What are the responsibilities and job description for the Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf position at The Pennsylvania School for the Deaf?
Description
Reports to: Supervisor of Outreach Programs
Employment Information: This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt, 10-month union position.
Summary
The Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf serves as an advocate and support for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) students in mainstream classroom environments across the Greater Philadelphia area. The role requires spending approximately 60% of time on-site at various school locations, 15% traveling between sites, 20% at a home base, and 5% at PSD for meetings or professional development. The Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf helps students understand their hearing needs, develops self-advocacy skills, and provides individualized support to maximize access to instruction. A primary focus of the role is teaching students to advocate for themselves in the classroom and ensuring that teachers implement necessary accommodations. The Outreach Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers, support staff, audiologists, and families to ensure each student can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Responsibilities
Physical Requirements:
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, as long as such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship or remove the essential functions of the job. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@psd.org.
Reports to: Supervisor of Outreach Programs
Employment Information: This is a full-time, FLSA-exempt, 10-month union position.
Summary
The Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf serves as an advocate and support for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (D/HH) students in mainstream classroom environments across the Greater Philadelphia area. The role requires spending approximately 60% of time on-site at various school locations, 15% traveling between sites, 20% at a home base, and 5% at PSD for meetings or professional development. The Itinerant Teacher of the Deaf helps students understand their hearing needs, develops self-advocacy skills, and provides individualized support to maximize access to instruction. A primary focus of the role is teaching students to advocate for themselves in the classroom and ensuring that teachers implement necessary accommodations. The Outreach Teacher collaborates with classroom teachers, support staff, audiologists, and families to ensure each student can succeed academically, socially, and emotionally.
Responsibilities
- Act as a student advocate, helping students understand their hearing needs and develop self-advocacy skills.
- Facilitate connections with D/HH peers and Deaf/HoH adults to foster community and cultural identity.
- Monitor progress toward IEP goals and provide feedback to teachers, aides, and related service providers.
- Support students within mainstream classrooms, providing individualized guidance and small-group sessions as needed.
- Advise and collaborate with classroom teachers and related service providers, offering strategies, resources, and coaching for effective instruction and accommodations.
- Assist with the use of hearing technology (hearing aids, Remote Microphone Systems, cochlear implants) and ensure the team understands how to support student access.
- Conduct assessments and write reports to guide instructional planning and IEP development.
- Contribute to IEP development, Present Levels of Functional Performance, and transition planning, ensuring goals are measurable, age-appropriate, compliant, and current.
- Maintain knowledge of special education laws, codes, and regulations.
- Stay current on research and best practices in Deaf education, inclusion, and mainstream support.
- Travel between school sites to provide services and consultation (up to 60% of work time).
- Adapt to multiple classrooms, grade levels, and school environments.
- Communicate with families about student progress, strategies, and resources.
- Participate in school events or parent meetings as needed to support student learning and engagement.
- Model and exhibit PSD’s core values: Students 1st, Language, Respect, Communication, and Community Engagement.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support student success.
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college/university in Deaf Education or a related field required. Master’s Degree preferred.
- Valid Pennsylvania Hearing Impaired PK–12 teacher license.
- Demonstrated American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency at a Level 3 (ASLPI) or above required; advanced proficiency preferred.
- Knowledge of Early Childhood through High School education practices.
- Experience working with D/HH students in mainstream and specialized settings.
- Understanding of Deaf culture, language acquisition, and advocacy strategies.
- Strong collaboration, coaching, and communication skills.
- Ability to travel frequently to multiple school sites (up to 60% of work time).
- Experience with IEP development, assessment, and progress monitoring.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to travel frequently between school sites, including driving or public transportation.
- Occasionally lift and carry items up to 25 lbs (teaching materials, equipment).
- Sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, stoop, and move around classrooms and school buildings.
- Use office and instructional technology for extended periods.
- Manual dexterity to operate hearing/communication equipment and instructional tools.
- Split time between multiple school sites in mainstream and specialized classroom environments.
- Exposure to typical classroom noise and activity levels.
- Flexible schedule required to accommodate meetings, and IEPs.
- Collaborative work with teachers, aides, students, related service providers, and families.
- Occasional participation in off-site events, workshops, or professional meetings.
- Strong ability to assess and adapt strategies to meet diverse student learning and communication needs.
- Multi-tasking across multiple classrooms, students, and sites.
- Problem-solving to address student, classroom, and communication challenges in real time.
- Professional judgment and decision-making regarding student advocacy, instructional supports, and accommodations.
- Effective communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate with teachers, families, and service providers.
- Attention to detail for documentation, evaluation reports, and IEP compliance.
- Flexibility and adaptability to respond to unexpected changes in classroom schedules, student needs, or school priorities.
Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, as long as such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship or remove the essential functions of the job. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@psd.org.