Job Summary: Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) at A Step Up Academy (ASUA) facilitate the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, treatment, reduction, remediation, and elimination of communication disorders that interfere with a student's ability to access and benefit from their educational program. Services include speech, language, social communication, pragmatic language, cognitive-communication, executive functioning, feeding consultation (when appropriate), augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), and related communication supports for students ages 4 through 21 with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental, behavioral, communication, sensory, and intellectual disabilities.
Services may be delivered in person and through teletherapy when appropriate and may take place in classrooms, therapeutic assigned spaces, the community, or virtually on a computer or electronic device.
ASUA is a highly specialized private academic school utilizing a collaborative, interdisciplinary model that integrates educational, behavioral, therapeutic, and social-emotional programming. Speech-Language Pathologists are expected to actively participate as members of this interdisciplinary team, recognizing that communication is embedded throughout every educational experience. SLPs work collaboratively with teachers, instructional assistants, behavior specialists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, nursing staff, administrators, and families to maximize communication, independence, social participation, and educational success.
The Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for conducting comprehensive evaluations, developing individualized intervention plans, participating in IEP development and implementation, providing direct and consultative speech-language services, documenting student progress, supporting staff implementation of communication systems, and partnering with families.
A primary responsibility of this position is ensuring that every speech-language service outlined in each student's Enrollment Contract and Individualized Education Program (IEP) is delivered with complete fidelity to the prescribed frequency and duration. The Speech-Language Pathologist is responsible for maintaining accurate service logs and documentation, proactively monitoring service delivery compliance, and independently planning and scheduling make-up sessions whenever services are missed due to school closures, therapist absences, assemblies, field trips, student programming conflicts, schedule changes, or any interruption in service delivery. Maintaining compliance with contracted and legally required services is an essential function of this position.
Primary responsibility shall always include maintaining student safety while providing therapeutic intervention within highly specialized classrooms serving students with significant behavioral, communication, sensory, and social-emotional support needs. Therapists must be capable of responding appropriately to challenging behaviors, supporting crisis intervention when necessary, collaborating closely with behavioral staff, and helping students safely participate in educational programming. Strong partnership with families and effective collaboration across disciplines are essential expectations.
Qualifications:
Master's Degree in Communication Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology.
Current Pennsylvania License as a Speech-Language Pathologist.
Current Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) preferred or eligibility consistent with Pennsylvania licensure requirements.
Current (dated within one year) Act 34, Act 114, and Act 151 clearances.
Current CPR and First Aid certification or willingness to obtain upon hire.
Ability to successfully complete all ASUA-required safety, crisis prevention, and behavior management training.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of and commitment to ASUA's mission, philosophy, and interdisciplinary service delivery model emphasizing collaboration, child-centered programming, positive behavior supports, trauma-informed care, dignity, respect, accountability, and maximizing student independence.
- Understand the unique communication, behavioral, sensory, social, academic, and adaptive needs of students with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental disabilities.
- Organize and conduct identification, screening, referral, and evaluation processes for students with suspected communication disorders.
- Complete comprehensive speech-language evaluations in accordance with Pennsylvania regulations, ASHA standards, and ASUA procedures.
- Evaluate speech production, receptive language, expressive language, pragmatic language, social communication, AAC needs, oral-motor functioning, voice, fluency, cognitive-communication skills, executive functioning, and other communication domains as appropriate.
- Prepare comprehensive evaluation reports that clearly summarize findings, educational impact, recommendations, and programming needs.
- Develop measurable, educationally relevant speech-language goals aligned with each student's educational programming and IEP.
- Develop, implement, and monitor speech-language components of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).
- Deliver direct speech-language therapy exactly as prescribed within each student's Enrollment Contract and IEP, maintaining complete fidelity to required frequency, duration, and service model.
- Independently monitor personal service delivery to ensure all required therapy minutes are provided within required timelines.
- Maintain accurate service trackers, daily service logs, progress reports, treatment notes, evaluation reports, consultation records, and all other required documentation.
- Independently schedule and complete make-up sessions whenever services are interrupted due to therapist absences, school closures, student schedule changes, assemblies, field trips, weather events, or other interruptions.
- Immediately communicate anticipated service deficits or compliance concerns to appropriate supervisors before compliance is impacted.
- Utilize evidence-based intervention strategies that support functional communication, educational participation, self-advocacy, emotional regulation, peer interaction, and independence.
- Implement individual, small-group, classroom-based, consultative, and push-in therapy models as appropriate to maximize generalization of communication skills.
- Evaluate, recommend, implement, program, and monitor augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems and assistive communication technology.
- Provide ongoing consultation, modeling, and coaching to teachers, instructional assistants, behavior specialists, related service providers, and administrators to ensure communication strategies are consistently implemented throughout the school day.
- Educate and collaborate with families regarding communication strategies that support generalization across home, school, and community environments.
- Maintain ongoing assessment of student progress toward IEP goals and modify intervention accordingly.
- Maintain communication with educational staff regarding student progress, communication systems, accommodations, and recommendations.
- Participate actively in IEP meetings, multidisciplinary team meetings, parent conferences, staff meetings, consultation meetings, crisis planning meetings, and professional development activities.
- Maintain current knowledge of evidence-based practices through continuing education, research, professional collaboration, and ASHA-approved continuing education.
- Travel throughout the Flagship Campus and between ASUA campuses when directed to meet student and organizational needs.
- Provide services within classrooms, therapy spaces, sensory environments, vocational areas, adaptive physical education settings, community-based instructional activities, and other educational environments as appropriate.
Additional Duties and Responsibilities:
- Read, understand, and comply with the ASUA Employee Handbook, Board policies, clinical procedures, and all updates.
- Attend all mandatory meetings, trainings, professional development sessions, and school events as required, including those occurring outside regular work hours as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
- Participate in ongoing professional development related to autism, AAC, behavior support, trauma-informed care, social communication, neurodiversity-affirming practices, crisis intervention, and educational best practices.
- Maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA, HIPAA (when applicable), ASHA ethical standards, and ASUA policies.
- Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, initiative, accountability, resilience, and a collaborative mindset while contributing positively to ASUA's culture.
- This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The Speech-Language Pathologist will be required to follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as assigned by the Head of Schools, Senior Director, Clinical Leadership, Senior Team, or other appropriate administrator.
Physical Requirements:
This position requires significant physical stamina and the ability to safely participate in highly active educational environments serving students ages 4-21 with autism spectrum disorder and complex behavioral, communication, and adaptive support needs.
Frequent standing, walking, sitting on floors, kneeling, squatting, bending, reaching, climbing stairs, lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds, pushing, pulling, transitioning rapidly between classrooms, and moving therapy equipment and instructional materials are required.
The Speech-Language Pathologist must be physically capable of responding rapidly during behavioral crises, safely assisting students during dysregulation, participating in approved crisis intervention procedures, maintaining close proximity to students, supporting safe transitions, and collaborating alongside behavioral staff within highly active educational environments.
The ability to run short distances, maintain physical endurance throughout the workday, model clear and appropriate verbal communication, and safely support students with significant behavioral needs is an essential function of the position.
Adequate vision, hearing, balance, coordination, manual dexterity, and the ability to consistently provide an accurate speech and language model are required.
Safety and Health:
- Knowledge of universal hygiene precautions.
- Adherence to all ASUA safety procedures, infection control protocols, emergency procedures, crisis intervention practices, and mandated reporting responsibilities.
- Ability to continuously maintain awareness of student safety while protecting student dignity and supporting positive behavioral outcomes.
Equipment/Material Handled:
The Speech-Language Pathologist shall be assigned standardized assessments, therapy materials, AAC devices, communication systems, consultation resources, instructional technology, and educational materials that shall be maintained, inventoried, sanitized, stored appropriately, and used responsibly.
The Speech-Language Pathologist must demonstrate proficiency with electronic documentation systems, service tracking platforms, scheduling software, communication technology, AAC programming software, teletherapy platforms (when appropriate), and all technology utilized by ASUA.
Work Environment:
The Speech-Language Pathologist works within ASUA's Flagship Campus, a highly specialized educational environment serving students with autism spectrum disorder and other complex developmental disabilities across preschool through transition-age programming.
Services are provided throughout classrooms, therapy rooms, sensory environments, adaptive physical education spaces, cafeterias, playgrounds, vocational training environments, transition programming, community-based instructional activities, and other educational settings. The Speech-Language Pathologist is expected to provide therapy within natural educational routines whenever appropriate, maximizing student participation and skill generalization.
Daily responsibilities involve collaboration with multidisciplinary teams while managing changing schedules, student behavioral needs, sensory-rich environments, multiple AAC systems, competing priorities, and dynamic educational programming. Noise levels, activity levels, and environmental conditions vary significantly throughout the day.
The Speech-Language Pathologist must demonstrate flexibility, organization, excellent clinical judgment, professionalism, and the ability to remain calm and effective under stressful conditions. Independent decision-making is expected, interruptions are routine, and the clinician is responsible for maintaining efficient scheduling, proactively communicating schedule changes, and ensuring all contracted speech-language services remain fully compliant despite unavoidable scheduling disruptions.
A Step Up Academy reserves the right to update, revise or change this job description and related duties at any time.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Do you have a current Speech and Language license/certification in the state of Pennsylvania? Or will you be graduating soon with that degree and certification?
Work Location: In person
