Occupational burnout among special education teachers results in increased attrition, and lower student and teacher outcomes. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to establish a framework of occupational burnout within special education and adaptive leadership theory. The quantitative correlational study surveyed K-12 special education teachers who taught during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-seven eligible respondents completed the online survey including demographics, Maslach Burnout Inventory Educators Survey, Adaptive Leadership with Authority Scale, and sections of Pandemic Experiences and Perceptions Survey. A statistical correlation between teacher occupational burnout and adaptive leadership indicated supervisors using adaptive leadership strategies had less teacher attrition.