Teacher of the Visually Impaired

About the Foundation for Blind Children

• Foundation for Blind Children (FBC) is a nationally recognized non-profit agency serving over 2,000 individuals of all ages who are blind and visually impaired.
• FBC leads in new and innovative methods for the blind community, with one of the largest preschool programs for children who are blind and visually impaired in Arizona.
• FBC's vision is a world where vision loss is a diagnosis, not a disability.

About the Role

The Classroom Teacher of the Visually Impaired manages a class of visually impaired learners, addressing individual student needs, promoting learning, coordinating with support staff, employing diverse teaching approaches, and adapting instruction for all students. This role is responsible for implementing each student's overall functional and academic program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct instruction in all areas of development within a classroom setting.
• Provide education and support to students' families.
• Coordinate students' individual education plans and school day with other service providers and families.
• Administer assessments and prepare reports (e.g., FVA, LMA, IEP, developmental checklists, progress notes).
• Maintain data collection and students’ records.
• Train, supervise, and evaluate para-educators in the classroom.
• Communicate effectively with assistant director, therapists, families, and students’ home school districts.
• Maintain classroom supplies and materials.
• Provide specialized instruction as the students’ teacher of the visually impaired.
• Collaborate with related service providers.
• Coordinate and monitor each student’s daily, routine medical needs, including monitoring overall health, seizure activity, and directing/supervising para-educators' attention to these needs.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Basic computer skills.

Qualifications

• Demonstrate knowledge of early child development and the special learning needs of visually impaired children, including teaching and assessment techniques and procedures.
• Ability to modify and adapt classroom materials, equipment, and the classroom environment.
• Ability to work with a group of professionals and coordinate the classroom schedule to best meet students’ needs.
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain effective relationships with children and their families.
• Ability to work cooperatively with parents, peers, administrators, and school representatives.
• Ability to maintain and improve professional competence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people in a multicultural, diverse socioeconomic setting.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) from an accredited college or university in education of the visually impaired or early childhood with current certification in visual impairment.
• Valid Arizona Teaching Certificate.
• Fingerprint Clearance Card issued by Arizona Department of Public Safety.
• CPR/First Aid/AED certification.
• Article 9 certification.

Working Conditions

• Works in a traditional climate-controlled school environment.
• Will spend time outdoors and offsite for periodic events and fieldtrips.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to move body in many different ways to interact with and position students, including stooping, bending, kneeling, crouching, pushing, and pulling consistently and on a daily basis.
• Required to routinely lift a minimum of 25 pounds and occasionally up to 50 pounds.

Personal Characteristics

• Accountable
• Trustworthy
• Critical thinker
• Collaborative
• Belief that all children can learn
• Celebrates progress
• Strong awareness of self

Direct Reports

• Assigned Para-Educators