If you're an MSDE-certified special education teacher looking for a position that respects your time — no weekend IEP meetings, no summer extended school year obligations, no rotating schedules — Frederick County Public Schools through Eaglewings offers exactly that. Here's the full picture.
Pay and Benefits
Special Education Teacher Compensation at FCPS
$41–43/hr · Free medical (SBMA/PHCS) · Free dental (Aflac) · Free vision (Aflac) · Weekly pay Thursdays · Workers' comp · MarylandSaves 401(k) · Mon-Fri school calendar · Summers off · Contract stability through 2031
For context, Maryland public school teacher salaries vary by district and experience, but the $41–43/hr rate through Eaglewings translates to approximately $57,000–$60,000 for a school year — competitive with many district salary scales, and with benefits included at no cost. You're also free to take summer work if you choose, without being locked into an extended school year contract.
The Schedule — Really, No Weekends
This is the selling point for many sped teachers who've been burned out by the creep of weekend obligations: Saturday IEP meetings, Sunday lesson planning sessions that stretch all afternoon, extended school year programs that eat into July. At FCPS through Eaglewings, your contract is the academic calendar and nothing else.
Typical hours: 7:30 AM to 3:00 PM or 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM depending on the school. IEP meetings happen during school hours. Planning happens during built-in planning periods. When you leave at 3:00, you're done.
Classroom Settings Available
🏫 Inclusion / Co-Teaching
Co-teach alongside a general education teacher. Modify and accommodate instruction for students with IEPs in the general education setting.
📚 Resource Room
Pull-out instruction for small groups. Deliver specially designed instruction (SDI) aligned with IEP goals in reading, math, writing, or behavior.
🎓 Self-Contained
Specialized classroom for students with intensive needs. Smaller class size, higher aide-to-student ratio, modified curriculum and assessments.
When you apply, Eaglewings matches your certification area, experience, and setting preference with available openings across FCPS's approximately 70 schools. If you have a strong preference for inclusion vs. self-contained, we work to accommodate that.
What You Need
The non-negotiable: MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) certification in Special Education. Accepted certification areas include Generic Special Education, Infant/Primary, Elementary/Middle, or Secondary/Adult.
If you hold an out-of-state special education license, Maryland has reciprocity agreements with many states. Eaglewings can guide you through the MSDE application process to get your Maryland certification established.
Beyond certification: a bachelor's degree in education or a related field, a clean background check, and strong IEP writing and case management skills. Experience with specific populations (autism, emotional/behavioral, learning disabilities, Deaf/HH) is a plus for matching you to the right setting.
Why Staffing Instead of Direct-Hire?
Fair question. Here's what contract sped teaching through Eaglewings gives you that a direct district hire typically doesn't: a higher effective hourly rate (no salary averaging across 12 months), health insurance at zero cost (not subsidized — actually free), weekly pay instead of biweekly or monthly, and the ability to try a school or district before committing long-term.
The tradeoff: you don't accumulate district seniority or pension credits. For teachers who prioritize flexibility, compensation, and work-life balance over tenure-track positioning, the math often works in favor of contract work — especially with Eaglewings' multi-year FCPS contract providing assignment stability through 2031.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to Teach Without the Weekend Creep?
We're hiring special education teachers for FCPS — SY 2026–2027 and beyond.