Citywide Teacher - Students with Visual Disabilities

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 325,000 students in 500 schools and employing over 45,000 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. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

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