2025-2026 Special Education Teacher Cohort (Austin)

Receive up to five curated job offers.  Choose your placement. Feel supported. Build expertise.

Join community. Welcome to Thrive.

Austin, TX

Too often, special education teachers feel isolated and stunted in their growth—we’ve been there. That’s why we (a team of former educators) created a one-of-a-kind cohort of passionate special education teachers dedicated to achieving results and building communities of practice. 

Our cohort represents the best and brightest in special education, reflecting the strength and diversity of the teaching profession and the communities we serve. In the 24-25 cohort, 70 percent of our educators identify as people of color, 90 percent hold multiple licenses and credentials, and 100 percent received 3 to 5 curated offers for meaningful roles in their schools. Thrive’s team has garnered numerous national, regional, and local awards, including National Teacher of the Year Finalist, Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Community Advocate of the Year. With expertise across various areas, including co-teaching, transition planning, high and low incidence, augmentative and alternative communication support, and department leadership, our teachers bring a wealth of experience and perspectives that enrich their schools and each other’s practice. 

At Thrive, we value your voice and choice. Our intentional interview and matching process is designed to illuminate your passions, strengths, and career aspirations. All of our teachers receive at least three offers from partner schools, giving you the power to choose the role that’s best for you. Paired with professional learning and the support of a committed community, Thrive equips you to grow, lead, and make a meaningful impact—where it matters most.

Note: We received over 2,000 applications for our cohort last year. We will only accept 30 teachers in each region we serve. We encourage you to apply early!

What We Offer:

- Choose Your School: Match with a school in our curated network of geographically diverse, mission-driven partners.

- Select Your Role: Find the perfect role for you based on your preferences and experience. 

- Professional Development Pathways: Participate in specialized training designed specifically for special educators alongside your Thrive cohort team members. 

- 1:1 Coaching and Support: Receive personalized coaching from our Director of Educator Programs, aligned to your development goals and classroom role 

- Community: Gain automatic membership to a community of passionate, collaborative special education teachers driving towards the same goals.

The Ideal Candidate:

In alignment with our core values of Partnership, Excellence, and Equity, we seek educators who:

- Build meaningful relationships with families, colleagues, and students to foster community and collaboration.

- Strive for excellence in their practice, leveraging innovative strategies and evidence-based methods to support student growth and achievement.

- Champion equity by creating inclusive, culturally responsive classrooms where every student feels valued and supported.

Other Key Requirements: 

- Current, active teacher license in Texas, with special education endorsement or certification.

- Residency in the Austin area. 

- Obtain and pass a background check.

Process at a Glance: Your Journey to the Perfect Role

We’re thrilled to learn more about you! At Thrive, we prioritize understanding what inspires you as an educator—what sparks your joy in the classroom, the type of role you’re most excited about, and how we can help you grow. Our process is designed to ensure that we uncover what makes you unique and match you with the role that aligns with your goals. 

The Thrive program offers two programs and aligned professional development pathways: (1) Low Incidence Instruction and (2) High Incidence Instruction. Cohort support will be customized based on your chosen pathway, ensuring it aligns with your goals and interests, as well as the role you select. During the interview process, we’ll ask you to share your pathway preferences, and we’ll discuss these options in more detail.

Note: You’re not obligated to remain in the same pathway throughout the program. We understand that interests evolve, and we encourage that growth! This program is designed to inspire exploration, learning, and collaboration.  In the application, you’ll also have the option to explore each pathway, leaving all of your options on the table.

Here’s what to expect:

Stage 1: Application—start your journey with us!

Stage 2: Join us for the initial interview round, where we’ll explore your experiences and aspirations in depth. Choose a day and time that works best for you!

Stage 3: You’ll have the opportunity to meet one of our exceptional Special Education Teammates. This conversation will allow you to dive deeper into your experience, explore how it aligns with our vision, and gain invaluable insights into the unique opportunities within our cohort program.

Stage 4: Invitations to join the cohort are sent out!

Apply now to become a part of our transformative team at Thrive Therapies Group!

Employment Opportunities:

Employment opportunities include options for direct hire and contracted roles, depending on your choice of placement with one of our partner schools. 

Our Mission

Thrive is on a mission to revolutionize special education in the United States.  We provide results-driven therapies and related services to children with diverse needs, removing barriers to academic achievement and well-being.  Thrive is steadfast in our commitment to serve traditionally marginalized populations, with a particular focus on the intersectionality of race and disability.  We believe health and well-being are critical in establishing conditions for learning, and schools can’t do this work alone.  We lock arms with mission-centered leaders, schools, and districts to deliver highly effective care and services driven by data and designed to get results in both the treatment and classroom settings.  We’re an education organization with a singular focus - closing the equity gap.