Ex Ed Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Overview

Job Description

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools at careers.hcde.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030.

Responsibilities

Ex Ed Teacher of the Visually Impaired (Itinerant Position)

The itinerant Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) travels to multiple schools as assigned to provide direct and consultative special education services specific to visual impairments. Students may be age 2 to 22, and may or may not have additional disabilities.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities Include

Assessment and Evaluation

• Complete Functional Vision, Learning Media, and Expanded Core Curriculum Assessments to help determine Visual Impairment eligibility based on Tennessee state eligibility criteria, in compliance with the state evaluation timeline
• Follow the vision referral and screening process in a timely manner
• Develop, facilitate, and/or participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meetings for students with Visual Impairments, following all required state laws and local procedures.
• Contribute to the development of the IEP with current present levels as well as recommendations for goals, accommodations, and services.
• Be knowledgeable about visual accommodations available to students on statewide and national testing and arrange for the accommodations.
• Provide assessment, instructional, consultation, and/or training to other educational team members on topics related to assistive technology for students with visual impairments.
  
  

Instruction (Direct and Consultative)

• Plan and deliver lessons according to needs of student and IEP goals
• Produce adaptive instructional materials to support student engagement in classroom(s)
• Transcribe lessons and other materials into Braille and/or large print
• Provide on-going assessment of and instruction in all areas of the Expanded Core Curriculum:
• Assistive Technology and skills needed to access technology including hardware/equipment and software/accessibility features
• Career education and post-secondary opportunities
• Communication modes including braille reading and writing, large print reading, and auditory comprehension skills
• Independent living skills
• Orientation and mobility skills under the guidance of a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
• Recreation and leisure skills
• Self-determination and self-advocacy skills
• Sensory efficiency skills
• Social interaction skills
  

Administrative and Data Collection Duties

• Establish and maintain appropriate data collection to progress monitor all vision-related IEP goals/objectives for students with visual impairments on assigned caseload (at least one data point for each service delivery time)
• Document progress in EasyIEP using Progress Monitoring Wizard and quarterly Progress Reports (sent to parents/guardians quarterly)
• Establish and maintain a weekly schedule
• Attend and participate in training for new staff on EasyIEP
• Distribute information to parents about workshops, conferences, summer camps, and any other community opportunities for students with visual impairments
• Consult with parents to support and encourage student independence at home and in the community
  
  

Professional Expectations & Responsibilities

• Build a safe and productive classroom culture where positive relationships are evident, procedures are clear, and the classroom is safe and secure for learning to unfold.
• Develop strong relationships with students’ families while diligently informing parents of expectations, positive news, and/or concerns
• Actively participates in system-wide professional developments offered by exceptional education and learning community with colleagues in order to improve teaching and student learning
• Complete training in Crisis Prevention Intervention
• Knowledge of IDEA, current state special education rules and regulations, and compliance issues relative to programming, assessment and procedural safeguards for students with disabilities
• Must be able to facilitate IEP team meetings and write and implement instructionally appropriate IEPs leading to positive outcomes for students with disabilities
• Knowledge of embossing software, as well as all magnification and mathematics software for the visually impaired
• Knowledge and competency with Microsoft Office Suite, Windows OS, and Apple iOS.
• Knowledge of print alternatives (i.e., Braille and auditory techniques) and adaptive equipment for students with visual impairments
• Ability to demonstrate competency in Braille and orientation and mobility skills
• Conduct in-service trainings on and off campus to share vision and O&M information with others
• Additional duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Visually Impaired endorsement
• Teaching candidates must hold a valid state of Tennessee teaching certification in Special Education-Vision (Endorsement: 462) If you hold a teaching license in another state, you must apply for a Tennessee teaching license.
• Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree.
• Itinerant position must have own transportation between schools
• Excellent organizational and professional communication skills
• May include providing general physical assistance to students with various disabilities (tasks will involve, but are not limited to, assisting students with toileting/feeding/other self-help and behavioral needs)
• Conduct ongoing data collection on all IEP goals/objectives as indicated in the wording of each IEP goal, but at minimum 1 data point per goal per week. Place a copy of the data collection in the student’s special education file prior to each quarterly progress report. Use the collected data to complete Progress Monitoring Data Points in EasyIEP and to complete the quarterly progress reports that are sent home to parents/guardians.
• Case managers and service providers will use the EasyIEP Progress Monitoring Wizard to graph at least 3 data points per goal per each nine week grading period. (The only exceptions to using the EasyIEP Progress Monitoring Graphs are Speech Language Personnel, OTs, PTx, and Audiologists who use Stellar Docs for Progress Monitoring. It is understood that service personnel using Stellar Docs will also enter data on quarterly progress reports.)
  
  

Compensation

Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

Salary Scale

This position may be eligible for an increase in total compensation. The Differentiated Compensation Plan applies to designated schools and hard-to-staff positions. Please see https://www.hcde.org/staff/human_resources/differentiated_compensation for more details.