Teacher The Teacher is responsible for providing high-quality instruction and support to students across Preschool through Transition Academy, depending on the department. Teachers plan and deliver lessons, support student learning and development, model and use American Sign Language (ASL) consistently, and adapt instruction to meet individual student needs. This role involves collaborating closely with teachers, aides, therapists, and other specialists to ensure a safe, inclusive, and engaging learning environment. Teachers are expected to draft and implement IEPs, track student progress, and support students' academic, social-emotional, and communication development. Department specific responsibilities vary, including play-based learning in preschool, multiple core subjects in elementary, subject-specific instruction and IEP Info and in middle and high school, and individualized post-secondary instruction and IEP goals in Transition Academy. Responsibilities include serving a student population spanning Early Childhood to Secondary, collaborating with other teachers and aides in curriculum planning and the implementation of instructional units, working closely with support personnel to create an integrated and holistic educational experience for each student, developing and implementing Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) in collaboration with parents and school districts, planning and executing lessons that facilitate students' natural acquisition of language through experiential, inquiry-based activities, ensuring instruction is developmentally appropriate, based on the principles of child growth and development, staying current with research in Deaf education, child development, and pedagogical methods to improve classroom effectiveness, participating in professional development opportunities to enhance teaching practices and contribute to the educational community, modeling and exhibiting PSD's core values Students 1st, Language, Respect, Communication, and Community Engagement in all interactions, decisions, and professional responsibilities, and performing other duties as assigned to support student success. Department-Specific Responsibilities include play-based learning, explicit ASL modeling, early literacy, and social-emotional skill development in Preschool; core subjects instruction with differentiation and classroom routines in Elementary; subject-specific instruction, IEP case management, and department wide responsibility for contributing to subject specific IEP info on all students in Middle/High School; and individualized, post-secondary-focused instruction aligned with career and life skills goals in Transition Academy. Requirements include occasionally lifting up to 15 lbs., generally working in standard classroom setting and climate, working in a highly stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, ability to sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch and reach with hands and arms, and may be required to physically assist students with disabilities. Qualifications include a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university in Deaf Education or a related field required, possession of or eligibility for appropriate certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Education, demonstrated American Sign Language (ASL) proficiency at a Level 3 (ASLPI) or above required; advanced proficiency preferred, experience working with Deaf children of the age range to be served is preferred (Early Childhood, Elementary or Secondary), understanding and acceptance of communication principles which emphasize full accessibility to all communication in the school environment, the importance of self-expression and respect for each individual's communication needs, understanding and knowledge of child growth and development, understanding of and experience with a culturally diverse population, and experience working as a member of an instructional team is preferred. Physical Demands include regularly required to stand, walk, and move around the classroom to engage with students and support learning activities, ability to lift, carry, and move instructional materials, books, and classroom supplies (up to 25 lbs), occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and twisting while assisting students or managing classroom activities, manual dexterity required for writing, operating classroom technology, and using instructional tools, and attention to visual and other communication cues to monitor student behavior and assess learning activities. Working Conditions include work performed primarily in a classroom environment with regular exposure to groups of students. Classrooms may be noisy and fast-paced during lessons or transitions, some travel may be required for field trips, internships or school-related events, and may occasionally work outside standard hours for meetings, parent conferences, or school events. Mental & Cognitive Demands include maintaining attention to multiple tasks simultaneously while monitoring student behavior and engagement, assessing and responding to the individual academic, social-emotional, and communication needs of students, planning, preparing, and adapting lessons to accommodate a diverse student population, including those with language deprivation or specialized learning needs, maintaining clear documentation for student progress, IEP goals, and classroom activities, exercising judgment and problem-solving skills to manage classroom challenges and implement appropriate interventions, and collaborating effectively with team members and support personnel to ensure coordinated instruction and services. Pennsylvania School for the Deaf provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regard to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws. Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is the policy of Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants or employees with disabilities, as long as such accommodations do not impose an undue hardship or remove the essential functions of the job. The policy regarding requests for reasonable accommodation applies to all aspects of employment, including the application process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact HR@psd.org.
