Occupational Therapist (26-27 SY)

Occupational Therapist (26-27 SY)

Philadelphia, PA & Wilmington, DE

About Freire Schools

Established in 1999, Freire Schools is a network of four charter schools across Philadelphia and Delaware whose mission is to prepare students from historically underserved communities for success in college and beyond. We're distinguished by our belief in every student who walks through our doors, our strong code of conduct and commitment to peace that ensures a safe environment for all, our sense of family throughout our community, and our joyous and engaged classrooms that focus on academic achievement. As evidence of our impact, in 2023 Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes ranked Freire Schools in the top 15 in the country for academic gains out of 368 charter networks nationwide.

About the Team

For this Occupational Therapist position, you'll be working across our Freire Charter Schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Wilmington, Delaware. This role serves students across our high school campuses: Freire High School (Philadelphia, PA), TECH Freire Charter School (Philadelphia, PA), and Freire Charter School Wilmington (Wilmington, DE). Freire is all about Graduation x 2 graduation from high school and from college. We challenge our students to achieve higher than they ever have before, and we give them the support they need to get there, including individualized college counseling. 95% of The Class of 2025 received acceptances into 52 unique colleges and universities and earned nearly $4.3M in scholarship award offers. This success is possible because the Freire community is a true family, where students and teachers work together to build the future each student wants and deserves.

What You'll Do

As an Occupational Therapist, you'll provide comprehensive occupational therapy services, including assessments, therapy, and interventions, to support the academic and functional success of our students. You'll regularly collaborate with educators, administrators, families, and external partners to create a nurturing and effective learning environment for our Freire students.

Responsibilities

• Conduct occupational therapy evaluations to identify students' fine motor, sensory, visual-motor, and functional needs, and determine eligibility for special education services.
• Provide individual and group therapy to students facing motor, sensory, or functional challenges. Develop and implement intervention plans tailored to student needs.
• Work closely with teachers, academic advisors, and the emotional support team to develop strategies that promote student well-being and academic achievement.
• Participate in crisis intervention and provide support during emergencies, ensuring the safety and well-being of the school community.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records in accordance with school policies and state regulations.

Who You Are

You believe deeply in the potential of all students and are committed to supporting their academic, social-emotional, and functional success. As an Occupational Therapist at Freire, you bring an equity-driven, culturally responsive approach and build strong relationships with students, families, and staff. If you meet the qualifications for this role, we encourage you to apply.

Minimum Requirements

• Valid Pennsylvania OR Delaware Occupational Therapist license, or eligibility to obtain either REQUIRED
• Current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) certification REQUIRED
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Occupational Therapy from an ACOTE-accredited program
• Prior experience working with urban youth preferred.
• Proficiency in conducting occupational therapy assessments, developing intervention plans, and providing therapy services. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Dedication to promoting a peaceful and inclusive school culture that supports the diverse needs of all students.

Pay and Benefits

This position is open to full-time and part-time candidates. We offer a competitive salary based on experience and qualifications. Benefits eligibility is contingent on hours worked. Our benefits package includes health, dental, vision, and additional benefits. Delaware employees are enrolled in Delaware's state pension plan; employees may also elect to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan.

Freire Schools is committed to maintaining a workplace environment that is free from all forms of discrimination and discriminatory harassment, in service of the policy goal to provide all persons equal access to all categories of employment regardless of a person's actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), age, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, ethnic background, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, disability, veteran/military status, or any other category protected by state or federal law.