Speech-Language Pathologist

Speech-Language Pathologist

The Helix School is a Cognia-accredited nonpublic school specializing in autism spectrum disorder and related neurodivergent profiles, serving students from kindergarten through age 22 across the San Francisco Bay Area. Guided by the mission to "guide autistic children to lead fulfilling and connected lives," The Helix School has grown from two students at its founding in 2014 to a thriving learning community of over 60 students, the majority of whom are funded by their local public school districts. Partnering with families and districts across the Bay Area, the School navigates the full complexity of the NPS landscape, including IEPs, district contracts, and the regulatory framework that governs publicly funded special education placements.

What makes The Helix School distinctive is its interdisciplinary model: clinical services, including occupational therapy and speech-language pathology, are embedded directly alongside teaching faculty, creating an integrated team that works in concert around each student. The integrated curriculum is tailored to each student's developmental level, sensory processing differences, and emotional-regulatory needs, with an emphasis on motivation, kinesthetic, and sensory-based learning. The Helix School partners with families and school districts to deliver educational programming that is responsive, relationship-driven, and rooted in the belief that every learner deserves a path forward.

The Helix School exists to create a learning environment where autistic and neurodivergent students are known, valued, and challenged to grow. Through individualized instruction, evidence-based practices, and a whole-child approach, The Helix School cultivates academic progress, social-emotional development, and the confidence students need to build meaningful, self-directed lives. The School's work is guided by care, high expectations, and an unwavering commitment to each student's potential.

Purpose of the Position

The Speech-Language Pathologist provides assessment, direct service, consultation, collaboration, and documentation to support students' expressive and receptive language, pragmatic communication, articulation, augmentative and alternative communication, and meaningful participation in school life. As a member of the interdisciplinary team, this position works closely with educators, occupational therapists, counselors, behavior specialists, families, and school districts and plays a critical role in the IEP process, including assessment, goal development, progress monitoring, and team collaboration.

Essential Functions

Responsibilities Assessment & Individualized Support

• Conduct comprehensive speech and language assessments as part of the IEP evaluation process.
• Develop and implement individualized, strengths-based speech and language goals and objectives aligned with students' IEPs.
• Provide individual and small-group therapy aligned with IEP goals across classrooms, campus settings, and community-based instruction.

IEP and Documentation

• Attend and actively participate in IEP meetings as the speech and language representative.
• Collaborate with the IEP team to develop appropriate and legally defensible goals, accommodations, services, and supports.
• Monitor student progress and prepare timely service logs, therapy notes, quarterly progress reports, and other required documentation.

Collaboration & Consultation

• Partner with teachers and specialists to integrate communication supports into classroom instruction and school activities.
• Train and coach staff regarding AAC use, language modeling, and individualized communication strategies.
• Provide families with training and resources to support communication development at home.
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, student planning, case consultations, and required professional development.

Student Support & Safety

• Support students' communication and feeding goals during snack, lunch, and other naturalistic settings, as appropriate to the employee's training, credentials, and scope of practice.
• Maintain appropriate awareness of student safety and follow approved safety and behavioral-intervention procedures during stressful or unpredictable situations.

Compliance & Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain student confidentiality and comply with FERPA, mandated-reporter requirements, School policies, and applicable professional standards.
• Maintain all licenses, credentials, certifications, and continuing-education requirements applicable to the position.

Required Qualifications

Education & Eligibility

• Valid California license or credential authorizing service as a Speech-Language Pathologist, or eligibility to practice as a Clinical Fellow under all applicable supervision and licensing requirements.

Experience & Skills

• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing IEPs and participating in IEP meetings.
• Experience working with neurodivergent students, particularly autistic students, is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of AAC systems and developmental, relationship-based frameworks, such as SCERTS or DIR/Floortime, is strongly preferred.
• Excellent collaboration, communication, organizational, and documentation skills.
• Flexibility, patience, and a student-centered, relationship-based approach to supporting diverse learners.

Other Duties As Assigned

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position. Employees may be assigned additional job-related responsibilities as needed to meet the operational needs of the School.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

This position requires direct physical interaction with students who may, at times, exhibit dysregulated behaviors such as hitting, kicking, scratching, biting, grabbing, spitting, or throwing objects. The employee must be able to respond safely, calmly, and effectively in these situations, with or without reasonable accommodation. Training in approved behavioral intervention techniques will be provided, and ongoing support is available.

Mobility & Physical Activity

• Walk approximately 2 to 3 miles over the course of a school day
• Stand for at least 50% of the workday
• Move quickly over a short distance (e.g., across a classroom or outdoor area) when a student safety situation requires it
• Climb stairs and sustain physical activity across a full school day
• Rise quickly from a seated, kneeling, or floor position
• Bend, stoop, squat, kneel, and crouch repeatedly throughout the day
• Sit at a student's level on the floor and return to standing
• Maintain balance while supporting or redirecting a moving student

Strength & Physical Capability

• Lift and carry up to 25 lbs
• Push and pull doors or equipment as needed

Sensory & Communication

• Maintain appropriate visual supervision of students during assigned instructional, therapeutic, and supervisory activities
• Monitor the environment and respond to student needs, safety concerns, and calls for assistance
• Communicate effectively with students, families, colleagues, and other members of the educational team

Emotional & Behavioral Regulation

• Maintain professional composure and emotional regulation when subjected to verbal hostility, including profanity, slurs, derogatory or personal remarks, and other provocative language
• Maintain composure and self-regulation during stressful, unpredictable, or confrontational situations

Working Relationships

This position reports to the Clinical Director and collaborates closely with teachers, occupational therapists, counselors, behavior specialists, administrators, students, families, school-district representatives, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to support student success.

Equal Opportunity Statement The Helix School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors and community members.