Teacher - Visually Impaired @ Special Education, 1.0 Fte, Cont.

Spokane Public Schools•Admin Building - Special Education - Spokane, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

As a Spokane Public Schools staff member, you'll uphold our commitment to creating a loving and collaborative learning community where all students belong and thrive. We are looking for team members who embrace differences, have a desire to work with a diverse community of learners, have a heart for the humans they serve, work as a team, grow and reflect through feedback, are lifelong learners and positive problem solvers. The itinerant teacher for students with visual impairment travels to student's assigned schools to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable students to learn in their classroom setting. Students range in age from 3 through 21, may be singularly or multiply disabled, and educationally range from severely disabled to gifted and talented. Many of the students with visual impairment are totally integrated in their neighborhood schools, while others are in special programs within their neighborhood schools or at various campuses throughout the district.

Requirements

Qualify for a valid Washington State teaching certificate with the appropriate endorsements as required by law, regulation, or district practice for the level of the students assigned.
If possessing an initial or provisional certificate, the candidate must hold the appropriate endorsement of teacher of the Visually Impaired.
If not possessing vision endorsement, the candidate must be enrolled in a recognized program for teachers of the Visually Impaired.
Demonstrates proficiency with Unified English Braille.
A UEB certification or like certification required.
Demonstrates classroom management procedures that provide for large and small groups, and individuals, and provides an environment conducive to learning.
Uses appropriate disciplinary procedures, establishes clear parameters for student behavior, responds properly when problems occur, and helps students toward self-discipline.
Demonstrates ability to communicate clearly and effectively in both written and oral form.
Flexible in learning new concepts, cooperates with others, and adapts to a variety of assignments and conditions.
Enthusiastic and displays an overall optimism toward teaching and student learning.
Assesses needs of students, prescribes and implements effective lessons to meet those needs through the use of appropriate and current instructional strategies based on best practices.
Gains the respect and confidence of students, parents, and staff through modeling appropriate demeanor, behavior, and attire.
Sets and attains high level of expectations with a commitment to using available resources in a way that accomplishment occurs.
Demonstrates the ability to learn new ideas and skills and for solving problems; the possession of a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 is expected. (This requirement may be waived if an inadequate pool of fully qualified applicants for a specific position exists.)
Aware of current educational developments and applications, works collaboratively with others, believes in the importance of education, and interested in the welfare of all students.
Knowledge of effective teaching strategies related to the appropriate age of instruction.
Demonstrated ability to apply this knowledge in a classroom setting.
Ability to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the instructional/learning process.
Ability to administer, interpret, and utilize assessment procedures/tests in placement of students.
Willingness and commitment to participate in professional collaboration and student supervision.
Experience as a special education instructor or in a closely related field within a public elementary school setting.
Demonstrated understanding of the essential requirement with P.L. 101-457 and its application to the provision of compliant services for the disabled.
Uses democratic processes to work out problems in a supportive and understanding nonauthoritarian manner.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and cooperatively with a diverse group of students, teachers, parents, and administrators in a confidential manner.
Enthusiastic and displays an overall optimism in motivating toward teaching and student learning and relates positively to youth and adults of varying socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic backgrounds, different learning styles, and various disabilities.
Successful experience in working with students exhibiting a wide range of disabilities.

Nice To Haves

Orientation or mobility certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Act as a facilitator, on behalf of the child, with the educational team.
Assist in determining eligibility (by interpreting physician's eye report), conducting a functional vision assessment and or other assessments as appropriate.
Participate in the assessment of each child and interpret the assessment results to the classroom teacher.
Participate as a member of the multidisciplinary team knowledgeable of determination of eligibility, and the development of instructional goals that support the student with vision impairment to determine services and placement options.
Provide instruction in braille to students' reading and/or learning braille.
Provide instruction that allows the student with a vision impairment to utilize learning materials to the fullest extent, including technology and low vision devices.
Organize instructional programs within the prescribed curriculum to provide for individual differences.
Assure that the child has all educational materials in the appropriate media (by working with the media transcriber); as well as any devices/technological apparatus useful to the learning process and is trained in their use.
Consult with classroom teacher regarding methodology and strategies in teaching a student with visual impairments.
Consult with diagnosticians, classroom teachers, students, parents, and other specialists.
Maintain adequate records of all assessments, IEPs, reports, and registrations with various agencies.
Effectively manage, instruct and supervise vision program paraeducators.
Assign paraeducators caseloads and set up their schedules.
Ensure provision and oversee training on technological equipment as needed.
Provide all instructional staff, support staff, administrators and specialist a weekly schedule of staff assignments to ensure supervisor of student activities.
Integrates technology into planning, learning and record keeping.
Maintain professional knowledge and expertise; attend, participate and implement district level program requirements of IDEA, and statewide assessment requirements.
Perform other duties as assigned or required by the supervisor.

Benefits

Medical/Dental/Vision through SEBB (School Employee Benefits Board) are provided for employees who work at least 630 hours per academic year.
Additional benefits may include vacation, sick, personal days, and paid holidays.
Most positions have additional pay provisions above what is represented on the salary schedule, all in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreements as negotiated.
Multiple medical plans offered from various providers such as Kaiser Permanente WA, Premera Blue Cross, and the Uniform Medical Plan (for example) to fit your needs for varying cost and care options.
Vision and Dental plan options, as well as standard Life and AD&D insurance are offered at no cost to the employee.
The SEBB program also offers additional employee paid benefits like Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), supplemental Life and AD&D, Long-Term Disability insurance, and Medical Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA).
Benefit eligible Spokane Public Schools employees and their dependent family members have access to free, confidential counseling, consultation and referral services through the Employee Assistance Program.
School District Employees participate in the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) public pension plan.
Employees can choose from a lifetime retirement pension plan or a hybrid pension and investment plan that contributes between 5% and 15% of wages to retirement.
When employees meet plan requirements and retire, they are guaranteed a monthly benefit for the rest of their life from the employer-funded pension.
Employees can also participate in voluntary savings programs to increase retirement savings such as the DRS Deferred Compensation Program or by participating in a 403(b) retirement plan through the District’s plan manager, OMNI.