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Serve where you’re needed mostSecondary English Special Education Curriculum Specialist and Teacher
Education
Job highlights
Costa Rica • North America
In partnership with: Ministry of Public Education, Curriculum Development Directorate, Highly Gifted, Talented and Creative Unit
Applications are now closed. View current openings.
Apply by
November 15, 2025Know by
January 1, 2026Depart on
June 8, 2026Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
The Ministry of Public Education in Costa Rica has requested the support of a Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) to serve as a Secondary English Special Education Curriculum Specialist and Teacher Trainer. The Highly Gifted, Talented and Creative Unit at the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) was established in 2018 and is the body in charge of issuing policies and guidelines regarding the identification, care and monitoring of the student population with high potential. In recent years, the population identified with high potential has grown. These students require specialized spaces to strengthen their capabilities outside their educational centers. For this reason, the Unit seeks to implement co-curricular activities for these students where they can maximize their abilities. The Unit is seeking to have an educational training program on the digital platform Aprendo Pura Vida, which aims to support the highly gifted population by providing opportunities to strengthen their linguistic skills. The Unit is requesting the support of a Peace Corps Response Volunteer (hereafter, Volunteer) who will be able to generate at least two courses: one for third cycle (years 7-9) and another for diversified education (years 10-12).
The Volunteer will collaborate closely with counterparts from MEP’s Secondary Education Department, English teachers, and occasionally with Volunteers in our 2-year program. Activities may include, but are not limited, to those listed below. The PCRV will work to understand the Costa Rican legal and operational framework regarding highly gifted students and help to develop and execute the curricular design of two virtual courses or workshops on the Aprendo Pura Vida platform for secondary education students with verbal talent. The goal of the project is to promote the maximum development of the capabilities and skills of the highly gifted and talented student population to their full potential through gifted and talented programs in all cycles, levels and modalities of the education system.
Candidates selected for this position will be arriving in Costa Rica together as a group, so while the departure dates for the whole group could change, dates cannot be changed for individual candidates.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Costa Rica project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
• BA or MA in Education, preferably focus on curriculum/instruction.
• BA plus 3 or more years of relevant experience, including teaching and curriculum development, and teacher certification/license or MA plus 2 or more years of relevant experience.
• Specialized experience in one of the following areas: Adult English education, vocational English Ed, or special Education.
Language: Spanish
A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
B. Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
C. Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
D. Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Costa Rica
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Costa Rica country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Costa Rica
Henry B.
Elementary English Education Volunteer
"Dancing is big in my community, and it has been a great way to meet people and to distinguish myself from the tourists who are constantly coming through town."
See full Volunteer profile
To learn more about serving as a couple in Costa Rica, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Costa Rica. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
