Deaf and Hard of Hearing Teacher Consultant Beginning 2026-27 School Year

Job Goals:

The primary job goals are to provide itinerant, consultative, and direct instructional services to students who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH), ages birth through 26, ensuring each student receives a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The DHH Teacher Consultant (TC) serves as the primary special education resource for students with hearing loss, developing and implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), supporting classroom access through hearing assistive technology, and collaborating with families, educators, and community agencies to maximize each student's educational outcomes.

Location of Work:

Special Services Building and Offsite

701 South Paw Paw Street

Lawrence, MI 49064

Qualifications:

Education & Certification:

Required:

• Valid Michigan Teaching Certificate (MDE) with endorsement in Hearing Impairment (Endorsement Code: HI).
• Teacher Consultant (TC) approval issued by the Michigan Department of Education, or eligibility for TC approval upon hire.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Deaf Education, Special Education, or a closely related field.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Deaf Education, Special Education, or a related field.
• Certification from the Council on Education of the Deaf (CED).
• Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) at an intermediate or higher level.

Work Experience:

Required:

• Demonstrated knowledge of hearing loss, audiogram interpretation, and the educational impact of hearing impairment on language, literacy, and learning.
• Experience developing and implementing IEPs consistent with IDEA and MARSE requirements.
• Experience working with hearing assistive technology (FM/DM systems, cochlear implants, hearing aids).

Preferred:

• Experience as an itinerant DHH Teacher Consultant in a Michigan public school or ISD setting.
• Familiarity with Michigan's Early On® program (IDEA Part C) and early intervention transition processes.
• Experience collaborating with educational interpreters and Deaf/Hard of Hearing community organizations.

Essential Job FUnctions:

Assessment and Evaluation:

• Conduct or participate in educationally relevant assessments, including functional listening evaluations (FLEs), speech perception testing, and academic assessments within IDEA and MARSE timelines.
• Interpret audiological reports and audiograms to inform IEP development and classroom accommodations.
• Contribute written evaluation reports and present levels of academic achievement and functional performance (PLAAFP) to the IEP team.

IEP Development and Implementation:

• Participate as a required IEP team member for all students with hearing loss on the assigned caseload.
• Develop measurable annual goals addressing listening, language, communication, literacy, self-advocacy, and use of hearing technology.
• Ensure IEP consideration of communication needs, language and communication mode, academic access, and assistive technology.
• Review and revise IEPs in accordance with MARSE timelines, including annual reviews and triennial reevaluations.

Direct and Consultative Instruction:

• Provide direct instruction in auditory skill development, listening strategies, speech reading, communication modalities (spoken language, ASL, total communication), and self-advocacy.
• Deliver consultative services to general education teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators to support inclusion and classroom access for students with hearing loss.
• Develop and implement accommodations such as preferential seating, captioning, FM/DM system use, and note-taking supports.

Assistive Technology and Hearing Device Management:

• Manage and monitor the educational use of hearing assistive technology, including hearing aids, cochlear implant processors, and FM/DM systems.
• Conduct daily listening checks and troubleshoot devices in coordination with students, families, and audiologists.
• Document assistive technology in IEPs and facilitate team discussions regarding equipment repair or replacement.

Family and Community Collaboration:

• Engage families as meaningful IEP team participants, providing information in the family's preferred language or communication mode consistent with IDEA procedural safeguards.
• Connect families to community resources including Michigan Hands & Voices, the Michigan School for the Deaf, and Michigan's Early On® program.
• Participate in planning for transitioned aged students.

Documentation and Compliance:

• Maintain accurate service logs, progress monitoring data, IEP documents, and evaluation records in the district student information system.
• Meet all special education timelines required by MARSE and IDEA, including initial evaluations annual IEP reviews, and triennial reevaluations.
• Maintain confidentiality of student records per FERPA, IDEA, and Michigan's Student Data Privacy Act.

Skills:

• Make student-centered decisions.
• Adhere to federal, state, and VBISD policies and procedures, including IDEA and MARSE.
• Model VBISD guidelines: Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence.
• Complete assigned responsibilities within agreed-upon timelines.
• Seek ongoing improvement and accept feedback in a professional way.
• Perform additional tasks, responsibilities, and duties as assigned by the Director or Superintendent.

Physical Requirements:

• Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation; regular travel to multiple school buildings and home visits across Van Buren County is required.
• Ability to sit, stand, bend, and move throughout school environments during the workday.
• Ability to lift and carry hearing assistive technology equipment up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to travel across the county to serve students at multiple school sites.

Terms of Employment: As per master agreement and provisions established by the Van Buren Board of Education. 

This posting and our online application can be found on the Van Buren ISD’s website at www.vbisd.org under Employment.  If you do not have access to a computer with internet access, you may use a computer at VBISD by calling 269-539-5218. 

Position is open until filled.

In-house staff must fill out the online internal application.