Teacher - Deaf/Hard of Hearing (CH/PL)

COMPENSATION: Per Teacher Salary Schedule based on education and experience. District 308 grants experience credit on the salary schedule for up to 10 years of prior, verifiable, contractual full-time teaching experience.

UNION MEMBERSHIP: This position is represented by the Oswego Education Association (OEA).

BENEFITS:  Full-time Associates enjoy a robust selection of healthcare benefits including employer paid Life and AD&D insurance, Long Term Disability, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), as well as three medical plans to choose from including PPO and HMO plans. What's more, SD 308 currently provides a deductible reimbursement program for medical expenses (excluding ER services), when an employee is enrolled in our PPO plan and uses our RUSH Healthcare reimbursement program. Prospective employees can learn more on the District website.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Qualified applicant must hold a valid/registered Illinois teaching license with endorsement in Deaf /Hard of Hearing and meets the highly qualified requirements as a Deaf/Hard of Hearing teacher and for the grade level/core academic subject area/s in which the teacher is assigned.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:  The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher provides direct services to students with disabilities from ages 3-21 and collaboratively consults with general and special education staff members for the benefit of those students. The Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teacher manages a caseload of students with disabilities and  functions as an individualized education program (IEP) team member to determine a student's eligibility for special education services and appropriate programming, as well as on-going progress monitoring.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Screen and evaluate students using appropriate instruments, conduct observations, and write reports which state the evaluation findings and provide for educational program recommendations.
2. Demonstrate understanding and application of the hearing referral process for identification of students with hearing loss, and the monitoring of students with known hearing loss.
3. Assess student needs and monitor their progress on a regularly scheduled basis. Share information professionally in a written/verbal format at staffing.
4. Provide prescriptive instruction from an HI linguistic-based perspective with mediational strategies, to address the learning, language, communication, auditory, and social impact of hearing loss to advance academic achievement.
5. Provide specialized instruction in the hearing-related areas of: Auditory Training, Speechreading, Vocabulary Development, Speech/language development, Social Skill Development, Hearing Aide/FM use and maintenance, and Deaf/Hard of Hearing Positive Coping Strategies/Self Advocacy. Mediates with students to generalize these skills across environments.
6. Demonstrate the skills and fluency necessary to communicate effectively using a Total Communication approach (when applicable).
7. Demonstrate a working knowledge of hearing aids, cochlear implants, FM equipment (including use and troubleshooting) and the interpretation of audiograms.
8. Provide in-services (formal and informal) for mainstream teachers and other support personnel as appropriate, including suggestions for environmental modifications, preferential seating, communication, understanding the impact of hearing loss, and use of a hearing aide, sign language interpreter, or FM (as applicable).
9. Review updated audiological/medical information regarding the student's degree/type of hearing loss, discrimination ability, and use of amplification as it becomes available;  Share this effectively in verbal and/or written formats with parents, teachers, and other appropriate staff.
10. Provide information and emotional support for students and families to promote understanding and coping skills for the child's hearing loss.
11. Submit records, reports and assignments promptly and efficiently.
12. Participate as an IEP team member by contributing evaluation findings and collaborating on the development and implementation of students' individualized educational plans.
13. Work cooperatively with staff to accomplish students' IEP goals and benchmarks.
14. Consult with parents, teachers, and other appropriate staff regarding the student's performance in the classroom or at home.
15. Engage in professional development to stay current on researched-based instructional strategies and services, and seeks additional resources and assistance as needed to meet the individualized needs of students.
16. Support and implement District policies and procedures, regulations, and administrative directives.
17. Adhere to the ethical standards and codes of the profession and to the established rules, regulations, and laws governing special education.

District 308 grants prior experience credit on our salary schedule for up to 10 years of prior, contracted teaching experience.