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Colleagues,<br>
<br>
Below is a description of an important in Maryland that will influence
policy throughout the state. Please circulate and encourage people
to apply. Thank you for your help. Read below:<br>
<br>
SUMMARY: This position, which is jointly supervised by the Maryland State
Department of Education (MSDE) and The Maryland School for the Blind
(MSB), has the statewide leadership responsibility to ensure quality
programs and services for students who are blind or visually impaired,
including those with multiple disabilities by developing and implementing
comprehensive plans and providing technical assistance to Local School
Systems (LSS) and The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB).
Accountabilities Essential Functions: Coordinates planning, design,
implementation and evaluation of statewide professional development
opportunities that focus on improving student achievement and
professional growth in collaboration with MSDE, MSB, LSS, the Maryland
Instructional Resource Center (MIRC), in-state and out-of-state colleges
and universities, professional and consumer organizations. Provides
technical assistance and consultation to LSS, MSDE, MSB, and others to
enhance professional development, student achievement, accessibility of
learning materials, and other identified needs. Develops staff
development and technical assistance resources for MSDE, MSB and LSS that
will be the joint approved product of the partnership between MSB and
MSDE. Coordinates statewide efforts of MSDE, MSB and LSS to enhance
parent support, training, and resources. Coordinates statewide efforts to
enhance the accessibility of learning materials for students who are
blind or have low vision including those who are deaf-blind and/or are
multiply disabled. Responds to inquiries from LSS, parents, and others.
Collaborates with and assists the LSS and MSB to secure special education
and related services to students when the LSS does not have the local
capacity in terms of available qualified staff to provide the IEP
required programs and services. Serves as the MSDE liaison to the
Maryland State Steering Committee for Programs of the Visually Impaired
and the MIRC. Is accountable to the MSDE and MSB supervisors and develops
annual jointly approved goals that include specific objectives with
timelines. Maintains knowledge of state and national education and
special education trends, issues, and opportunities related to assistive
technology, curriculum, best practices, legislation, policy, regulations
and professional standards. Works with Maryland State Department of
Education for all large print, braille and online State Science, Biology
and American Government assessments, and PARCC administration.
Additionally, coordinates Vision Bias and Sensitivity reviews for
Statewide Testing with other states in the PARCC consortium to ensure
access and accommodations for students who are blind or visually
impaired. (Statewide Assessments) Serves as National Instructional
Materials Access Center (NIMAC) coordinator; state contact for questions,
information, and dissemination; designate/assign State Accessible Media
Producers; work with the National AIM Center at CAST regarding technical
assistance to improve AIM in Maryland. (Accessible Instructional
Materials (AIM) Coordinator for Maryland) Coordinates Certification for
teachers of the blind and visually impaired work group meetings. Supports
the Division of Curriculum and Assessment (DCA) related to all issues of
accessibility; review Race to the Top projects; review online
credit-bearing classes. (Accessibility) Facilitates the American Printing
House for the Blind Federal Quota Registration Program process for all
blind students; facilitate the federal deaf-blind census process for all
students with deaf-blindness. (Census Reporting) Serves as grant
coordinator for federal grants related to services provided to deaf and
blind students. Understanding and use of assistive technology for
students who are blind or VI. Work Schedule: 37 1/2 daytime hours, Monday
through Friday with daily one hour unpaid lunch; position requires
regular travel within the state; flextime and/or additional hours,
including weekends and evenings, are occasionally required. This is a
twelve-month position and will follow the State of Maryland employee
schedule. Qualifications Experience and Skills: • Minimum requirement of
a Master's Degree in special education of blind or visually impaired
students; Doctorate, preferred. • Current certification as a Teacher of
the Visually Impaired and/or Orientation and Mobility required. Special
education administration or supervision certificate preferred. • A
minimum of four years of teaching experience with students who are blind
or visually impaired, including those who have multiple disabilities is
required. A minimum of 3 years administration experience of programs for
visually impaired students is preferred. • Comprehensive knowledge of
assistive technology, common core and the expanded core curriculum, best
practices, legislation, policy, regulations, professional standards,
education, special education trends, and statewide testing. • Experience
in school improvement initiatives, program evaluation, staff development
training, policy development, research, professional publications
preferred. • Must be at least 21 years of age.<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<b>Sharon Maneki, </b>President<br>
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland<br>
410-715-9596<br>
<br>
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we
raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you
want; blindness is not what holds you back.</blockquote><div id="DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2"><br />
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