Teacher – Deaf Education – Special Education (Multiple Positions)

Position Purpose

Provides direct instruction to hearing impaired students. Assists in use of adaptive equipment. Collaborates with parents on child’s educational performance and needs;

Informs community professionals on deaf education.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Develops Individual Education Plans (IEP) for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Instructs students in communication skill development and written language.
• Educates parents on deafness and its impact on their child’s educational progress.
• Instructs students in use of adaptive equipment.
• Provides information to other professionals trained in other disciplines on deafness and educational implications and adaptations.
• Attends general and special education staff development that is content and disability specific.
• Maintains confidential records of student progress related to auditory impairment.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District’s mission, vision, and strategic goals.
• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.
• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport / relationship with the consumer.
• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player;

promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

Other Duties as Assigned

Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations. All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of federal and state guidelines and District policies and procedures regarding special population students’ services and programs.
• Knowledge of current teaching methods and educational pedagogy, as well as differentiation of instruction necessary to create effective and productive student-centered learning environments.
• Skill in understanding the preferred form of communication for a person with deafness.
• Skill in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points communicated, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Skill in talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Ability to work with students with physical, emotional, educational, and / or intellectual disabilities; particularly hearing impaired students.
• Ability to troubleshoot non-working hearing aids and cochlear implants.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to use software to create spreadsheets, databases, and do word processing.
• Ability to organize and coordinate work.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both oral and written forms.
• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools / Equipment Used : Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals; May include equipment used in instructional media machines and specialized equipment for the hearing impaired.
• Posture : Prolonged sitting and standing; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, crouching, crawling, pushing / pulling, and twisting; climbing stairs.
• Motion : Use hands for fine manipulation, handle or feel and reach with hands and arms using a keyboard and video display terminal; frequent walking.
• Lifting : Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).
• Exerting : Occasional up to 50 pounds of force, frequent up to 25 pounds of force, and / or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Vision : Performs tasks requiring close vision.
• Environment : Works in an office setting; frequent talking and listening; may require occasional irregular and / or prolonged hours.
• Attendance : Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.
• Mental Demands : Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university.
• Certification / License : Valid Texas Teaching Certification with endorsement in the area of Deaf / Hearing Impaired.
• Experience : 3 years’ of teaching deaf / hearing impaired students preferred.
• Language : Proficient ASL & PSE sign communicator.

This is a grant-funded position and is contingent on availability of funds.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.