Speech Language Pathology Assistant

Job Title: Speech Language Pathology Assistant

Salary: $27.92/hr – Negotiations in Progress

Reports To: Building Administrator and Range: 13 Student Support Services Director

Location: Central Peninsula Area Schools Hours: 4.2 hrs/day Kenai Peninsula, Alaska # of Days: 184

Job Purpose:

To assist speech therapists in providing speech and language services to students. The Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) plays a vital role in supporting the speech and language development of students within the school district. Working under the supervision of a certified speech-language pathologist, the SLPA assists in implementing therapeutic interventions, conducting assessments, and providing direct instruction to students with speech and language impairments. The SLPA collaborates with educational teams, and other professionals to ensure the effective delivery of services and the progress of students in achieving their communication goals.

Duties, Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

1. Instructional: Will provide assistance to speech therapists in the instruction of children and the preparation of instructional materials by implementing therapy sessions and intervention plans developed by the supervising speech-language pathologist. Responsibilities include conducting individual or group therapy sessions to address specific communication goals of students, utilizing evidence-based techniques and resources to facilitate students' speech, language, and communication skills, and monitoring and documenting student progress during therapy sessions.

2. Administration: Will assist in maintaining attendance and other records, preparing and submitting reports, and maintaining discipline and order in the classroom. Responsibilities include documenting data and progress towards goals to support decision-making and future planning, as well as complying with legal and ethical guidelines regarding confidentiality and data privacy.

3. Teamwork: Performs other related duties as required or assigned. Works cooperatively with school employees, students and visitors.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

1. Requires knowledge of instructional technique, ability to work with children with disabilities, and skill in preparing and presenting lessons.

2. Requires patience, willingness, and skill in supervising children under various circumstances, including children with behavioral challenges.

3. Must be self-motivated and able to work independently.

4. Must have a valid driver's license as position requires travel within the central peninsula area. Must be able to provide own transportation.

5. Requires ability to keep accurate records, prepare numerical and written reports, and to attend to detail.

6. Requires willingness to perform various job-related duties as situations require, a strong sense of teamwork, and ability to work cooperatively with others. Requires ability to collect data on student performance on a daily basis.

Required License and Education on file with the KPBSD Human Resources Office in accordance with AS 08.11.042 and AS 08.11.043:

1. High School Diploma or recognized equivalent

2. Speech-Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) license issued by the State of Alaska

3. Evidence of one of the following:

a. Official transcripts verifying an Associate of Applied Science degree in Disabilities with a Speech-Language Support emphasis either from the University of Alaska Anchorage in affiliation with Prince William Sound Community College or from another approved program.

b. Official transcripts verifying a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) from an accredited institution.

c. Certified Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (C-SLPA) certification issued by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) and accompanying official transcripts verifying a college degree (associate's or bachelor's) from an accredited institution or completion of an SLPA certificate program or equivalent coursework in the appropriate areas.

d. Official transcripts verifying the completion of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Speech-Language Pathology Assistant (SLPA) post-baccalaureate certificate.

Language Skills:

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations. Ability to write reports and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups.

Reasoning Ability:

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Other Skills and Abilities:

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, and parents.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally sit, walk or stand. The employee will occasionally reach forward or above the head more than the average person. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move and push up to 90 pounds such as students and students in wheelchairs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but to accurately reflect the primary job elements. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this classification.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER*