Speech Therapist

Speech Therapist

Primary Purpose:

To provide consultation to teachers, parents, other support personnel, and community agencies concerning implementation of the student's individual educational plan and strategies for learning. Responsible for the assessment of intelligence and of educational functioning and for the collection and analysis of data pertaining to sociological variables for the student.

Terms of Employment:

Salary: In accordance with the annual salary schedule approved by the Management Board of the Freestone-Navarro Bi-County Co-Op. 10 months / 187 days per year, term or probationary contract, as applicable

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree / State License

Special Knowledge/Skills:

Patience and understanding of the needs in dealing with children with disabilities. Must have the ability to communicate with students with varied disabilities and their parents; and a general understanding of all their individual needs.

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

• Recommends policies and programs essential to the needs of speech impaired children.
• Keeps informed of and complies with all policy and regulation requirements, both state and district governing speech therapy.
• Assists in establishing new programs and developing improved understanding of existing programs for both the individual campus and Co-op.
• Assists in the development and initiation of programs for continuous identification of speech impaired children for both the individual campus and Coop.
• Assists in establishing procedures for placement, evaluation, assignment, and reappraisal of students with regard to the speech therapy program.
• Assists in the development of procedures for referral, securing medical reports, psychological examination, and placement for both the individual campus and Co-op.
• Evaluates the child according to guidelines established by the Texas Education Agency, Board policies and administrative procedures.
• Observes the student in various settings prior to the administration of tests.
• Selects valid and appropriate evaluation instruments based on students needs and strengths. Examiners should select instruments with which they are proficient.
• Considers all suspected conditions and components of the evaluation.
• Consults with other professionals throughout the evaluation process.
• Respects all formal and informal evaluation data.
• Encourages the evaluation team to function as a cohesive unit, focusing on the whole child.
• Encourages active and appropriate parent participation in the evaluation process. Ensure that all communications with parents are clearly understood.

Instructional Support:

• Develops and implements plans for the speech therapy program.
• Prepares lessons that reflect accommodation for individual student differences.
• Presents therapy according to guidelines established by Texas Education Agency board policies, and administrative regulations.
• Employs a variety of therapy techniques and media, consistent with the needs and capabilities of the student groups involved.
• Assist students in analyzing and improving methods and habits of speech.
• Establishes control in the classroom and administers discipline in accordance with board policies and administrative regulations.
• Assists in the selection of books, equipment, and other instructional materials used for speech therapy.
• Maintains accurate and complete records as required by law, district policy and administrative regulation.
• Evaluates students and sends progress reports to parents as appropriate.

Non-Instructional Activities:

• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Has a clear sense of the mission of the district, Co-op and actively participates in planning and decision making in order to accomplish the mission.
• Follows school policies and procedures.
• Engages in continuous education to increase knowledge of the field and enhance job performance.
• Adheres to high ethical standards as established by TSHA.

Student, Parent, Teacher, Administration and Staff Relations:

• Consults with parents of students enrolled in the program.
• Establishes and maintains open lines of communication with students and parents, teachers and administrators.
• Communicates well with parents.
• Communicates well with all school personnel.
• Accessible to school administrators and teachers.
• Conveys honest, accurate information with integrity, empathy and respect for confidentiality.
• Uses language that all members of the evaluation team understand.
• Develops and maintains a congenial working relationship with other professionals and paraprofessionals.
• Establishes and maintains open lines of communication with teachers and administrators.
• Develops and maintain a congenial working relationship with paraprofessional staff.

Efficiency of Paperwork & Time Management Skills:

• Assists with development and maintenance of complete and cumulative individual records of all children receiving speech therapy services.
• Maintains accurate and complete records as required by rules of the State Board of Education, policies of local boards and administrative procedures.
• Schedules ARDs in a timely manner.
• Communicates ARD date and time to all school personnel well in advance of the ARD to all appropriate related service personnel in a timely manner.
• Uses good time management skills.
• Turns in neat, complete, accurate paper work to be processed in the co-op office.