing a new path part time while you are still employed, then scale up once you have proof it is working.
A simple timeline is 30 to 90 days to explore, skill up, and take first steps, then 3 to 6 months to build consistency.
What is the easiest first step if executive function coaching sounds interesting?
Start with the Special Educator’s 10 Minute Transition Toolkit so you can translate your experience into a clear direction and next actions.
This article is a part of the larger category of:
Related Articles:
Why I Quit My Career As A Special Education Teacher And What I Do Now (2025)
How I started my business on the side after leaving as a special education teacher
How Alison Eber Went From Classroom Teacher to Starting Her Own Executive Function Coaching Business
2025 State Of The Executive Function Coaching Industry: Data And Statistics from EFCA Graduates
Want support in transitioning to executive function coaching?
Consider joining hundreds of educators and professionals who have completed our executive function coaching certification and are building profitable executive function coaching practices using their teaching experience.
You'll gain all the tools, templates, and techniques you'll need as a coach, plus you'll make new friends and have a community you can rely on to grow and learn. Learn more.
Here is one of our favorite reviews. You can read all recent reviews on this page.
About Me
Hey! I'm Sean 👋
I'm a former public school special education teacher who realized that executive function skills are more important than knowing when George Washington crossed the Potomac.
Since then, I've made it my mission to teach anyone who will listen about how to develop these key life skills.
In 2020, I founded Executive Function Specialists to ensure all students with ADHD and Autism have access to high-quality online executive function coaching services. We offer online EF coaching and courses to help students and families.
Realizing I could only reach so many people through coaching, in 2021 I started the Executive Function Coaching Academy which trains schools, educators, and individuals to learn the key strategies to improve executive function skills for students.
In 2023, I co-founded of UpSkill Specialists, to provide neurodivergent adults with high-quality executive function coaching services.
When not pursuing my passions through work, I love spending time with my family, getting exercise, and expanding my brain through reading. You can connect with me on LinkedIn.