SPED Teacher

Full Job Description

This is a non-merit position. Candidates must follow the instructions in the "To Apply" section. Positions in this class are exempt from the screening and referral requirements of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services - Human Resources Enterprise.

Teacher of the Deaf

Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD) www.iowaschoolforthedeaf.org is located on a 115 acre campus located on the southern edge of Council Bluffs, Iowa. The campus is within 15 minutes of downtown Omaha, Nebraska. ISD serves students from the states of Iowa and Nebraska.

Primary Function:

ISD’s Teachers of the Deaf provide services in support of Iowa School for the Deaf’s mission which is to prepare deaf and hard of hearing students from pre-school to age 21 for life as literate citizens who contribute to society.

ISD is seeking teacher applicants who will teach in one of the following areas:

• Art Teacher (K-12)

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

• Instructs deaf and hard of hearing students in a classroom setting, presenting lessons in a comprehensive and bilingual (ASL-English) manner and uses visual means to facilitate learning. Delivers personalized instruction to each student and encourages interactive learning.
• Develops, implements, and maintains IEP protocols and goals.
• Follow curriculum and develops lesson plans.
• Evaluates and documents students’ progress. Maintains reports and grades.
• Communicates regularly with parents.

Skills:

• Excellent communication skills with diverse groups
• Leadership and organizational skills
• Create a positive environment for students and colleagues
• Adapt to ever change work priorities

Abilities:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events
• Work with frequent interruptions
• Work as part of a team
• Create a positive school climate for students and staff

Desirable Qualifications:

• Experience working with Deaf and hard of hearing students.
• Teaching license with subject area endorsement and deaf/hard-of-hearing endorsement.
• Completion of an Education degree and eligible to meet State of Iowa teacher licensure requirements.
• Must be proficient in ASL with a required level of Advanced.
  • Examples of Advanced ASL include:
    • Able to read others’ fingerspelling at a normal rate.
    • Broad vocabulary on a wide range of topics.
    • Able to have conversations with spontaneous elaboration on a variety of work and social topics.
    • Signing rate is similar to native ASL users with occasional mistakes that do not detract from the conversation.
    • Good to excellent use of grammatical structure of ASL.

Information on Iowa licensing requirements may be found at the Board of Educational Examiners webpage: www.state.ia.us/boee/.

Benefits:

At the State of Iowa, we are committed to your well-being. As a valued team member, you'll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Paid Time Off: Enjoy vacation with accruals that rollover on a yearly basis, sick leave with no limits on accrual and 9 paid holidays per year.
• Great Benefits: Excellent Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance Options.
• Retirement Plan: IPERS Retirement package and an option for a deferred compensation plan.
• Flexibility: Flexible Spending Accounts (medical and dependent care).
• Life Insurance: Free Life Insurance.
• Support: Employee Assistance Programs and Employee Discount Programs.

To learn more about the benefits of working with the State of Iowa, visit our benefits webpage.

189 day contract per school year. Salary will be determined by the successful applicant’s educational and teaching experience. (BA degree - $51,147-$71,219; MA degree - $60,0049-$87,609).

E-Verify and Right to Work

The State of Iowa participates in E-Verify, a federal program that helps employers confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees.

Within the required timeframe, new hires will be verified through the E-Verify system to ensure authorization to work in the United States.

The State of Iowa also complies with the federal Right to Work laws, which protect employees’ rights to work without being required to join a labor organization.

For more information, please visit www.e-verify.gov.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1. One of the following current licenses from the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners: 
   1. School Psychologist; or 
   2. School Counseling; or 
   3. Speech Language Pathologist.
2. All of the following (a and b):
   1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in orientation and mobility; and 
   2. Possession of a current Iowa Orientation and Mobility Specialist license. 
3. All of the following (a and b):
   1. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in any field; and 
   2. Possession of a current Iowa Teaching Certificate.