Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA)

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

2026-2027 School Year

STATUS: 7-Hours per Day; 176-Days

FLSA STATUS: Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO: Directors of Special Services

POSITION SUMMARY: The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) is responsible for implementing intervention and therapy regarding fine and gross motor abilities (i.e. motor coordination, visual-motor, visual perception, sensory development, muscle strength, hand function, etc.) under the direct supervision of the Occupational Therapist and Directors of Special Services.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Implement individualized therapeutic interventions in collaboration with the Occupational Therapist and instruct students, teachers, parents, and other involved persons to help meet the students' needs by supporting the IEP.
• Assist Occupational Therapist with screening students' fine motor skills and developmental skills (i.e. sensory integration, motor planning, developmental function, activities of daily living, fine motor function, postural tone, etc.) for the purpose of determining their deficits and developing recommendations.
• Consult and collaborate with occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech and language therapists, teachers, classroom paraprofessionals, families, etc. for the purpose of providing requested information, reviewing/revising students' occupational therapy goals and objectives, developing plans of service, and/or making recommendations to implement goals.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records in cooperation with the Occupational Therapist for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information, as required by law, district policies, and administrative regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, progress reports, activity logs, progress notes, data collection, and memos.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and correct records in order to provide appropriate documentation for Medicaid Billing duties completed monthly.
• Assist with equipment selection for students to support their educational performance and maintain treatment equipment/supplies in a clean and proper working condition for the purpose of implementing motor/therapy goals.
• Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with others while effectively communicating in verbal and in written form with administrators, staff, and the community as needed.
• Attend meetings and workshops (i.e. IEP's as needed, training, team meetings, conferences/seminars, professional development opportunities within the district, advanced coursework, etc.) to support professional growth and development for the purpose of conveying and/or receiving information, including best practices for occupational therapy delivery in the school setting.
• Keep thorough ongoing records for the individual student receiving therapy or other school-provided services.
• Complete required paperwork for special education compliance and Medicaid billing.
• Possess a valid driver's license to travel between district buildings as necessary and transport a variety of therapeutic items (i.e. puzzles, games, assistive devices, assessment tools, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of materials required for therapy sessions.
• Obtain consent prior to the use of any student recording for therapeutic purposes in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Collect documentation and complete session/therapy notes in an accurate and timely manner.
• Travel throughout the district will be required.

Perform all other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a variety of clienteles.
• Calm demeanor for handling stressful situations.
• Respect for administrators, students, teachers, parents, and support staff.
• Possess effective interpersonal skills with the ability to interface diplomatically with administrators, teachers, and other colleagues within the district, as well as with outside professional contacts, using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Possess the ability to work effectively and collaborate with various stakeholders.
• Ability to accomplish tasks that are often interrupted by persons with special and/or immediate needs.
• Ability to report to work consistently and promptly as scheduled.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to follow through and complete tasks without direct supervision.
• Must maintain strict confidentiality.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid Missouri State Department Occupational Therapy Assistant License/Certificate.
• Valid Missouri State Driver License.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work setting involves performance in an environment with various levels of staff to supervise the accomplishment of tasks that are often interrupted by persons with special and/or immediate needs. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, and utilize manual dexterity, as well as reach with hands and arms, to stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and to lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee is occasionally required to climb, use feet for repetitive motions, use a ladder, carry up to 50 lbs., and to lift or move items weighing up to 100 lbs. or more. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. The employee must independently transport him/herself to various sites in the District as well as other sites out of the District for various types of meetings and events.