Title of Position:

Physical Therapist - District

Work Year:

2024-2025 School Year

Salary:

Placement on the Teachers' Salary Scale according to education and experience.

Effective date of employment:

August 26, 2024

Organizational Relationship or Line of Authority:

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Equity and through him/her the Building Principal(s)

General Responsibilities: 

Physical therapists are related service professionals who provide educationally related services to special education students ages 2 through 21 when these services are needed for a student to benefit from the educational program. The physical therapist works on the acquisition of basic motor skills necessary for functional mobility and gait in the school environment as well as the student's physical capability for participating with peers during physical education, recess, and community integration activities. More specifically, the physical therapist focuses on motor skill development, sitting posture, wheelchair use, ambulation, and transfer skills as they relate to accessing the school environment. To improve school functioning, the physical therapist emphasizes work on strength, range of motion, balance, and endurance.

Statement of Duties:

• Travels to assigned schools.
• Responds to requests for consultations on students or consults on specific program needs.
• Responds to evaluation referrals for students with disabilities. The therapist selects appropriate evaluation tools, evaluates students, interprets findings, and reports results.
• Develops a present level of function and Individualized Educational Program (IEP) goals and objectives in conjunction with the IEP team.
• Implements service delivery on assigned students based on the goals, objectives, percentage of time, and placement as determined by the IEP committee.
• Makes scheduling decisions for service delivery based on individual student and school needs.
• Utilizes an approach that encourages student participation in the least restrictive environment.
• Exhibits a knowledge of clinical theory and its application as it relates to the student's developmental and educational needs.
• Participates in the selection, design and/or construction of necessary adaptive equipment.
• Maintains oral and written communication with educational personnel, parents, and community agencies regarding assigned schools and students. This can include, but is not limited to telephone calls, progress reports, year-end reports, informal notes and home programs.
• Works cooperatively with educational staff to identify areas where support is needed and provides training in the therapeutic management of students, such as positioning, safety and use of mobility equipment
• Provides suggestions for classroom, art, life skills, and career related activities.
• Maintains records on referred students including dates of referral, dates of response, and outcomes.
• Maintains a current schedule which is shared with assigned schools and the PT/OT program office staff.
• Maintains organized working files on assigned students.
• Follows documentation guidelines for student attendance and intervention notes.
• Supervises Physical Therapy Assistants (COTA) as per established guidelines.
• Participates in the clinical supervision of physical therapy students and physical therapy assistant students.
• Recommends equipment, materials, and test supplies necessary for assigned schools and students.
• Attends scheduled meetings for staff development and training.
• Adheres to established federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Refines and develops professional skills through inservice training, professional reading, and continuing education.
• Maintains confidentiality of student information.
• Exchanges professional information with peers through formal and informal means, and through mentoring of new therapists.
• Works within the standard operating procedures (SOP) and practice standards identified in the PT/OT Handbook.

Qualifications:

• Current Commonwealth of Massachusetts license to practice as a Physical Therapist issued by the Massachusetts Allied Health Professions.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Physical Therapy from an approved and accredited Physical Therapy program.
• Bilingual (Spanish or Portuguese) preferred.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

It is the policy of the Marlborough Public Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, color, homelessness, and sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its education programs, services, activities or employment practices.