Teacher of the Visually Impaired

POSITION: Teacher of the Blind Visually Impaired

REPORTS TO: Supervisor of Special Education

LOCATION: Department of Special Education

NATURE OF WORK:

This is a professional position to meet the individual needs of students who are blind or students with visual impairments through direct service and consultative support to staff and families to support progress in the General Education Curriculum and Expanded Core Curriculum.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Ability to professionally relate to and collaborate with co-workers, students, and community members

Ability to understand and maintain confidentiality

Ability to use technology effectively to complete tasks

Ability to report to work daily and on time

Ability to organize, supervise, coordinate and establish priorities of tasks to be completed

Ability to work independently in the absence of detailed instructions and to follow complex oral and/or written instructions

Ability to communicate orally or in writing, courteously and tactfully, with staff, students, parents, and the community in a timely manner

Possess excellent time management skills and the ability to take initiative and make decisions within assigned responsibility in a challenging, fast-paced professional environment and be flexible in work responsibilities and hours

Possess knowledge of the programs, policies, and procedures of the St. Mary’s County Public Schools

Possess knowledge of educational implications of visual conditions

Possess knowledge of how curriculum, modifications and accommodations and assessment are aligned to meet the needs of the visually impaired learner

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Evaluates students and provides reports/information to the student’s IEP Team for eligibility determination

Develops and monitors IEP goals and objectives based on assessment and data information

Delivers specialized instruction in the Expanded Core Curriculum and compensatory strategies deemed necessary by the IEP team (Braille, low vision devices, technology)

Completes Learning Media Assessments and Functional Vision Assessments to determine present levels of performance and identify areas of need

Analyzes and synthesizes data and present within a formal written report

Develops IEP goals and objectives based on present levels of performance, formative and summative assessment information

Collaborates with general educators to disseminate information about student needs

Utilizes assessment data to determine appropriate instructional strategies, modifications, and accommodations necessary for student access to instruction within the academic setting

Performs frequent formal and informal assessments to monitor and further guide instruction

Communicates positively and frequently with families on student progress

Collaborates with the educational team to provide knowledge about learners who are visually impaired and assist in developing accessible lessons and assessments

Ensures that all IEPs and IFSPs are implemented with fidelity

Collaborates with educational teams on a regular basis to ensure students have access to curriculum

Provides positive communication to team members and families about student’s progress and achievement

Completes and maintains Medical Assistance logs

Collects, analyzes, and reports data to monitor progress, determine and report present levels of performance and to develop appropriate goals and objectives

Performs other related and nonrelated job duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS :

Required:

Bachelor’s Degree

Currently hold or be eligible to hold Blind/Visually Impaired certification through the Maryland State Department of Education.

Preferred:

Eligible for professional certificate/license in content area

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT :

Full-time ten-month position

SALARY GRADE RANGE: The salary for this EXEMPT position will be based on EASMC salary schedule for ten-month employees.

BARGAINING UNIT ELIGIBILITY: EASMC

Updated 04.2025, 07.2024