Citywide Teacher- Students with Visual Disabilities

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is one of the largest school districts in the United States, serving over 320,000 students in 500 schools and employing approximately 44,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. In order to fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans : academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Six core values are embedded within these commitments – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning.

The mission of the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is to provide high-quality and specially designed instructional support and services for all diverse learners within their least restrictive environment. We work collaboratively with several units, specifically schools and Networks with the goal of improving the academic achievement of all diverse learners by ensuring diverse learners receive meaningful and relevant access to grade-level core instruction within their neighborhood school, school of choice, or the school closest to their residence

Job Summary :

Citywide teachers of students with visual disabilities are responsible for providing direct instruction and consultative services to students with visual disabilities, as written in student IEPs. The Citywide teachers of students with visual disabilities will be reporting directly to the Manager of Visual Impairments Supports.

The Citywide Teacher - Students with Visual Disabilities will be held accountable for the following responsibilities :

• Provide direct instruction and consultative services for a caseload of students who have been identified as having visual disabilities.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers on implementation of strategies, accommodations, and / or modifications that will facilitate access to the common core state standards for students with visual disabilities.
• Teach and assess students in the nine areas of the expanded core curriculum for students with visual disabilities.
• Collect data toward mastery of IEP goals as outlined in student IEPs.
• Conduct functional vision assessments and learning media assessments to prepare for three-year re-evaluation meetings.
• Participate in annual IEP meetings and three-year re-evaluation eligibility conferences for students on caseload.
• Consult with parents of students with visual disabilities on student progress and how they can reinforce skills learned at school.
• Provide direct instruction on using high tech and low tech equipment specially designed for the use of students with visual disabilities.
• Participate in ongoing CPS and / or outside professional development opportunities and be able to impart knowledge acquired to fellow team members.
• Comply with all central office requests for data collection regarding student achievement and teacher accountability.
• Other duties as assigned

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Citywide Teacher - Students with Visual Disabilities must possess the following qualifications :

Education Required :

Experience Required :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to :