The North Adams Public Schools is seeking a Teacher of the Visually Impaired, beginning December 1, 2025. This position is subject to the North Adams Teachers Association contract ranging from $50, 479 to $91, 778 annually, commensurate with years of experience and educational attainment. Willing to negotiate hours and salary to .6 FTE.
Job Goal: To provide direct and consultative vision services and/or orientation and mobility services to pre-schoolers and school age children grades K – 12 in the North Adams Public Schools.
Supervision:Reports directly to the Director of Student Support Services
Performance Responsibilities:
Ability to work effectively with teachers, support staff, and parents and advocate for children in order to effectively problem solve
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills and ability to work with all stakeholders
Ability to meet the expectations of the Massachusetts Standards and Indicators of Effective Teaching Practice
Educate students to read or write Braille, as necessary
Obtain, distribute, or maintain low vision devices.
Design instructional programs to improve communication using devices such as slates and styluses, braillers, keyboards, adaptive handwriting devices, talking book machines, digital books, and optical character readers (OCRs).
Collaborate with specialists, such as teachers, speech pathologists, and occupational therapists, to provide client solutions.
Educate students to use tactile, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, and proprioceptive information.
Educate students to use adaptive equipment such as large print, reading stands, lamps, writing implements, software and electronic devices.
Evaluate students' ability; write reports and attend TEAM meetings.
Write goals and objectives for students IEP and complete quarterly progress report.
Assess clients' functioning in areas such as vision, orientation and mobility skills, social and emotional issues, cognition, physical abilities, and personal goals.
Identify visual impairments related to basic life skills in areas such as: self-care, literacy, and communication.
Provide appropriate accommodations and supports to students who are diagnosed with Cortical Visual Impairments
The Committee's policy of nondiscrimination will extend to students, staff, the general public, and individuals with whom it does business; No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town or in obtaining the advantages, privileges, and courses of study of such public school on account of age, race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability or homelessness.
