This position will fill in as a substitute on an as-needed basis.
POSITION PURPOSE: Provides specialized therapeutic services to students with disabilities or developmental challenges to help them access their education and participate in the school environment. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, the OT evaluates students' functional abilities, develops individualized intervention plans, and implements treatment strategies that support students' educational goals and maximize their independence in the school setting. This position requires travel to multiple school districts.
FLSA CLASSIFICATION: Exempt; Part-Time
REPORTS TO: Exceptional Child Cooperative Director
EVALUATION: Performance of this position will be evaluated in accordance with the provisions of Board policy GCN: Evaluation of Professional Staff.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
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Master’s Degree or higher in Occupational Therapy
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Experience working in a school-based setting or with preschool and elementary school-aged children is preferred.
CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSURES:
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Hold a current Missouri license as an Occupational Therapist.
QUALIFICATIONS:
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Comprehensive understanding of child development, developmental delays, and disabilities.
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Ability to conduct functional observations and analyze performance in natural environments.
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Experience in generating educationally relevant goals and objectives based on the individuals’ needs.
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Expertise in fine motor development, visual-motor skills, handwriting instruction, and evidence-based interventions for pediatric conditions.
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Ability to lift and transfer students with mobility limitations.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
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Embrace and work continually in support of the district mission of “Expecting Excellence… Learning for All.”
Assessment and Evaluation
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Conducts comprehensive occupational therapy evaluations of students referred through the special education process, assessing fine motor skills, visual-motor integration, sensory processing, self-care abilities, and functional performance in the classroom.
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Administers standardized and non-standardized assessments, observes students in natural school environments, and gathers information from teachers and parents.
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Writes detailed evaluation reports that document findings, interpret results, and recommend services and accommodations.
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Serve on multi-disciplinary evaluation teams.
IEP Development and Implementation
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Participates as a member of IEP teams, contributing expertise regarding students' functional abilities and therapeutic needs.
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Develops measurable, educationally relevant goals and objectives based on evaluation findings and educational impact.
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Determines appropriate frequency and duration of services, whether delivered through direct therapy, consultation, or monitoring.
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Attends IEP meetings to discuss evaluation results, progress, and recommendations with parents and team members.
Treatment and Intervention
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Provides individual and small-group occupational therapy services to students in various settings, including therapy rooms, classrooms, cafeteria, playground, and other school environments.
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Implements evidence-based interventions to address fine motor development, handwriting skills, visual-motor integration, sensory processing difficulties, self-care skills, and adaptive equipment use.
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Adjusts treatment approaches based on student response and progress toward IEP goals.
Documentation and Compliance
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Maintains accurate and timely documentation of all services, including evaluation reports, progress notes, IEP goal data, attendance records, and treatment plans in accordance with federal, state, and district regulations.
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Ensures compliance with IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), Section 504, and state special education requirements.
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Documents student progress toward IEP goals and objectives regularly and prepares progress reports for families.
Collaboration and Consultation
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Consults with teachers, parents, administrators, and other team members regarding strategies to support students' functional performance and participation in educational activities.
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Provides recommendations for classroom modifications, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, and environmental accommodations.
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Educates staff about sensory needs, positioning, and handling techniques.
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Collaborates with physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, and other related service providers to coordinate comprehensive support for students.
Caseload Management
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Manages a caseload of students across multiple school sites or grade levels, developing and maintaining therapy schedules that meet students' IEP requirements.
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Prioritizes and organizes services to ensure timely evaluations, IEP compliance, Medicaid documentation, and effective service delivery.
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Adjusts schedules to accommodate student absences, school activities, and changing needs.
Supervisory Responsibilities
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Supervise COTAs as directed.
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Maintain supervision logs as required.
Professional Responsibilities
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Stays current with evidence-based occupational therapy practices, educational regulations, and pediatric developmental research.
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Participates in continuing education, professional development activities, and district training.
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Maintains professional licensure and meets all state and national certification requirements.
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Perform other duties as deemed necessary and appropriate by the Coop Director.
KEY SKILLS/CHARACTERISTICS:
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Demonstrated ability to work effectively under the direction of others.
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Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team.
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Perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
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Demonstration of quality character traits, including commitment, dependability, integrity, and fairness.
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Punctuality; ability to maintain a good work record.
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Excellent time management and problem-solving skills.
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Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality of information about children and their families.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
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Strong collaboration skills.
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Ability to maintain accurate records and meet documentation deadlines.
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Adhere to a high level of professional and ethical standards.
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Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district and legal requirements.
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Employed on an as-needed basis.
This document describes the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to the position listed under “TITLE” and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or required.
The Houston R-I School District Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is free from illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, activities and facilities. In accordance with law, the district strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. The Houston R-I School District is an equal opportunity employer.
