Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Position Type:
Special Education/Occupational Therapist

Date Posted:
5/27/2026

Location:
Multiple Locations
About Spring Lake Park Schools


Welcome to Spring Lake Park Schools! We are a vibrant school community serving about 6,200 students from the suburbs of Blaine, Fridley and Spring Lake Park, in the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Our district purpose -- "High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses" - provides our focus to meet the unique and varied needs of each student.


Spring Lake Park Schools is recognized for our commitment to personalized learning, creating a culture of innovation and creativity through human-centered design thinking. We are working to create a system - a culture with a methodology and set of processes - where teachers and staff have the freedom, flexibility and invitation to design new ways of learning centered around deepening student engagement to continuously improve student success.


Position Overview
The successful candidate will be an individual who


firmly believes:

• all students can and will learn, and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control;
• in the need to work interdependently with teachers, school, and district leaders throughout the system, aligning the work of adults around improving student learning by meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of students;
• in the need to work in partnership with staff to continuously improve practices to enhance student and family engagement, creating the conditions for equity, excellence and student success; and
• in personalizing learning for students, meeting academic, social, and emotional needs and aspirations so that each student feels valued and has a sense of belonging, leading to academic success

Position Overview
Under the direction of the Director of Student Services and District-Wide Occupational Therapists, the Certified Occupation Therapy Assistant provides direct occupational therapy services to students (birth through age twenty-one) and consultation (indirect) services to employees and parents throughout the district. This role will primarily be assigned to multiple buildings withing the district with potential of re-assignment based on district needs.


General Responsibilities include...

• screens and/or evaluates students who have been referred to occupational therapy in the areas of: fine motor coordination and postural adjustments, perceptual motor control, sensory integration and activities of daily living with emphasis on specific lags, and pathological responses, as related to academic functioning;
• consults with teachers and parents regarding appropriate motor activities, self-help skills, and special equipment/assistive devices;
• maintains close communication with classroom teachers, other staff members, and parents concerning student's performance;
• maintains accurate records of students evaluated and served in the occupational therapy program, including: assessment results, therapy progress, and reports;
• participates in designated team meetings, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) conferences, and periodic reviews to assess programming and reevaluation decisions; and
• schedules occupational therapy evaluation and treatment times and locations with teachers and building administration.

Knowledge and Skills, include, but are not limited to the ability to:

• communicate clearly and concisely, in both oral and written form;
• read and interpret documents, such as professional assessment and program manuals;
• make decisions regarding eligibility for and dismissal from special education services;
• score and interpret scores on standardized tests;
• schedule efficiently, across multiple sites;
• apply knowledge of occupational therapy to students in an educational setting, to effectively and efficiently meet their individual needs;
• function independently and as a member of a professional team;
• provide consultation services to teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents to effectively serve students in need of educationally-based occupational therapy;
• handle and manipulate specialized equipment and demonstrate for students, as needed;
• perform work wherever required by students and parents, including: schools, offices, and residences; and
• use typical office productivity software and applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Schoology, Infinite Campus, etc.)

Qualifications:
Associate's Degree from an ACOTE approved school.


Licensing Requirements:
Licensed as an Occupational Therapy Assistant in the U.S.

Physical Requirements:
Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force, and/or negligible of force constantly, to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.

Wage/Benefit Detail:

Group

Healthcare Specialists

Position

COTA

Rate of Pay

COTA: $29.75/hr

Benefits

Medical, Dental, Sick Leave, 403(b), Life, LTD, FSA

How to Apply:
Individuals who wish to be considered for this position must apply online at Qualified and appropriately licensed individuals will be considered for an interview.

Please contact our Management Assistant for Student Services, Cyndi Steinke at View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io with inquiries.


Spring Lake Park Schools is an equal opportunity employer and will not deny anyone the opportunity for employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.