Unique opportunity for an experienced pediatric physical therapist to join an expert, multidisciplinary team in an innovative non-profit school with innovative educational interventions leveraging PT therapies--and without the administrative hurdles of most school positions
Full or Part-time position
Compensation: $55–$140/hour, based on experience level and role scope. We're hiring across a range of experience — from early-career clinicians trained in pediatric neuro/ortho skills — to seasoned PTs who can join efforts to develop and document our treatment protocols for research purposes— and compensation is structured accordingly. Full-time and part-time candidates are both encouraged to apply; we'll scope the role and rate together based on your experience and availability.
The role and clinical model: Cajal Academy is hiring a licensed Physical Therapist to join a multidisciplinary clinical team embedded within a small, private nonprofit school dedicated to developing and implementing research-backed, neuroscience-based educational approaches. Co-founded by an experienced occupational therapist, we "connect the dots" between the data in children's normed assessments and their learning and social-emotional growth. We identify specific neurocognitive and neurophysiologic skill deficiencies and then apply clinical treatment practice to rebuild foundational skills from the ground up, beginning with any retained primitive reflexes and flowing all the way through to higher order academic and social-emotional tasks. At the same time, we develop the neurological skills that students need to self-monitor, self-manage and self-advocate for regulatory and physio needs. For students with joint hypermobility, connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and other musculoskeletal differences, we pair manual therapy with strengthening exercises and coaching in how to monitor and manage their conditions within the educational setting. All students engage in daily sensory sessions and movement advancing OT/PT needs is integrated into the classroom through our proprietary pedagogy ("Body-Informed Learning") providing the benefits of embodied cognition.
PT sits at the center of this work, not on the periphery. This is a chance to collaborate with experienced educators and with experts in OT, psychology and neuropsychology and to practice full-scope pediatric PT inside a program that connects and integrates this work all the way through academic and social-emotional growth with a whole-child approach.
Progress is assessed through normed clinical assessments and reported through our tailored, proprietary platform. However, our PT role does not include the administrative barriers, school district documentation or case load sprawl that is common in school environments. Since we launched in 2019, the results we've seen for our students have been transformational, and redefine what has previously been understood to be possible.
The student body: All Cajal Academy students have very high analytical reasoning and/or creative problem solving abilities. Our students have a range of motor planning, learning, social-emotional, neurophysiological and/or chronic medical conditions. This includes first-of-their-kind programs for under-served cohorts of high intellect students, including dyspraxia and heritable connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. Cajal Academy is not a "behavior management" or ABA school and does not implement ABA approaches. We do not accept students who are physically aggressive towards staff or peers.
About our School:
Cajal Academy was co-founded by an occupational therapist and a social entrepreneur who is mom to two very bright but neurophysiologically complicated children and with direction from a recognized neuropsychologist. Together, we developed a novel approach that moves beyond accommodation to actually reduce children’s disabilities, by leveraging the connections between children’s neurophysiology and their learning and social-emotional experiences. PT and OT therapies are integrated into academic lessons, and students learn how to understand and leverage the connections between their neurophysiology and their learning and social-emotional experiences.
Cajal Academy was granted Candidacy status by NEASC in June, 2023 and will strive to achieve full accreditation over the coming year.
Responsibilities of the Position:
This is a unique opportunity to become fully embedded within our academic programming in a small school environment with a mission-based and collaborative team that includes other highly-experienced, licensed therapists. You will be engaged in all aspects of identifying and addressing students’ physical therapy needs and contributing to the team’s understandings of how these needs relate to the child’s broader psychoeducational profiles, from the application process through to supporting academic teachers with designing tailored movement instruction into their lesson plans, using our exclusive Body-Informed Learning techniques. On the job training will be provided in these techniques. These are paired with more traditional PT treatment sessions, in small group or 1:1 settings. This is genuine interdisciplinary integration, not a consult-and-leave model.
Treatment must include reflex integration and sensory-based approaches; we provide training in any techniques that are new to you, including our proprietary movement-integration methodology ("Body-Informed Learning") that brings PT/OT understanding directly into classroom instruction and lesson design.
What you'll do:
- Provide direct 1:1 and small-group treatment, plus co-treatment/push-in sessions in classrooms
- Conduct standardized clinical assessments to benchmark and track individual student progress over time
- Participate in interdisciplinary case conferences twice weekly with our OT, neuropsychologist, and academic team
- Write clear, regular progress communications to parents (treatment recommendations themselves are handled internally within the clinical team, not communicated directly to families)
- Implement Cajal Academy protocols for student services, and supporting children’s growth by prompting students to utilize personalized self-regulation strategies developed in consultation with other members of the clinical team;
- Complying with all state regulations concerning renewal of certifications and licenses.
Requirements:
We are looking for a creative problem solver with strong analytical skills who is intellectually curious and passionate about the potential to empower children through physical therapy techniques. The ideal candidate will have neuro-developmental experience and will be adept at identifying retained reflexes, dyspraxia and other ways in which physical differences impact student learning and development, although training will also be provided where necessary. However, pediatric experience and the ability to build real rapport with kids are essential — more than any specific technique background. You should be someone who connects easily with children, and is genuinely passionate about the ways that physical development shapes learning and social-emotional growth.
Requirements:
- Master's or Doctoral degree in Physical Therapy (required)
- Active CT PT License (required)
- Pediatric experience required; comfort or experience with connective tissue disorders/joint hypermobility a strong plus
- Willingness to learn techniques outside your existing training — full training provided
- Authorized to work in the U.S. by start date
Specific requirements of the position include:
- Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy (REQUIRED)
- Active CT Physical Therapist License (REQUIRED)
- Schools experience preferred but not required
- The desire to be a part of a collaborative team with the drive to work together to ensure each child reaches his/her maximum potential
- Willingness to learn techniques and approaches that you probably were not taught in PT school
- Experience treating individuals having joint hypermobility and/or connective tissue disorders preferred
- Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment
All Cajal Academy team members must be committed to a trauma-informed approach and to collaborating with staff from other academic and therapeutic disciplines. They also must be comfortable reflecting regularly on practice, must seek and respond to feedback, and must demonstrate self-awareness and commitment to continuous learning and development.
How to Apply
Interested applicants should complete the Employment Application available on the Cajal Academy website, including a resume and 3 references. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Pay: $50.00 - $140.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Physical Setting:
Application Question(s):
- Please describe any prior pediatrics experience
License/Certification:
- Physical Therapy License (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
