SPED Teacher - Students with Visual Impairments and Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist

Douglas County School District

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This role is responsible for the development, implementation, coordination, assessment, and specialized instruction for blind and visually impaired students between the ages of 3 and 21. The position involves interpreting, communicating, and monitoring student needs to develop Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). For the TVI aspect, the focus is on facilitating access to the general curriculum and providing modifications or adaptations. For the COMS aspect, the focus is on systematic orientation and safe movement in school, home, and community environments. The goal is to support student growth in the least restrictive environment, close achievement gaps, and prepare diverse student populations for postsecondary and workforce success.

Requirements

Master’s degree with an accredited institution in education: visual impairments including blindness or its equivalent graduate program.
Ability to manage IEP caseloads for visually impaired students.
Be enrolled in an accredited program to receive a master’s degree with coursework in teaching students with visual impairments including blindness.
Dual certified as TVI and COMS.
School Orientation and Mobility Specialist program through an accredited institution.
Colorado Department of Education: Special Education: Teacher of the Visually Impaired.
Colorado Department of Education: Special Services Provider License: Orientation and Mobility.
Certificate of Competency in reading and writing Unified English Braille from CDE according to the standards established for implementation of the Exceptional Children's Educational Act.
Ability to obtain a Temporary Education Endorsement (TEE) through CDE while enrolled in a master’s degree program and complete the program within three years of the initial authorization, with the TEE being approved by the district and CDE for annual renewal.

Nice To Haves

Adult and Child First Aid/CPR/AED Certification: obtained within 3 months of being hired and renewed as needed.

Responsibilities

Develop, implement, coordinate, assess, and provide specialized instruction for blind and visually impaired students (ages 3-21).
Interpret, communicate, and monitor student needs to develop IEPs.
Facilitate access to the general curriculum and provide modifications or adaptations.
Support student growth in the least restrictive environment.
Close achievement gaps and prepare students for postsecondary and workforce success.
Provide systematic orientation and safe movement instruction in school, home, and community environments.
Collaborate with classroom teachers, other professionals, and parents to identify and determine student programming needs.
Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
Manage and support vision assistive technology for students and educators.
Identify, coordinate, schedule, administer functional vision assessment and learning media assessments and communicate and summarize results.
Responsible for all IEP related tasks and paperwork for compliance for assigned caseload.
Maintain student special education records for assigned caseload.
Collaborate with classroom teachers, other professionals, and parents to develop meaningful IEP goals based on identified needs of individual students.
Deliver orientation and mobility services as outlined in students’ IEPs, including progress monitoring student progress toward identified orientation and mobility goals.
Identify, coordinate, schedule, administer orientation and mobility assessment, and communicate and summarize results, including how the student’s vision disability impacts the student’s mobility.
Train vision educational assistants and teachers or other appropriate personnel to work with the students with visual impairments, including sighted/human guide technique.
Coordinate and manage timelines for students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), which may include coordinating, scheduling, and facilitating multidisciplinary team meetings for students with visual impairments including blindness on assigned caseload.
Train vision educational assistants, teachers, or other identified school personnel to work with students with visual impairments including cane travel expectations.
Deliver vision related services outlined in individual student plans.
Collect relevant data to monitor student progress.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Unified English Braille.

Benefits

health insurance
vision insurance
dental insurance
health savings account (HSA)
flexible spending accounts (FSA)
District paid and voluntary additional (supplemental) life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance
short and long-term disability
critical illness and accident voluntary insurance
employee assistance program (EAP)
voluntary 401(k)
403(b)
457 retirement plan options
paid sick and personal time