Private Early Childhood Special Education Teacher

What You'll Do: Design and lead a highly individualized homeschooling program tailored to the student's strengths, interests, and developmental profile Select, adapt, and integrate curriculum and instructional resources across subject areas Create engaging, hands-on lessons that bring learning to life through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences Provide instruction in early literacy, communication, foundational math, and school-readiness skills Use ABA-informed strategies and autism-specific best practices to support learning, behavior, communication, and independence Create structured, predictable routines while remaining responsive to the student's regulation, sensory needs, and engagement levels Collect meaningful data, monitor progress, and make instructional decisions based on student outcomes Support the development of communication skills, emotional regulation, social awareness, and independence Partner closely with the family to ensure consistency and alignment around goals and expectations Communicate regularly regarding progress, observations, and recommendations Collaborate with Thrive to refine instructional approaches, monitor growth, and support long-term educational planning What Makes Someone Successful in This Role You have significant experience working with autistic children and understand how learning, behavior, communication, and regulation intersect You have substantial experience implementing ABA principles and interventions in educational settings; BCBA credentials are highly valued but not required You are equally comfortable functioning as an educator, interventionist, and developmental support professional You bring warmth, patience, and relationship-building skills while maintaining clear expectations and structure You are creative, engaging, and play-based while remaining highly intentional and organized You understand the importance of data collection, progress monitoring, and evidence-based decision making You communicate clearly, professionally, and proactively with families You are adaptable and able to adjust plans in real time based on student needs You are excited by the opportunity to invest deeply in one student's long-term growth Credentials Bachelor's degree required; degree in Education or a subject-matter field strongly preferred State teaching certification or BCBA license required Candidates with equivalent demonstrated experience will be considered Experience Minimum 3 years classroom teaching, private tutoring, or homeschool instruction experience Proven ability to teach across multiple subjects and grade levels (all K-12 subjects considered) Experience working with diverse learners, including students with learning differences, gifted learners, or nontraditional educational backgrounds 3+ years of early childhood education experience 3+ years of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) experience Skills Curriculum design: ability to select, adapt, or build lesson plans from a variety of frameworks (classical, Charlotte Mason, project-based, or traditional) Differentiated instruction: comfortable adjusting pace, depth, and method to match the student Assessment and progress tracking: ability to set measurable academic goals and report progress clearly to parents Strong written and verbal communication skills Proficiency with digital learning tools, educational platforms, and standard productivity software Professional Standards Current background check (required; Thrive facilitates) Verifiable references from prior teaching or tutoring roles Professionalism, discretion, and adaptability -- you are working inside someone's home Compensation $40,000 - $45,000/yr, commensurate with experience, credentials, and placement scope Compensation is negotiated directly with the family; Thrive advocates for fair market rates on your behalf Logistics

Location: Knoxville, Tennessee

Schedule: Tuesday-Thursday between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM

Benefits: Benefits offered through Thrive

Start Date: January 2027