The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is committed to ensuring every child graduates ready for further education and the workforce. We must align our efforts so students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities. To build on our long-standing commitment to public education, we strive to recruit and retain quality employees who are willing to talk openly and commit to helping us increase the diversity of our organization. Our employees are vital to the success of our students, schools and communities. For more information about DPI, please go to http://www.dpi.wi.gov.

The DPI Wisconsin School for the Deaf (WSD) in the Division of Learning Support is currently seeking applicants for a full-time, school-year (88%)  Reading Specialist Teacher position. WSD provides programs and services to students, ages 3 to 21, who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deafblind.  This position involves ample collaboration with a team from a variety of professional backgrounds and work with significant state-wide influence in an ASL-friendly environment. 

Under the supervision of the principal at the Wisconsin School for the Deaf, the Reading Specialist will assist with establishing school-wide and individual reading goals to Deaf, Hard of Hearing and/or Deafblind students ages 3-21. Additionally, the Reading Specialist will provide interventions to students and work with teachers to implement additional support in the classroom. 

Depending on qualifications, starting salary will be between $22.89 - $33.36 per hour (approximately $41888 - $66502), in accordance with the provisions of the current Compensation Plan. Additional compensation up to $2.97 per hour may be given for relevant credits beyond a Bachelor's degree. A twelve-month probationary period will be required. This position is in pay schedule 13, pay range 04.

This position offers excellent benefits. The State of Wisconsin is a qualifying employer for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

A sign-on bonus of $2,000, moving expense reimbursement, and tuition reimbursement will be offered to eligible employees. 

This position is located on the beautiful WI School for the Deaf campus located at 309 West Walworth Avenue in Delavan, WI.

A criminal background check will be conducted prior to an offer of hire.

Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., without DPI sponsorship). The Department of Public Instruction does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.

An American Sign Language Proficiency Interview (ASLPI) rating level of at least 3 by the end of probation is required.

A TB screen will be required prior to start.

Please address the following in your resume and/or letter of qualifications: 

A minimally qualified candidate must have all the following:

•    Experience working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing

•    Familiarity with reading assessments used in an educational setting

•    American Sign Language fluency 

•    Licensure or eligibility for licensure with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction in Deaf or Hard of Hearing (1805) or a Reading Teacher License (0316).

Applying is easy! Click “Apply for Job” to start your application process.  Sign into your account or click “Register Now” to create an account before applying for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.

Helpful Tips:

• Current state employees must apply through the STAR “Careers” tile. Do not create an external applicant account. 
• There will be no opportunity to change your application materials once you have clicked “Submit”.
• The system will automatically log you off after 30 minutes of inactivity, so click “Save as a Draft” often. 
• Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions section for general Wisc.Jobs user information and technical assistance.
• Candidates may need to check their spam or junk email folders for correspondence about this position.

Each time you apply for a state job; you should update and tailor your resume. You should clearly describe your education, training, and experience related to the items listed in the “Qualifications” section of the job announcement. These qualifications should be addressed in your resume. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for. 

Upload a current resume, transcripts and a copy of your licensure or eligibility for licensure in Visual Impairment (1825) with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. Please upload these documents in Step 5 of 6 labeled “Supporting Documentation.”

Your resume should include the following:

• Your educational background including any course work that relates to the position in which you are applying. 
• Your employment history, including experiences and/or duties and a summary of accomplishments and skills learned or used. 
• Any training or experience, including volunteer work or internships, you have related specifically to the “Qualifications” section of the assessment. 
• Spell out any acronyms and/or abbreviations the first time used. 

What not to include in your resume:
Your application materials should not include any information that is not job-related, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, creed, disability, or genetic information. Further, do not include any self-identifying information such as photos, social security numbers, political affiliation, citizen status or conviction records. This document is not a letter of recommendation that someone else wrote about you.

Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the process. References will be requested from top candidates once interviews have taken place. 

If you are a veteran with a 30% or greater service-related disability and are not currently employed in a permanent position with Wisconsin State Government, please send a letter of qualifications, resume, DD-214 and documentation of your service-connected disability rating (dated within 12 months) to the contact listed below.

The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.

Questions? Please contact the recruiter at:
Jamie Smith
DPI Human Resources Specialist
Phone: (608) 267-9119
Email: Jamie.Smith@dpi.wi.gov 

Applications will be accepted until the needs of the Department are met.  Applications will next be reviewed after Monday, December 2, 2024.