Citywide Teacher - Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is a district on the rise, serving over 300,000 students in 500+ schools and employing over 45,000 people, most of them teachers. CPS has set ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. Aligned with our transformed philosophy, we are steadfastly focused on ensuring that the District provides resources equitably to support every student, every school, and every community. Six core values guide the work we do every day for our students – student-centered, whole child, equity, academic excellence, community partnership, and continuous learning. Each role in the district supports our vision that every student deserves a rigorous, joyful, and equitable learning experience.

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) works to support networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support. OSD provides the tools and resources to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a high-quality public education that prepares students for success. OSD supports networks, schools, and families with all issues related to special education, including instruction, interventions, and legal and compliance support.

Job Summary: 

Reporting to the Manager, Special Education Service Delivery, Citywide teachers of students who are deaf or hard of hearing are responsible for providing direct instruction, as outlined in Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), to students who have been identified as Deaf or hard of hearing. As an integral component of their duties, this position will provide consultation to classroom teachers to provide strategies for the implementation of IEP accommodations and modifications in order to ensure student success in the least restrictive environment. 

Citywide Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

• Provide direct instruction and/or consultative services to students on assigned caseloads as documented in student IEPs

• Conduct assessments for initial or special re-evaluations in order to determine students’ academic and communication needs; prepare reports to enter into IMPACT based on these assessments.

• With the assistance of the audiologist, provide basic training to students and teachers on individual and/ or classroom amplification systems used by students

• Attend and participate in the IEP meetings of students, entering pertinent information into the IEP

• Collaborate and consult with team members to develop IEPs that will meet the identified student’s needs

• Collaborate and consult with school staff members to provide strategies to adapt or modify learning tasks rooted in the Common Core State Standards, physical setting, and/or performance assessments to ensure student success in the least restrictive environment

• Train students and staff members on the implementation of assistive technology devices related to hearing impairments

• Consult with the audiologists on the student’s hearing loss and the use of appropriate amplification

• Effectively communicate with both deaf and hard-of-hearing students, using sign language when appropriate

• Work collaboratively with stakeholders in an effort to positively impact overall student achievement

• Collect data to document student progress toward mastery of IEP goals

• Prepare quarterly progress reports based on data collection

• Maintain weekly instruction plans and consultation logs

• Attend and participate in CPS citywide professional development/staff development sessions and meetings; attend conferences and seminars related to the education of students who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, when able 

• Implement and/or share new strategies by providing in-service to school staff, as assigned

• Maintain weekly schedules and monthly summaries on an ongoing basis

• Adhere to all mandated CPS policies and procedures, including the attendance policy

• Other duties as assigned 

In order to be successful and achieve the above responsibilities, the Citywide Teacher of the Deaf or Hard of Hearing must possess the following qualifications: 

Education Required: 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Special Education with a concentration in hearing loss, required

• Valid teaching certificate/Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with appropriate content and/or grade-level endorsement(s), required

• Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Certification/License, required

Experience Required: 

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in the education of students with an identified hearing loss

Other Requirements:

• Proficiency in sign language/ASL, strongly preferred

• Bilingual proficiency in English and another language, preferred

Benefits:

Health & Wellness: Your Care, Your Choice

CPS is committed to providing comprehensive health coverage to our employees and their eligible dependents. You'll have access to a variety of choices to best fit your needs:

Medical Plan Options

Pharmacy

Dental

Vision

Behavioral Health & EAP

Employee Wellness Program

Financial Security: Planning for Today and Tomorrow

We understand the importance of financial stability, which is why CPS offers strong retirement and savings options:

Basic Life Insurance

Life and Disability Insurance

Pension Plans

Supplemental Retirement Plans (403(b) and 457(b))

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Spot Pet Insurance

Work-Life Balance: Supporting Your Personal and Professional Life

CPS values the well-being of its employees and offers competitive paid time off policies:

Paid Leave

Sick Leave

Vacation Days

Parental Leaves

Short-Term Disability

Religious Holidays

Leaves

Reference the Chicago Public Schools: A Comprehensive Benefits Overview or the benefits handbook for comprehensive details.

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

• Establish/Maintain Chicago Residency - Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district. The Chicago residency requirement does not apply to temporary/part-time positions, however, all CPS employees must be residents of Illinois.