Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant

Qualifications: Minimum experience as determined by the board certified occupational therapist assistant license. Broad knowledge of child growth and development, psychology of exceptional children, and the principles of counseling individuals. Demonstrated ability to effectively work with students, parents, and community groups and agencies. Strong leadership skills. Maintain confidentiality of staff and students.

Primary Responsibility: To Director of Special Education and Building Principal.

Job Summary: To assist students who have difficulty in achieving a healthy and balanced lifestyle, and enable them to participate to their potential in daily occupations of life. To enable all pupils to benefit from their educational opportunities to the fullest by eliminating or ameliorating those problems that prevent or interfere with student learning.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

• Work collaboratively with Occupational Therapist
• Complete forms for Medicaid billing
• Assisting Students and Families
• Provide pupil services and special education
• Coordinate occupational therapy with other educational services
• Follow established procedures for evaluation, placement, and reappraisal of students in need of special education or related services
• Perform skills assessments and treatment
• Provide customized intervention programs to improve students' ability to perform daily activities
• Provide guidance to teachers
• Assist with home instruction for homebound or hospitalized students
• Initiate, facilitate, and maintain relationships with community agencies and other resources to meet pupils' special needs
• Planning, Evaluation and Reporting
• Cooperate with Building Principal to plan, coordinate, and evaluate the pupil services program
• Recommend policies and programs essential to the needs of students needing occupational therapy
• Evaluate existing programs and make recommendations for improvements
• Participate in the development and implementation of in-service programs
• Assume responsibility for the preparation and timely submission of all required reports, and for timely input into reports prepared by others
• Assume responsibility for district compliance with federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy regarding occupational therapy
• Other
• Interpret the objectives of the district's pupil services program to parents, students, staff, and the community
• Keep informed of all legal requirements governing special education and ensures that all requirements under federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy are met
• Assume responsibility for his or her continuing professional growth and development by such efforts as attendance at professional meetings, membership in professional organizations, enrollment in advanced courses, and by reading professional journals and other publications
• Seek assistance should emergencies arise
• Represent the school district in a positive manner
• Know and follow school district policy and chain of command
• Perform other duties as assigned

Evaluation: Performance of this position will be evaluated annually by the assistant superintendent and/or superintendent in conformance with federal and state law, administrative rules, and Board policy.

Benefits: District benefit package for full time employees working 20+ hours per week: Medical/vision/dental insurance $30,000 life insurance with option to purchase additional coverage Employee assistance program (EAP) Unlimited accumulation of sick leave Personal, bereavement, professional leave, vacation (if applicable) Credit reimbursement of up to $300 per year

Terms of Employment: Contract as determined by the Board. Note all certificated and non-certificated employees and other individuals are required to undergo a criminal history check and submit to fingerprinting. Any applicant convicted of any of the felony crimes enumerated in Section 33-1208, Idaho Code may not be hired, and any applicant convicted of any felony offense listed in Section 33-1208(2), Idaho Code shall not be hired. Legal Reference: I.C. 33-512 Governance of Schools I.C. 33-1210 Information on Past Job Performance I.C. 54-3702 Occupational Therapy Practice Act IDAPA 24.06.01 Occupational Therapists and Occupational Therapy Assistants