Teacher Visually Impaired: Secondary English Language Arts

Teacher of the Visually Impaired:
Secondary English Language Arts

Department Information

CSDB is a Deaf and Blind-led academy where language, leadership, and learning converge to generate agency. Grounded in lived experience, students develop presence, purpose, and way finding - in a space built for growth, pride, and authenticity. CSDB aspires to build generations of thinkers, makers, and leaders who set new standards and transform the world.

General Responsibilities

This position reports to the School for the Blind Administrator(s) and is responsible for providing standards-based instruction to 6-12 grade students who are visually impaired, and who may have other disabilities. Uses Colorado State Standards and benchmarks to establish instructional goals and provides assessments that measure whether students meet standards, in a safe and civil school environment.

Job Functions

• Performs work associated with standards-based student instruction: prepares lesson plans, adapts instructional materials, develops input for and presents daily instructional/learning activities based upon the IEP and school reform tenets under the direction of the School for the Blind Administrator(s); maintains a positive classroom environment utilizing appropriate classroom management; keeps students on task and engaged in learning.
• Demonstrates knowledge/skill in task analysis, progress monitoring, daily living skills, assessment, behavior management, organization/planning, curriculum development, current technology practices relative to students who have vision loss, parent relations and teamwork.
• Works as part of an education/assessment team responsible for identifying, developing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating individual objectives for assigned students.
• Serves as a Student Advocate for assigned students.
• Coordinates effectively with other service staff in providing student instruction, supporting school reform efforts, strategic planning, and positive contributions to co-curricular activities.
• Provides positive team participation within the School for the Blind and the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) as a whole; participates in regular team and departmental meetings, school and instructional meetings as required.
• Provides parent consultation and participates in selected parent-focused activities.
• Participates in professional development and training/workshops as appropriate.
• Performs other appropriate duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

• Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Education or closely related field from an accredited college or university; specialization in Education for the Visually Impaired preferred.
• Must hold or be eligible for appropriate educator licensure in the State of Colorado.
• Must hold, be eligible for, or able to obtain within two years from hire, appropriate educator licensure in the State of Colorado endorsed as a Special Education Specialist:
  Visually Impaired, or comparable endorsement.
• Subject area endorsement or specialization (Secondary English Language Arts).
• Experience teaching/working with children in an educational environment with visual impairments and/or multiple disabilities.
• Ability to demonstrate competency in Braille by the end of the first instructional year, as evidenced by possession of a CDE Certificate of Braille Competency.

Knowledges, Skills, Abilities

• Knowledge of and ability to apply current standards-based educational practices for children who are visually impaired in a variety of settings.
• Knowledge of Expanded Core Curriculum for students with visual impairments, including those with multiple disabilities.
• Knowledge of and ability to assess and apply technology to perform the requirements of the position; ability to use a variety of computer software applications (email, internet, word processing, calendar, presentation development, spreadsheet, database, etc.).
• Knowledge of and ability to adapt and apply teaching skills, classroom management and lesson preparation to a technology-rich environment, which may include onsite classroom, telepresence, and distance education technologies.
• Knowledge of and ability to implement current technologies used by children who are blind/visually impaired.
• Ability to respond effectively to feedback and to work cooperatively in a team setting.
• Strong, positive interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency or commitment to work toward proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) at the Novice level as demonstrated through an appropriate assessment tool and according to school policy.

Organizational Relationships

Reports to and is evaluated by the School for the Blind Administrator(s).

The annual employment contract shall be based on the standard number of working days in the academic year (currently 185 days, August to June). The base salary shall be established pursuant to the Teacher Salary Schedule, and based on appropriate education and…