Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI)

Job Description

Job Description

Since 1893, Helen Keller Services (HKS) has been committed to improving the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or have combined hearing and vision loss. HKS serves in the New York City/Long Island area from its new headquarters in dynamic downtown Brooklyn and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults of Sands Point, New York, which has a network of regional offices that extends HKS' reach across the United States.

Helen Keller Services for the Blind is thrilled to announce we will be expanding our Children's Learning Center to two brand-new Long Island locations in Nassau and Suffolk County! These state-of-the-art facilities will serve preschool children who are blind or have low vision, as well as multiple disabilities, autism, Down syndrome, or pervasive developmental delays. This expansion reflects HKSB’s commitment to ensuring that Long Island families have access to the same high-quality early education and support services that have transformed lives in our Brooklyn Children Learning Center.

We currently have an exciting opening for a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) in our soon to open Suffolk County Preschool! Located in Islandia, NY, the Teacher of the Visually Impaired/ Special Education Teacher will conduct a special education preschool classroom for children with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Specific responsibilities will include:

• Utilize diverse and engaging curriculums to maximize students’ learning opportunities and promote active participation within the classroom.
• Develops and implements student specific adaptations for sensory, motor, self-help, and other areas of need in collaboration with therapists to maximize whole child learning approach for each student.
• Conducts functional vision assessments and learning media assessments (as appropriate within program scope) and integrates findings into daily instruction to ensure students access curriculum through appropriate visual, tactile, and auditory modalities.
• Implements and oversees instruction in areas such as compensatory access skills (e.g., braille readiness, tactile discrimination), assistive technology, and sensory efficiency, ensuring these are embedded throughout the instructional day in alignment with each student’s IEP.
• Leads the selection, adaptation, and ongoing use of specialized materials and equipment (e.g., braille, large print, tactile symbols, optical devices), and ensures classroom staff are trained and consistently implementing these supports to maintain full access to instruction for students with visual impairments.
• Establishes and maintains relationships with families to further the development of the child by assisting the family to carry over strategies from school to home.
• Acts as the primary contact between home and school; maintaining the liaison with school social worker daily.
• Accurately monitors and records progress toward IEP goals while providing clear direction and oversight to staff to ensure consistent and reliable data collection.
• Continuously evaluates student progress and documents that progress in report cards, progress notes and annual updates.
• Submits weekly lesson plans and newsletters to the Principal.
• Maintains accurate attendance documents, submits to the administrative assistant monthly.
• Advocates for the educational and developmental needs of their students both in the school and in the wider community.
• Attendance at all student IEP meetings; annuals along with reconvene opportunities
• Develop and maintain strong rapport with school district representatives.
• Participates in teacher and team meetings and completes tasks from those meetings in a timely and professional manner.
• Actively participates in school wide functions such as field trips, graduation, parent days, etc.
• Seeks out and participates in professional development activities, appropriate to the population of students, both within the school and in the larger educational community.
• Assist in the training and mentoring of new staff as well as peer-to-peer training situations.
• Plans, assigns, and monitors instructional assistant responsibilities and schedules to promote seamless classroom operations and student support.
• Prepares and delivers annual reviews for classroom teaching assistants.

The TVI will complete all required trainings within the first six months of employment and all other required trainings throught the course of their employment with HKS.

Qualifications

• Valid New York State teaching certification in one of the following:
  • NYS Students with Disabilities (Birth–Grade 2), or
  • NYS Students with Disabilities (All Grades), or
  • Other NYSED special education certification(s) approved to be the teacher of record in a 4410 preschool setting
• Valid New York State certification as a Teacher of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (TVI)
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required, Master’s Degree preferred (including NYS required pedagogical coursework in early childhood education and teaching students who are visually impaired)
• Ability to implement IEPs and deliver specially designed instruction in accordance with NYSED and CPSE expectations
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to use school-based systems for documentation, communication, and recordkeeping.
• Prior experience preferred in preschool special education, including implementation of IEPs and participation in CPSE and multidisciplinary team meetings to support each student's educational and developmental needs.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Valid New York State Students with Disabilities (Birth-2nd Grade or All Grades)
• Valid New York State certification as a Teacher of Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (TVI)

Physical Demands: The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.

At HKS we strive to provide a healthy work-life balance for our employees. We offer generous paid time off and comprehensive benefit package including:

• Paid Time Off (in accordance with the school calendar), Paid Personal Time and Paid Sick Time
• Health Benefits Package including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance and Disability benefits
• Voluntary Ancillary Benefits
• 403 (b) Savings Plan with company match
• Employee Assistance Program

Helen Keller Services for the Blind is an equal opportunity employer.