Blind and Low Vision Teacher 26/27 SY

WELCOME TO INDIANAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS!

At IPS, we believe in the transformative power of education. We work collectively every day to prepare our students for success in the classroom and in life by providing equitable, high-quality educational experiences across our family of schools. IPS is a place to make an impact, grow your career, and ensure every student has access to a high quality education, all while earning a good living in a district on the move. While the work is challenging, it is deeply meaningful and impactful. We seek innovators and trailblazers who bring varying experiences and expertise and share our belief that every child deserves access to an exceptional education. As part of TeamIPS, you’ll create lasting connections, find a sense of belonging, and feel supported to make a meaningful difference in students’ lives.

In return, no matter your role here, we expect a commitment to excellence and accountability. You’ll be held to high standards. Resilience and passion are key—you must be adaptable, handling adversity with flexibility while putting students at the heart of everything you do. Ethical conduct, clear communication, and mutual respect are fundamental. Being a dependable, collaborative team player who builds meaningful relationships is essential.

Together, we are Proving What’s Possible by building a community where everyone belongs and each student has the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

A Career in IPS Offers…

Purpose and Impact:

• Essential Contributions: In every non-teaching and non-leadership role, your work directly supports the success of IPS students and schools. Whether you’re maintaining facilities, providing student services, or managing administrative operations, you play a key part in ensuring an equitable and high-quality educational environment.
• Belonging and Community: IPS is a place where every employee is valued. You’ll join a supportive community that promotes respect, teamwork, and a shared commitment to serving students and families.

Professional and Personal Growth:

• Training and Development Opportunities: IPS offers a variety of training programs to help staff build new skills and grow professionally. This includes access to development opportunities for administrative, technical, and operational roles, as well as pathways to becoming a certified teacher.
• Skill Enhancement: Whether you’re new to your role or seeking to deepen your expertise, IPS provides resources and support for continuous improvement.

Comprehensive Compensation and Benefits:

• Fair Compensation: IPS ensures competitive wages and regularly reviews pay structures to maintain equity.
• Extensive Benefits Package: Employees enjoy comprehensive health coverage, dental and vision plans, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement plans. Additional financial benefits include flexible spending accounts and eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Work-Life Balance and Well-being:

• Generous Leave Policies: IPS offers vacation, personal, and sick leave, along with paid holidays. Twelve-month employees benefit from floating holidays, and unused personal leave rolls into the sick leave balance.
• Wellness Programs: IPS prioritizes staff well-being with access to wellness initiatives, including health screenings and an employee assistance program for confidential support and counseling.

What We Expect:

• Professionalism and Reliability: Every role at IPS is vital to the district’s success. We expect staff to demonstrate professionalism, dependability, and a commitment to providing excellent service to students, educators, and families.
• Collaboration and Communication: IPS values teamwork. Working collaboratively with your colleagues ensures a supportive environment for all. Clear communication and mutual respect are key to maintaining this culture.
• Flexibility and Problem-Solving: As a large, dynamic district, IPS needs staff who are adaptable and proactive in solving problems to meet the ever-changing needs of students and schools.

Indianapolis Public Schools is more than a workplace; it’s a community where purpose, impact, and belonging come together to help Prove What’s Possible – in your career and in your school. If you’re ready to embrace challenges, strive for excellence, and make a meaningful impact, IPS is the place for you.

SUMMARY OF OPPORTUNITY: 

The teacher for students with blindness or low vision travels to the students’ assigned schools and/or community sites to provide direct and/or consultative special education services relating to vision loss. These services enable the students to learn in a variety of settings. The students range in age from 3 through 22 and may have only a visual impairment or additional disabilities, including cognitive, other sensory loss, physical, and/or behavioral. This specific position will be housed out of the Ed Center, located at 120 E. Walnut St, but will require travel, as needed, to assigned Indianapolis Public Schools and Non-Public schools located throughout Indianapolis. 

WHAT YOU’LL DO: 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned, as needed.  

Major Responsibilities and Duties: 

Assessment and Evaluation:

1. Perform functional vision and literacy assessments.
2. Interpret eye medical reports as they relate to educational environments.
3. Contribute to the development of the IEP with appropriate goals and accommodations.
4. Recommend appropriate specialized evaluations as needed: such as low vision, orientation and mobility, psycho-social, and assistive technology.
5. Consult with diagnosticians, classroom teachers, students, and parents concerning appropriate evaluations, modification and test administration.
6. Obtain standardized tests and corporation required tests in the appropriate format.
7. Participate in team assessments.

Appropriate Learning Environment:

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

Support Services:

1. Provide assistance to students with blindness or low vision in understanding their attitude and those of others concerning their visual impairment
2. Facilitate social integration and interaction with peers
3. Provide support to parents to enhance their child’s independence
4. Provide the teachers, staff and family of student with blindness or low vision with information regarding their individual needs, methodology, and strategies.
5. Participate with school personnel to secure job related experiences for students
6. Participate in transition planning
7. Collaborate with related services providers
8. Train and oversee paraprofessionals in the classroom

Administrative/Record Keeping Duties:

1. Provide updated pupil information to appropriate required agencies: IERC, Deaf-Blind, ICAM)
2. Submit requests for instructional materials in a timely manner
3. Update goals as stipulated by the Special Education Department
4. Maintain adequate record of all assessments, IEP’s, Progress reports, signed parental releases, and doctor reports
5. Register students with blindness or low vision with appropriate agencies and keep records current
6. Communicate with parents concerning conferences, equipment acquisition, and upcoming information workshops
7. Supervise material preparation and acquisition

Core Competencies:

Critical core competencies for successful performance in this role include:

1. Highly developed communication skills (written and verbal)
2. Results-oriented
3. Unwavering moral compass guided by personal ethics, integrity, tolerance, and trustworthiness
4. Ability to successfully navigate within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment
5. Willingness to support the classroom teacher and other building staff in a professional and collegial manner         

EDUCATION, CERTIFICATION, AND LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS:                                    

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES:

Valid Indiana Teacher's License for Teaching Students with Blindness or Low Vision.  Dual Certification in Blind/Low Vision and Orientation and Mobility preferred, but not required.

SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job has no supervisory responsibilities. 

ELIGIBILITY FOR REMOTE WORK: 

At the Supervisor's discretion

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

The physical requirements 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 individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and walk. The employee is occasionally required to sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. 

EEOC STATEMENT: 

Indianapolis Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, will not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, homelessness or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations, or ordinances. Indianapolis Public Schools does not tolerate any form of retaliation or bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work. 

DISCLAIMER: 

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the above representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This job description is illustrative only, and is not a comprehensive list of all essential functions and duties performed by the occupant of this position. Factors such as regular and punctual attendance are not routinely listed in job descriptions, but are an essential function.