Position Title: Teacher for the Visually Impaired

Department: Special Programs

Reports To: Coordinator of Instructional Programming

FLSA Status: Exempt

SUMMARY:

Responsible for planning instruction and/or adaptation of the education program to enable students to benefit from educational experiences. Evaluate students to determine their functional levels and identify special needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Participate in Evaluation Planning, Re-Evaluation Review, and IEP meetings.
• Conduct Functional Vision, Learning Media and Expended Core Assessments and provide reporting of educational and adaptive needs in the areas of visual development, literacy, social, self-help, and other areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum for students found eligible under IDEA as having a visual impairment.
• Assist in and/or develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) based on Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment and Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for students with a visual impairment or blindness.
• Work with students in the natural environment and in the school-based setting to schedule lessons, adapt instructional materials, and provide instruction in braille, use of residual vision, and other areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC).
• Consult with parents, teachers, medical staff and other professionals regarding the needs of identified students to include outside vendors for instructional equipment and materials.
• Maintain records and specific data required by school district and IDEA (Part B) in order to comply with state and federal regulations.
• Provide information about district programs and services and outside agency programs and support for individuals with visual impairment or blindness.

• Adhere to the ethical standards and codes of the profession, and to the established rules, regulations, and laws governing special education programs.
• Participate in activities that promote professional development and use educational research to enhance services.
• Attends department activities, meetings, and training to support department initiatives.

• Perform other duties related to the Purpose as assigned by the Assistant Superintendent of Special Programs.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

Bachelor’s Degree in Education

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

Valid South Carolina teaching certificate:

Visual Impairment

Special Education Endorsement preferred

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Not applicable

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional journals, technical procedures and instructional manuals. Ability to design and write professional development plans, reports and data entry procedures. Ability to effectively present professional development and training and respond to questions from groups of educators, trainees, media, administrators and organization members.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in units of measurement, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference and in the display and interpretation of data. Ability to apply basic concepts of statistical analysis, fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY:

Ability to interpret and carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to analyze information and use logic to address work related issues and problems.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES:

Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of Education policies.

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students to whom assigned. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clearly and concisely in written and oral communication.

Ability to implement a flexible work schedule to meet reporting deadlines. Proficiency with Microsoft applications such as Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required. Ability to perform duties with a high level of detail and accuracy. Ability to self-monitor and manage multiple tasks while working individually and with members of a group.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee may drive between schools daily. Must have a valid driver’s license and/or dependable and reliable transportation.

The employee will routinely lift and/or move and push/pull instructional materials transported and delivered to various between educational settings to provide adequate instructional experiences for students who are blind or visually impaired.

The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds such as boxes of materials. The employee will sometimes push/pull items such as furniture or boxes of materials. The employee will occasionally lift and/or support movement or positioning of students of various weight.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, listen and/or reach with hands and arms and will frequently repeat the same hand, arm or finger motion such as when typing.

The employee must be able to respond to a student emergency.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision. Duties of the job require frequent use of a computer monitor and related equipment.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in these environments vary. In school buildings the noise level may be loud; in the office setting, the noise level will vary from quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day; and at meetings, the noise level will be moderate.

Instructional environments vary from school to school with occasional displacement within individual school buildings.

Frequent interruptions and immediate attention to unexpected situations are expected.

Must be able to travel daily between schools. Must have a valid driver’s license. Daily exposure to environmental conditions to include driving, walking, and moving instructional materials and equipment in adverse weather and varying temperatures.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

190 Days

Teacher Pay Scale

The terms of employment detailed in this job description are based on full time employment during the school year. Conditions of employment will be adjusted for part time employees or individuals who are hired for less than an entire school year.

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job evaluated annually according to Board Policy.

DISCLAIMER STATEMENT:

The information contained in this job-description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties, consistent with the Purpose, are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and may be assigned.