Specialist, Cortical Visual Impairment, Office of Special Education Job Opening at District of Columbia Public Schools in Washington, DC

Openings (1)

Our public school students need your expertise, passion and leadership.

We are looking for highly motivated and skilled talent to join our team at District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). We seek individuals who are passionate about transforming the DC school system and making a significant difference in the lives of public school students, parents, principals, teachers, and central office employees.

DCPS serves 45,000 students in the nation's capital through the efforts of approximately 4,000 educators in 123 schools. As part of a comprehensive reform effort to become the preeminent urban school system in America, DCPS intends to have the highest-performing, best paid, most satisfied, and most honored educator force in the nation and a distinctive central office staff whose work supports and drives instructional excellence and significant achievement gains for DCPS students.

This position is located in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). The incumbent should possess specific knowledge, experience and expertise related to Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI). This is a part-time position for 20 hours per week without benefits.

An energetic, professional is needed for the DCPS Vision Program. We believe that students with CVI can learn to use their vision for academic and functional purposes, given the appropriate, research-based intervention. The DCPS Vision Program is on the path to becoming the model for a world class set of services and supports to address the unique needs of students who have ocular or functional vision challenges that negatively impact upon educational performance. Under the supervision of the Program
Director, the incumbent is responsible for providing high quality services based on research-based interventions and targeted strategies so that students with CVI can access the curriculum and have the opportunity to make meaningful progress toward identified educational goals and objectives. The incumbent will serve students preschool through grade twelve.

Master's Degree

• Masters Degree in Special Education or related field.
• Specific experience working with children and young adults with CVI.

Personal Qualities of Top Candidates

• Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
• Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
• Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
• Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others
• Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages own projects through strong organization, detailed workplans, and balancing of multiple priorities.
• Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Work collaboratively with other professionals and the families of children transitioning from Part C to Part B to review medical documentation of conditions that might have resulted in CVI.
• Conduct interviews with school staff and families to ascertain the presence of specific characteristics and behaviors associated with CVI.
• Conduct the CVI Range on students confirmed to have CVI.
• Implement research-based strategies and interventions to resolve CVI.
• Train teachers of the blind and visually impaired and special education teachers to recognize medical conditions and specific behaviors that cause one to suspect the presence of CVI.
• Train teachers of the blind and visually impaired and special education teachers to administer and interpret the results of the CVI Range.
• Train teachers of the blind and visually impaired and special education teachers to develop and implement IEP goals to resolve CVI.
• Monitor the delivery of services to students with CVI.
• Participate as a CVI professional in eligibility and IEP meetings.
• Testify as an expert witness in CVI at Due Process Hearings, as necessary.
• Develop observable and measurable IEP goals and objectives.
• Deliver direct and consultative services to students with CVI and their teachers and families.
• Ensure appropriate accommodations, modifications, adaptive and assistive devices, supplementary aids and services for students with CVI.
• Maintain detailed service notes.
• Maintain an accurate data base of all DCPS students with CVI.
• Maintain samples of student work and data related to progress toward identified goals/objectives.
• Report student progress on a quarterly basis.
• Maintain regular communication with parents and families.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with external professionals to advance the treatment of CVI in students ages 3 through 22.

Notice of Criminal Background Check. In accordance with the Criminal Background Checks for the Protection of Children Act of 2004, this position has been designated and identified as one which requires a criminal background check and/or traffic record check. If you are tentatively selected for the position, a criminal background check and/or traffic record check (for positions which require the operation of a motor vehicle) will be conducted. A final offer of employment is contingent upon the receipt of a satisfactory criminal background check and/or traffic record check.

Notice of Non-Discrimination. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the D.C. Human Rights Act of 1977, as amended, District of Columbia Official Code Section 2-1401.01 et seq. (Act), the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) does not discriminate (including employment therein and admission thereto) on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family status, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, source of income, status as a victim of an interfamily offense, or place of residence or business. Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination, which is prohibited by the Act. In addition, harassment based on any of the above-protected categories is prohibited. Discrimination in violation of the aforementioned laws will not be tolerated. Violators will be subject to disciplinary action.

Title IX regulation requires schools to implement specific and continuing steps to protect students and others against discrimination on the basis of sex. Students, parents and/or guardians with inquiries regarding Title IX non-discrimination policies related to students and student activities shall contact:

Title IX Coordinator
Office of Youth Engagement
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First St, NE, 8^th Floor Washington, DC 20002
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-5099

or

Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1100

Telephone: 1-800-421-3481
FAX: 202-245-6840; TDD: 877-521-2172
Email: OCR@ed.gov

Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies of DCPS will be handled as follows:

Employees with inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies related to employment and employees or who wish to file a discrimination complaint should contact:
Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist
Office of Labor Management & Employee Relations
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First St, NE, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-5424

Students, parents and/or guardians with inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies related to students and student activities, including Section 504, should contact:

Director of Targeted Student Support
Office of Youth Engagement
District of Columbia Public Schools
1200 First St, NE, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-5099