Teacher Consultant - Visually Impaired

**Pending Board Approval**

The WISD's Mission is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:

The Teacher Consultant evaluates plans and implements services for students with visual impairments within the education/community setting. The Teacher Consultant works with and instructs classroom staff, related services staff, and parents in the implementation of programming.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
• Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
• Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
• Teaches Braille to students and staff.
• Assists in evaluating supports for students.
• Utilizes and is able to teach appropriate technologies to accomplish instructional objectives.
• Collaborates with local district building administration, instructional staff, medical staff, and other agencies to integrate students into the community, with emphasis on involving families, adapting curriculum, facilitating natural supports, and focusing instruction on long-term outcomes.
• Facilitates in-services and other staff development activities which enable staff to develop attitudes and skills associated with current concepts in education.
• Conducts classroom/student observation and follow up meetings with staff.
• Maintains communication with the local district and WISD staff regarding assigned students.
• Maintains case logs of contacts and data collection.
• Attends and participates in IEP and MET meetings for students as well as team meetings.
• Assists teachers with understanding the nature of a child’s visual impairment.
• Assists in locating, modifying accommodating materials when requested.
• Provides consultation and demonstrates teaching techniques with instructional teams for educating and supporting students with visual impairments.
• Provides materials and consultant services to the parents and educational staff so they may better understand and appreciate the nature and degree of the impairment.
• Provides specialized instruction in areas where necessary.
• Performs informal and formal assessments related to disability, when appropriate.
• Assists in evaluating supports for students.
• Participates in district level staff meetings, in-service activities, staff development/special programs, school improvement teams and planning committees as appropriate to the assignment.
• Supports WISD vision and mission to enhance achievement for all students.
• Supports a team-based approach to problem solving.
• Performs such other tasks as may from time to time be assigned by the supervisor.
• Maintains regular predictable attendance.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• N/A

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 shall be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Master’s degree in education or field of study related to Special Education – (Required per MARSE R 340.1790).
• Master’s degree with Visual Impairment endorsement (Preferred).
• Bachelor’s degree with a major in a specific special education area or has earned credit in course work equivalent to that required for a major – (Required per MARSE R 340.1782).
• Evidence of successful completion of not less than eight (8) weeks of directed student teaching in the specific area of visual impairment. (Required per MARSE R 340.1782).
• Evidence of a minimum of three (3) years of satisfactory teaching experience, not less than two (2) years of which is in teaching in a special education program – (Required per MARSE R 340.1790).
• Teacher consultant approval (or eligibility) from the State of Michigan – (Required).
• Knowledge of visual impairments and its impact on learning. (Preferred).
• Experience working with students with visual impairments and assessing and implementing distance vision and travel safety skills. (Preferred).
• Experience with computer instruction and technology. (Preferred).
• Experience with consulting in a general education setting. (Preferred).
• Experience with and knowledge of behavior management principles. (Preferred).
• Experience with and knowledge of curriculum adaptations. (Preferred).
• Knowledge of special equipment and its use for students with visual impairments. (Preferred).
• Philosophical position that is aligned with the WISD mission of support in the least restrictive environment. (Preferred).
• Experience working in a virtual online instructional setting. (Preferred).

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid Michigan teacher's certificate – (Required per MARSE R 340.1782).
• Endorsement in special education that is valid in grades kindergarten through 12. Elementary or secondary endorsements in special education, earned after September 1, 1990, shall be valid in grades kindergarten through 12 – (Required per MARSE R 340.1782).
• Recommended for a certificate/endorsement in a specific special education area by an institution of higher education or the department signifying verification of completion of a teacher education program for the specific special education area, as approved by the state board of education – (Required per MARSE R 340.1782).

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to orient parents, school staff and administrators to the unique needs of students with visual impairments.
• Demonstrates ability to design and implement educational programs appropriate for students with visual impairments.
• Demonstrates ability to explain and demonstrate appropriate teaching techniques.
• Demonstrates ability to read, analyze and interpret information including periodicals and professional journals.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, students, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to write lesson plans, IEP’s, and other related correspondence.
• Demonstrates ability to direct the activities of others to execute student IEP goals.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow is necessary.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize District technology and work to maintain proficiency, as required skill sets change with technology and/or the needs of the District.
• Demonstrates ability to use computer technology for research, data management, communications, and other instruction.
• Demonstrates ability to use a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communication mechanisms.
• Demonstrates knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software) is required.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to apply the concepts of basic math, algebra and geometry consistent with the duties of this position.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Demonstrates a high proficiency in subject areas of reasoning, problem solving, organizational dynamics and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
• Demonstrates ability to take initiative; work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies, and individuals.
• Demonstrates ability to work creatively and skillfully with students.
• Demonstrates ability to demonstrate initiative and understanding in working with students, staff, and parents/guardians.
• Possesses skills in parent consultation and working with diverse populations within the community and home settings.
• Demonstrates ability to work in various environments including student’s homes.
• Demonstrates ability to consult effectively with teachers, parents, administrators, and other professionals.
• Demonstrates ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding for families of various cultural backgrounds..

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.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as books and teaching material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other buildings is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

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 the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. The employee is frequently required to interact with the public and other staff. The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of students. The employee is exposed to infections at a greater risk than the average person. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

This position is subject to terms, conditions, and calendar of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and Unit II AFT Local 3760. Starting salary ranging (dependent upon comparable experience) $52,016 - $104,872.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.