Regional Visual Impairment Specialist

Job Title: Specialist - Regional Visual Impairment FLSA Status: Exempt Pay Grade: 102 Work Days: 226 Reports To: Coordinator Primary Purpose Ensure a well-articulated and coordinated comprehensive visual impairment program. Provide effective leadership to campuses/districts/charter schools. Provide appropriate professional development and technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools. Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each 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 essential functions. Education/Certification Masters Degree preferred Texas teacher certificate Teacher certification in the area of visual impairment Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist preferred Administrative Certification preferred Special Knowledge/Skills Team-oriented attitude and desire to work collaboratively with ESC staff campus/district/charter school personnel. Strong organizational, communication, public relations, and interpersonal skills. Technology competency levels are comparable to those required by the State Board of Educator Certification for all beginning teachers. In-depth knowledge of content (PreK-12) as related to assignment. In-depth knowledge of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, the state assessment and accountability system, and state & national initiatives and standards. Understanding differentiated instruction to ensure success for all students. Understand specially designed instruction including accommodations and modifications to ensure success for students with disabilities including visual impairments. In-depth knowledge of special education child find, eligibility criteria, appropriate use of assessment results, and legal issues. In-depth knowledge of special education program compliance. In-depth knowledge of assistive technology, materials, curriculum, assessments, and resources for students with visual impairments. Knowledge and training in the following statewide focus areas: Cortical Vision Impairment Active Learning approach for students with multiple disabilities Literacy for students with visual impairments Early Intervention family coaching strategies Experience A minimum of ten years of successful teaching experience in Texas public schools. A minimum of five years of successful teaching experience with students who are visually impaired. Successful experience in program development. Successful experience in training teachers and/or other adults. Successful experience in an educational leadership position; experience in a supervisory position preferred. Essential Duties and Responsibilities *This job description is not intended, and should not be construed, to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job. They are intended to be accurate reflections of those principal job elements essential for making fair hiring and pay decisions. **This position may be partially or completely funded using grant and/or federal monies and is assigned programs to include activities designed to enhance the effective and coordinated use of funds. Actively participate in and/or provide leadership for inter-departmental teams to help improve student performance in the region, improve the ESC internal operations, and meet the established goals and objectives for the ESC. Is responsive as the first point of contact to all stakeholders in the education community. Analyze available needs assessment data from regional, state, and national sources. Participate in the collaborative development of a comprehensive plan for training, products, and services to meet regional needs. Develop quality training, products, and services reflecting scientifically based research, national and state initiatives, and campus/district/charter school needs in the area of visual impairment. Develop quality training for teachers and administrators in curriculum content, instructional methodologies, and support structures for students with disabilities and students acquiring English as a second language in integrated settings. Develop quality training to ensure that students with disabilities demonstrate progress in the grade-level Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) by using specially designed instructional strategies including the use of accommodations and modifications during instruction and assessment. Provide training, products, and services incorporating quality review, multiple models of professional development, and appropriate adult learning strategies in the area of visual impairment. Model effective use of technology in personal productivity and instructional applications. Provide technical assistance to campuses/districts/charter schools as needed, as well as appropriate follow-up and follow-along to training, products and services provided in the area of visual impairment. Evaluate the impact of training, products, and services on student performance, program application, and systems changes in the area of visual impairment. Participate in designated local, state, and national professional development activities and share information with ESC staff and appropriate regional personnel. Perform other duties as assigned. Supervisory Duties None Equipment/Specialized Software Used Computers, projection devices, control panels in meeting rooms, printers, productivity software, software specific to the job assignment, network resources, internet resources, and other hardware and software necessary to perform the functions of the job effectively and efficiently. Working Conditions (Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors) Mental: Public relations and people skills are always required, work with frequent interruptions, and maintain professional composure and confidentiality under stress. Physical: Occasional prolonged and irregular hours, ability to move tables and chairs and load/unload boxes and materials. Prolonged use of a computer. Environmental: Open cubicles/workstations Evaluation Annual performance evaluation will be performed in accordance with the adopted policies of the Education Service Center Region 11. Employment in this position is contingent upon performance, need, and funding.