Special Services Teacher of Students with Blind and Visual Impairments

PASCO SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

EMPLOYEE SERVICES

1215 WEST LEWIS ST.

PASCO, WASHINGTON 99301

PHONE (509) 543-6700   FAX (509) 543-6728

Open: 8/07/2025               Close: 08/14/2025 or until filled

POSITION:               Special Services Teacher of Students with Blind and Visual Impairments

                                 Booth Building

SCHEDULE:              2025-2026 School Year

SALARY:                  Based on the 2025 - 2026 Teacher Salary Schedule

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED:  (Qualifications which are essential to the position)

*Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree

*Valid Washington State teaching certificate or ESA

*Previous experience as a teacher of visual impairments

*Knowledge and/or experience in the assessment and evaluation of functional vision, learning media and interpreting eye medical reports

*Knowledge and/or experience in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials

*Demonstrated ability to be self-directed and take initiative

*Demonstrated ability in professional writing and oral communication

*Demonstrated punctuality and an excellent attendance record

*Demonstrated ability to perform orientation and mobility evaluations that focus on long and short-term needs of the students

*Demonstrated ability to provide instruction in safe, efficient travel with the home, school and community

QUALIFICATIONS:

DESIRED: (Qualifications which are not required, but would be useful to the position)

*Bilingual/Biliterate in English/Spanish

*Experience/certification in Orientation and Mobility

*Previous Experience with school aged children and children with multiple impairments

*Experience working as part of a team

*Ability to travel between sites

*Demonstrated ability to provide instruction in compensatory skills including daily living skills, self advocacy and recreation or leisure skills as related to O & M

*Experience/certification in Orientation and Mobility 

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Assessment and Evaluation

1. Perform functional vision and learning media assessments on new referrals and three-year re-evaluations
2. Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments
3. Contribute to the development of the IEP/IFSP with goals, modifications, learning styles
4. Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed, such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psycho-social and adaptive physical education
5. Consult with diagnostician, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification, and test administration
6. Obtain modified standardized testing materials (NAPT, ITBS< TAAS, SAT, ACT) and administer or assist in the administration of the test as needed
7. Work as liaison with other agencies in the vocational assessment process
8. Administer various other tests as appropriate (Oregon Project, Insite, Hawaii, Boehme, LAP, E-LAP)
9. Participate in team assessments for students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities
10. Provide screening and referral procedures to appropriate personnel

Appropriate Learning Environment

1. Assist in determining and procuring classroom equipment and materials necessary for the student with visual impairments to learn (braille, low vision devices, assistive technology, computer) including ensuring necessary room modifications and lighting changes
2. Provide the classroom teacher with information regarding the specialized strategies needed to teach a VI student
3. Consult with other instructional staff to provide information to incorporate the expanded core curriculum into the entire instructional setting
4. Provide modified materials to the classroom teacher
5. Provide Braille, recorded/enlarged materials, and tactual symbols as appropriate for each child

Direct Instruction in the Unique Curriculum

1. Monitoring the students’ progress in academic subjects and provide instruction in compensatory skills as needed in the areas the students may have difficulty with as a result of the visual impairment (this does not include tutoring in subject areas once materials and methods have been modified to accommodate the vision loss)
2. Braille reading and writing
3. Low vision devices, Abacus, typing/keyboarding, adaptive devices (e.g., computers, note takers, tape recorders), listening skills, visual efficiency
4. Concept development (especially for infants and early childhood students)
5. Daily living/self-help skills, career readiness, leisure and recreation skills, social skills, organizational and study skills
6. Self-advocacy
7. Pre-cane skills and cane skills
8. Map skills for residential, semi-business and business

Support Services

1. Provide assistance to students with visual impairments in understanding their attitudes and those of others concerning their visual impairment
2. Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers
3. Provide training and support to parents of students with visual impairments to enhance their children’s independence
4. Provide the teachers, staff and family of students with visual impairment with information regarding their individual needs, methodology and strategies
5. Participate with other school personnel and agencies to secure job-related experiences for students
6. Participate in transition planning

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties

1. Provide updated pupil information (VI registration, deaf/blind census, textbook projections)
2. Submit requests for instructional materials, conferences, field trips and personnel needs
3. Inform various special education and campus personnel of progress and needs of the students with visual impairment on a regular basis
4. Provide input into students’ schedules, planning for all special services, such as direct instruction and orientation and mobility
5. Maintain adequate record of all assessments, IEPs, progress reports and signed parental release forms for things such as photographs and registration with various agencies
6. Provide progress reports as indicated by school policy on students with visual impairment in regular education classes and follow-up with teacher and/or parent conferences as appropriate
7. Register students with visual impairments with appropriate agencies such as Recordings for the Blind and the Washington State Library for the Blind
8. Prepare paperwork as appropriate and attend evaluation and IFSP meetings on students with visual impairments
9. Distribute information to parents concerning workshops, conferences and equipment acquisition
10. Communicate with low-vision specialists, ophthalmologists and optometrists concerning exams and attend exams when appropriate
11. Supervise material preparation and acquisition
12. Liaison between community and school
13. Provide information about district and/or regional vision programs to the schools and community
14. Provide information concerning recreational and summer programs to parents and students and assist with application forms and procedures. Such activities might include Washington School for the Blind and Visually Impaired summer school, summer work programs or Lion’s Club Summer Camp
15. Professional standards
16. Maintain a reference library
17. Acquire information about current research, development and technology by attending conferences, workshops and area meetings and by reading journals in the field of visual impairment
18. Performs other related duties as assigned 

EVALUATION:

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board’s policy on evaluation of all employees.

Letters and applications received after closing date will only be accepted and screened if the position remains unfilled.

Pasco School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of trained guide dog or service animal. Pasco School District provides equal access to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and other designated youth groups. Questions and complaints of alleged discrimination should be addressed to the following designated employees: Title IX and Civil Rights Compliance Officer-Sarah Thornton; 1215 W. Lewis St., Pasco, WA 99301, 509-543-6700, sthornton@psd1.org; and Sec. 504 Coordinator-Kristi Docken, 1215 W. Lewis St., Pasco, WA 99301, 509-543-6700, kdocken@psd1.org.