Duties and responsibilities
Hearing Impaired Itinerant Teachers (HI Itinerant Teacher) have the incredibly important job of helping deaf or hard of hearing children reach their full potential. They work to support the children, their families and other professionals who are working with them (e.g., teachers or psychologists) t0 develop the child’s self-esteem and their communication, literacy, academic and social skills. Their typical duties and responsibilities include:
- Providing training to administrators, support staff, teachers and parents regarding the characteristics and educational implications of hearing loss
- Working collaboratively with education staff and parents to monitor the impact the hearing loss may have on the student’s educational progress
- Pre-teaching, reinforcing or reteaching content area vocabulary and concepts where language deficiencies hinder understanding
- Modifying the curriculum and materials according to the individual needs of the student
- Creating lessons in vocabulary, oral and written language and reading skills
- Providing opportunities to develop auditory and speech reading skills
- Observing how the student performs in the classroom
- Evaluating the student’s progress through formal and informal assessments
- Assisting in the assessment and acquisition of hearing equipment
- Instructing the student, their parents and staff on the use and care of hearing aids and hearing equipment
- Researching post secondary opportunities with student
Qualifications
Typically, HI Itinerant Teachers will need a degree related to education. They will then, ideally, need an appropriate deaf education degree. A Master’s degree in deaf education and three years teaching experience is the most preferable education.
Skills and relevant work experience
- Verbal and written communication skills as HI itinerant teachers will need to communicate with deaf children. They will also need to communicate with teachers, psychologists and parents and they need to maintain written documents
- Physical fitness, as HI itinerant teachers are regularly required to stand, walk and sit. They may also have to kneel, crouch, crawl and potentially lift children
- Teamwork skills, as HI itinerant teachers must be able to work as part of a cohesive team with students, teachers and parents
- Problem solving skills are essential in order to provide the most effective interventions
- Patience, as HI itinerant teachers will have to work with students who may be challenging
- Observational skills, as HI itinerant teachers will need to observe and notice the progress of the children they care for
Hours
Typically, HI itinerant teachers will work during school hours. Many work the traditional 10-month school year and have a 2-month break during the summer. They also have a short midwinter break, which are perfect for spending with your family!
Salary
According to salaryexpert.com, the median annual salary for special education itinerant teachers in the United States is $59,541. At an entry level, the salary is around $43,248 and at a more senior level, HI itinerant teachers can expect to make around $73,050 per year.
Progression
HI itinerant teachers can progress their knowledge and skills to become more specialized. They may even decide to open their own practice, or work as a consultant.