Speech and Language Therapist

Speech and Language Therapist

The Owen J. Roberts School District is committed to being an inclusive and welcoming community that respects diversity and equitably informs academic excellence. We seek candidates who will not only enhance our representational diversity, but who will contribute to the mission of inspiring critical thinking, compassionate action, and personal success within a culture that prioritizes access, dignity, and belonging for all.

Position Goal: Speech/Language Therapists are professional educators, who supervise students individually and in groups while delivering therapy. There are no other supervisory duties attached to this position.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive, integrative speech/language assessment and therapy for students in need of these services.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and document a program of therapy, which meets the needs of each student.
• Provide therapy in a consistent and productive manner that includes documentation of progress based on IEP goals.
• Provide support for AAC devices and SETT process as required by student's programs.
• Adhere to school district, intermediate unit, state, and federal guidelines.
• Prepare and complete information relative to screenings, assessments, Evaluation Reports, IEPs, data collection and reports on progress, within the established timelines.
• Work collaboratively with building staff and other related service providers to develop a schedule of therapy sessions.
• Willingness to provide therapy across the district as directed by supervisors to support speech and language needs as they arise.
• Collaborate with classroom teachers, staff members, therapists, and families to offer information, support, instruction, suggestions, and provide modeling of strategies that promote the student's systematic progress toward skill development.
• Be familiar with best practices.
• Participate in an ongoing program of staff development.
• Maintain and submit in a timely manner individual student tracking and billing information, through submission of Penn Data forms, access and attendance reports, as directed by the program supervisor.
• Prepare and submit weekly and daily schedules, as directed.
• Maintain a student caseload that approaches the upper limits of Pennsylvania's Chapter 14 requirements for Speech/Language therapists unless students' needs warrant a reduced schedule and program supervisor approves the therapist's altered schedule.

Supports: In addition to the New Teacher Induction Program, new teachers in the Owen J. Roberts School District receive a mentor teacher to support their acclimation to the district and provide ongoing support throughout the school year. Also, speech language pathologists are supported by department members and IEP Facilitators.

Qualifications:

• Experience with students with Autism and ABA strategies is highly preferred.
• Experience with AAC devices and the SETT process preferred.
• Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in the field.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, administration, agencies, and the community.
• Ability to develop rapport with families and communicate effectively.
• Ability to meet demands from several people and to multi-task.
• Pennsylvania Teaching Certification in Speech/Language.
• Bachelor's Degree in the area of Speech/Language, with enrollment in a Master's Level Speech/Language program and a concurrent mentoring program required.
• Pennsylvania State Licensure and Master's degree preferred.
• Ability to interpret, analyze and problem solve.
• Able to converse and interact with students, staff, and families, maintaining a high level of professionalism.
• Able to read and understand documents relating federal, state, and local mandates as well as education and speech pathology.
• Familiarity with technology and augmentative devices including personal computers.

Skills and Abilities:

• Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze and interpret professional literature. Ability to write reports and formal correspondence that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of supervisors, administrators, staff, and the general public. Ability to effectively develop and present student service plans based on assessment of needs. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from parents, agencies, or other members of the community.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts in the performance of routine assignments.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret technical instructions and regulations involving both abstract and concrete variables. Ability to apply sound judgment to resolve conflicts and solve problems.

Terms of Employment: 190 days, 7 hours 30 minutes per day. Salary and benefits according to the negotiated agreement between the Board of School Directors and the Roberts Education Association. Bachelor's Degree starting $60,250; Master's Degree starting $65,900; final salary determined by education and experience. The Owen J. Roberts School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.