Teacher Cognitive Impairments

The WISD's Mission is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools, and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.  

The WISD’s Vision is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY:

The Teacher of Students with Cognitive Impairments is responsible for the instructional program and implementation of activities for disabled students from Washtenaw County.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
• Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
• Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
• Provides and coordinates the instructional program for students in the assigned area of responsibility and evaluates results on a continuous basis.
• Assesses students' achievement and develops instructional strategies to meet individual educational needs of students in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Plans curriculum and prepares lessons and other instructional materials to meet individual needs of students, considering such factors as physical, emotional, and educational levels of development.
• Participates in Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) meetings and prepares reports for assigned students.
• Convenes and chairs Individualized Education Program Team (IEPT) meetings. 
• Develops and implements student IEP goals and instruction based on individual student needs.
• Participates in the implementation of health care procedures in accordance with administrative operating procedures.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements behavior intervention plans in accordance with District policy, administrative operating procedures and state/federal rules and regulations. 
• Convenes a team to evaluate and develop a functional behavioral assessment.
• Maintains accurate attendance records and appropriate reports.
• Participates in District level staff meetings, in-service activities, staff development/special programs, school improvement teams and planning committees as appropriate to the assignment.
• Documents student progress using assessment tools, monitoring through observations/evaluation and/or collecting data. 
• Utilizes student progress data to improve instruction.
• Confers with other staff members to plan programs designed to promote educational, physical independent and social development for students.
• Confers with parents, teacher assistants, related service providers and administration to develop an individual educational plan for students.
• Monitors student needs and implements programs.
• Develops a program that including community-based learning activities, small group, and individualized community access activities.
• Develops and implements opportunities for students to interact with community resources, participate in career and job readiness activities, visit work sites and employers.
• Establishes and maintains open communications with parents, staff, administration, and outside agencies.
• Supervises and implements instruction for students in class and in the community; directs the activities of teacher assistants in all areas of instruction as well as other activities.
• Maintains accurate records in a manner consistent with state and federal law as required by the District.
• Performs billing functions for Medicaid reimbursement where applicable.
• Adheres to District health and safety rules, policies, and procedures.
• Supports the guiding principles of Student Independence, Student safety and Student Staff Success.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.
• PERFORMS OTHER DUTIES AS ASSIGNED.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directs Teaching Assistant(s) on a day-to-day basis.

QUALIFICATIONS:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in education or field of study related to Special Education with a major in the area of cognitive impairment or earned credit coursework equivalent to the major. 
• Demonstrated successful student teaching experience required; minimum two (2) years of experience - preferred.
• Must be able to use “Non-Violent Crisis Intervention” techniques and other behavior strategies, which are used frequently in this learning environment, including developing behavioral intervention plans.
• Possesses the skills and desire to work in a collaborative team with others.
• Possesses knowledge and awareness of community agencies and services and ability to enlist those services when needed.
• Experience working in a virtual online instructional setting.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Valid Michigan teacher's certificate with necessary endorsement(s) in cognitive impairment.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to explain and demonstrate appropriate teaching techniques.
• Demonstrates ability to read, analyze and interpret information including periodicals and professional journals.
• Demonstrates ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of educators, students, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to write lesson plans, IEP’s and other related correspondence.
• Demonstrates ability to direct the activities of others to execute student IEP goals.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to integrate technology into the everyday workflow is necessary.
• Demonstrates ability to utilize District technology and work to maintain proficiency, as required skill sets change with technology and/or the needs of the District.
• Demonstrates ability to use computer technology for research, data management, communications, and other instruction.
• Demonstrates ability to use online instructional tools and technology.
• Demonstrates ability to use a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communication mechanisms.
• Demonstrates knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, database, and presentation software) is required.
• Demonstrates ability to work in a virtual online instructional setting.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

• Ability to apply the concepts of basic math, algebra, and geometry consistent with the duties of this position.

REASONING ABILITY:

• Exhibits a high proficiency in subject areas of reasoning, problem solving, organizational dynamics and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Demonstrates ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Exhibits emotional stability, exercises good judgment, and makes decisions in accordance with board policies and administrative guidelines, with minimum supervision.

 INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve diverse publics.
• Demonstrates ability to take initiative; work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies, and individuals.
• Demonstrates ability to work creatively and skillfully with students.
• Demonstrates ability to demonstrate initiative and understanding in working with students, staff, and parents/guardians.
• Exhibits ability to works cooperatively and communicate with District and constituent district staff, students, and parents/guardians.
• Exhibits knowledge and understanding of the teacher’s role in a team environment.
• Exhibits the skills and desire to work in a collaborative team with others.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. While performing the duties of this job the employee is frequently required to assist with lifting and moving students up to 26 years of age. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds such as books and teaching material. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distant vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other buildings is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people. The ability to travel to other buildings is required.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is quiet to loud depending upon the activity in the particular part of the day. Occasionally the employee may be required to be outdoors for a short period of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position.  The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision.  The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment.

This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.  The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS:

This position is subject to terms, conditions, and calendar of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the District and Unit II AFT Local 3760. Starting salary ranging (dependent upon experience) from $52,016 - $104,872.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation or any legally protected characteristic, in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and Federal regulations.