The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) is the state agency that advances public education and libraries in Wisconsin. Our mission is to advance equitable, transformative, and sustainable educational experiences that develop learners, schools, libraries, and communities in Wisconsin. Working at DPI offers you the opportunity to build on our long-standing commitment to public education so that students are learning the skills and knowledge necessary to become contributing members of our communities.

At DPI, we are committed to creating an environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and valued. Equity and inclusion are at the core of our organizational values, which include belonging, integrity, love, humility, and honor. These values guide how we build our teams, develop our leaders, and create a culture that empowers everyone to be their authentic selves. When employees are respected and valued for who they are and staff are held accountable for demonstrating that respect to others, we believe it drives greater engagement and collaboration, ignites creativity and innovation, and fosters connection between teams and those we serve. 

Our employees enjoy an exceptional employee assistance program that offers a variety of programs and tools to help promote wellness. We have a team-oriented atmosphere and focus on work-life balance.

The WI School for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the Division for Learning Support is seeking applicants for a Child Care Counselor 1, a full-time, school-year position (80% Full Time Equivalence). This role offers the chance to engage in meaningful work, ensuring students receive the care and supervision they need to thrive. This position will play a key role in supporting students in a residential program, guiding them toward independence within a dynamic environment.

This position provides the opportunity to work with students of varying abilities, helping them become as independent as possible. The energetic atmosphere includes fun activities, and the low staff-to-student ratio allows for personalized attention. Staff work closely with students, using innovative tools and collaborating with a dedicated team. This rewarding position fosters an inclusive, supportive environment where staff are passionate about empowering students and building a strong, close-knit community.

The role of Child Care Counselor 1 (CCC) is to provide care and supervision for students who are blind or visually impaired in a dormitory setting. The CCC will provide each child with the opportunity to become independent through individual training programs and day-to-day living experiences. Through supervision, the CCC will allow each child to perform tasks they are capable of doing. 

For more information, please view the complete position description.

Starting salary will be $18.42 per hour (approximately $30,650 per year, plus differentials). For current and eligible former State employees, compensation will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan effective at time of hire. This position is in pay schedule 06, range 10. A one-year probationary period will be required.

Required work hours between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. qualify for an additional eighty cents ($0.80) per hour. Required work hours on Saturday and Sunday qualify for an additional eighty cents ($0.80) per hour. 

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

A TB screen will be required prior to start.

The candidate must be able to lift a minimum of 100 pounds with or without accommodation.

This position will work third shift (approximately 11:30 p.m. Sunday – 7:30 a.m. Monday and 12:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Tuesday through Friday).

A valid driver’s license is required upon appointment. Reasonable accommodation will be provided for candidates unable to drive due to a disability.

The position is headquartered at the WI Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, 1700 West State Street, Janesville, WI. Reimbursement for traveling to or from the employee’s headquarters is not provided (e.g., mileage, meals, parking, lodging, etc.). 

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.

Please address the following in your resume:
A minimally qualified applicant must have:

• Ability to work scheduled hours as needed, which will include evenings and weekends; and
• Willingness and ability to follow instructions.

Please note that a college degree is not required for this position.

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 and letter of qualifications. 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 and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. This will allow a fuller assessment regarding your qualifications and those required for the job applying for. Please review these resume and letter of qualifications tips for more information on your application materials.

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 proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements.

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 November 4, 2024.