Substitute School Speech Language Pathologist

Speech and Language Pathologist

The goal of the Licensed School Speech and Language Pathologist, is to work collaboratively with educators, parents, and other professionals to assess, diagnose, and treat speech and language disorders among students, as it relates to academic instruction or functional performance. Your expertise will contribute to fostering a positive learning environment where all students can thrive academically and socially.

Essential duties and responsibilities:

• Ensures that all actions are compliant with established Board policies as well as the mission, vision and values defined by the district and Board of Education.
• Carries out such additional duties as required or as conditions necessitate.
• Participates in job training and professional growth opportunities in order to enhance ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
• Screens students who may be at risk for speech or language difficulties.
• Conducts comprehensive assessments to identify speech and language disorders among students.
• Administers standardized tests and informal assessments to evaluate communication skills, language development, articulation, fluency, and voice quality.
• Analyzes assessment results to determine the nature and severity of speech and language disorders.
• Consults with classroom and special education teachers, administrators, related service clinicians, other district staff and parents.
• Provides direct therapy as well as consultative services.
• Completes paperwork in accordance with Special Education Requirements and student IEPs.
• Keeps parents informed of student progress.
• Acts as special education case manager for students receiving speech-only services.
• Attends and participates in intervention team meetings, such as individual problem solving meetings or behavior intervention plan meetings.
• Attends and comes prepared to propose assessments during special education referral and reevaluation domain meetings.
• Completes Medicaid billing and service logging.
• Maintains accurate records for daily lessons, therapy, progress monitoring, evaluation, IEPs and requisite special education paperwork.
• Attends parent-teacher conferences as needed.
• Provides Response to Intervention (RtI) services as part of a MTSS framework to students who may benefit from short-term intervention strategies.
• Assists in the determination of need for assistive technology and/ or augmentative communication systems for students identified with severe- profound disorders.
• Provides direct services with assistive technology and/ or augmentative communication systems for students identified with severe- profound disorders.
• Partners with case managers and other IEP team members to support language-based tasks through the use of visual schedules and other visual supports such as CORE boards, etc.
• Provides screening and consultation at pre-school screenings.
• Assists teachers in the development and implementation of curriculum modifications and appropriate classroom strategies.
• Refers students and their families to appropriate community agencies and services.
• Cooperates with agencies serving students and their families.
• Maintains appropriate, confidential records and provides timely reports.
• Orders and maintains an adequate inventory of materials and supplies.
• Stays abreast of current research, best practices, and trends in the field of speech-language pathology.
• Participates in professional development opportunities, workshops, conferences, and continuing education activities to enhance clinical skills and knowledge.
• Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams, including special education staff, psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers, to support holistic student development and success.

Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology
• License from the Illinois Dept. of Professional Regulations
• Illinois State Board of Education Type 10 certificate, Type 73 certificate, or Type 03 and 09 certificate with endorsement
• American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Certificate of Clinical Competence/ Speech- Language or intent to begin Clinical Fellowship year

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Experience working with school-aged children in educational settings preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement individualized treatment plans.
• Proficiency in conducting comprehensive assessments and interpreting evaluation results.
• Knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards governing the practice of speech-language pathology in educational settings.