PHOENIX
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ESS Teacher - Deaf or Hard of Hearing (T-DHH)

The Phoenix Union High School District is proud to serve a diverse population of 24,000 students and 3,400 employees in Arizona's capital city. With a portfolio of comprehensive schools, small specialty schools, support schools, micro-schools, magnet programs, and extensive Career & Technical Education (CTE} offerings, PXU's schools of opportunity welcome, love, and inspire all students to go places and do things that matter.

SUMMARY:

The itinerant teacher for students who are deaf or hard of hearing travels to the students' assigned schools to provide consistent, direct, and/or consultative exceptional student services related to hearing loss. The teacher supports students with the development of communication skills, academic achievement, and social-emotional growth by tailoring instruction to meet their individual needs. The teacher draws upon their knowledge of exceptionalities to consistently promote independence and self-advocacy of students on caseload to enable students to learn/participate in a variety of settings. The teacher is responsible for maintaining a positive and appropriate educational environment that meets the intellectual and emotional needs of the student. The cognitive levels of the students may range from significant cognitive variabilities educating in specialized programs to students gifted and talented fully included in the general education setting.
 
As an itinerant educator, the teacher may need to travel between schools, working collaboratively with classroom teachers, support staff, and families to ensure that each student receives the accommodations and/or modifications required for student success. The teacher will monitor the academic progress of students on their caseload. They will be responsible for attending and providing input to conferences, the Individual Education Program (IEP), the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET}, and 504 meetings based on their area of expertise. As case managers, they are responsible for ensuring a student's individualized ESS services are implemented according to district policy. Focused efforts on increasing student self-advocacy, preparing for the transition to college, career, and life, and understanding community resources specifically for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Participates in MET meetings and the development of IEPs for students with hearing impairments.
2. Works closely with general education teachers, special education teachers, and other school staff to develop and implement appropriate accommodations, modifications, and instructional strategies for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
3. Coordinates with other certified and classified staff, such as, but not limited to, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nurses, and instructional aides, to ensure that related services are provided in accordance with an IEP for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
4. Writes appropriate goals and objectives for students with hearing loss that are standards-based, clearly stated, and include methods of assessments to measure student performance.
5. Assists students in developing communication strategies and tools to ensure effective interaction with peers, teachers, and other school staff. Use data to determine the need for Educational Interpreter (El) support and if appropriate to the student's needs, supports and directs the El to aid in the student's mode of communication.
6. Demonstrates knowledge of assistive technology for students with hearing loss including, but not limited to, FM systems.
7. Collaborates with the Audiologists in identifying, recommending, and procuring assistive technology/ FM equipment or alternatives to promote student success.
8. Utilizes and helps maintain an updated list of District assistive equipment and current location within the district.
9. Provides instruction consistent with student's IEP goals and objectives using strategies and methods appropriate to student's abilities in accordance with Arizona State Standards.
10. Uses district and state assessment data to improve instruction and place students in appropriate instructional and intervention programs.
11. Keeps and maintains required records, such as progress reports, parent/student communication logs, and IEP paperwork by deadlines.
12. Reviews caseload to ensure that federal and state requirements are met in accordance with timelines for annual IEP meetings, quarterly progress notes, Extended School Year decisions, and implementation of transition services.
13. Acts in accordance with PXU core values to communicate regularly with parents regarding student progress.
14. Documents and resolves issues related to student behavior problems and attendance.
15. Follows meeting agenda to lead the annual IEP meetings for students on their caseload.
16. Attends ongoing professional development and is willing to apply new evidence-based strategies to their teaching practices.
17. Commits to be an active participant in a professional learning community (PLC) to collaboratively review data, engage in new strategies, and address needs identified by the group.
18. Assumes legal responsibility for the supervision of students on school property or in attendance at school� sponsored events.
19. Researches instructional strategies and technological tools to support students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
20. Participates in ongoing professional development activities to enhance teaching practices and meet state and federal requirements, and district expectations.
21. Other duties as assigned.

The above essential functions are intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities and not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class.
 
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS 

Education, Training, and Experience Guidelines:

• Possess a bachelor's degree.
• Have experience in working with students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
• Have an awareness of student needs, i.e. at-risk, ethnic, limited English proficient, exceptional.
• Demonstrates knowledge and experience in the development and implementation of special services activities and related documents that conform to federal, state, and district guidelines.
• Experience in training staff to implement services and paperwork to conform to federal, state, and district guidelines.

License and Certification Requirements:

• Have a current certification in Special Education, Hearing Impaired K-12
• Additional certifications, such as certification in American Sign Language (ASL), Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) or other related, are beneficial.

IDEAL CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of applicable Federal, state, county, city, and district statutes, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Committed to working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Ability to work with other professionals collaboratively to ensure timeframes are met.
• Ability to identify effective accommodations, modifications, and behavioral supports needs. Then, work to collaboratively implement them in the classroom, across the campus, and in the community.
• Ability to collaborate with others and advocate the need for best practices to support student learning including the ability to manage and support instructional aides.
• Demonstrate cultural awareness and sensitivity to the unique needs and experiences of students from diverse backgrounds, particularly regarding the Deaf/deaf community.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, vendors, students, parents, the public and others having business with the school district.
• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.
• Ability to work independently with moderate supervision. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in a standard office and classroom environment 

WHY WORK AT PXU

The Phoenix Union High School District is one of the state's largest employers. Our 3,400 education professionals are committed to providing an excellent learning environment for our students while enjoying an inspiring work environment.

• Highly Competitive Pay
• Participation in Arizona State Retirement System
• Vacation and Personal Leave Plans (for eligible positions)
• Comprehensive Employee Benefits
• Education Loan Forgiveness (If eligible)
• Paid Winter and Spring Breaks 

The Board is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in relation to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or sexual orientation, as well as gender identity, gender expression and immigration status. This policy will prevail in all matters concerning staff members, students, the public, educational programs and services, and individuals with whom the Board does business.