Academic Teacher, State Hospitals Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established May 31, 1972

Scope

This specification describes classes concerned with providing instruction in academic subjects to State hospital clients. Specific classes have been established for the following specialties:

Job Description

Persons in these specialty classes help clients of State hospitals prepare to become productive and contributing members of society by training them in physical, social, intellectual, and vocational functioning. The teachers give both individual and group instruction and, in many instances, participate as members of an interdisciplinary treatment team.

The teacher plays an integral role in the total rehabilitation process as well as in teaching the skills which will enable the individual to seek occupational opportunities. The Teachers' tasks include: planning, assigning, and supervising work; maintaining discipline among students; preparing courses of study and daily lesson plans; counseling students as to progress in the instructional program; working with students and helping them set and meet educational needs and goals; participating in program evaluation; and participating in extracurricular programs. In addition, they may work with treatment teams which combine the services of personnel in the educational, vocational, psychiatric, and casework areas. The Teacher's role is that of providing information of an education nature which can help other members of the team to better determine each client's treatment needs. In new and developing pro grams, Teachers may participate in the development and continuing revision of curriculum.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Academic Teacher, State Hospitals (Various Specialties), class series is distinguished from other classes such as Speech Pathologist and Rehabilitation Therapist (Various Specialties) in that the Teacher's primary activity is to provide academic instruction and special education programming to hospital clients, whereas the other classes are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of a particular disability.

Minimum Qualifications

The following backgrounds are required for the Teacher classes described in this specification. The credentials referred to are valid California standard credentials. Applicants who do not possess the required credential or one of equivalent authorization may take the examinations but must secure the appropriate credential before appointment. After issuance, the credential must be maintained by completion of any examinations and course work required.

Adult Education

Possession of the following California Credential:

Designated Subjects Credential for Adult Education.

Communication Handicapped

Possession of one of the following California Credentials:

1. Standard Credential with a specialization in Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

2. Standard Elementary or Standard Secondary Credential with a minor in Deaf or Hard of Hearing.

3. Restricted Credential in Deaf or Severely Hard of Hearing.

4. Restricted Speech and Hearing Credential.

5. Restricted Deaf-Blind Credential.

6. Specialist Instruction Credential: Communication Handicapped.

7. Service Credential: Clinical Rehabilitative Speech and Hearing.

Learning Handicapped Developmentally Disabled

Possession of one of the following California Credentials:

1. Standard Credential with a specialization in Mentally Retarded.

2. Restricted educable Mentally Retarded Children.

3. Specialist Instruction Credential: Learning Handicapped.

4. Standard Elementary or Secondary Credential with minor for Mentally Retarded.

5. General Special Secondary for Handicapped Children.

6. Educationally Handicapped.

Learning Handicapped Mentally Disabled

Possession of one of the following California Credentials:

1. Specialist Instruction Credential: Learning Handicapped.

2. General Special Secondary for Handicapped Children.

3. Educationally Handicapped.

Severely Handicapped Developmentally Disabled

Possession of one of the following California Credentials:

1. Standard Credential with a specialization in Mentally Retarded.

2. Restricted trainable mentally retarded.

3. Specialist Instruction Credential: Severely Handicapped.

4. Standard Elementary or Standard Secondary Credential with minor in Mentally Retarded.

Speech Development and Correction

Possession of one of the following California Credentials:

1. Service Credential: Clinical Rehabilitative Speech and Hearing.

2. Standard Teaching Credential with Speech and Hearing minor.

3. Restricted Speech and Hearing Credential.

4. Special Secondary Credential and Correction of Speech Defects.

5. Standard Elementary or Standard Secondary Credential with a specialization in Speech and Hearing Therapy.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: (With particular reference to their specialty.) Principles and methods of teaching; principles of educational psychology as applied to their teaching; current trends in educational methods; remedial teaching techniques and adapting instruction to student deficiencies; and emotional problems of students at State Hospitals.

Ability to: Provide leadership and motivation to institutional students, teach and supervise these individuals; work effectively with other disciplines; gain the interest, respect, and cooperation of students; develop socially acceptable attitudes in students; communicate effectively; and analyze situations accurately and take effective action.

Special Requirements

All Levels:

Must be willing to continue their educational development; work in a State Hospital; participate in group-oriented treatment programs; maintain an empathetic and objective understanding of institution students; demonstrate teaching ability or potential for teaching; emotional stability; tact; and patience.

Drug Testing Requirement

All Levels:

Applicants for positions in these classes are required to pass a drug screening test. Testing of current employees who are applicants in an examination or who are transferring is permitted only if the person does not have a current appointment to a class for which drug testing is a requirement.

Class History