Occupational Therapist

Description

The Occupational Therapist provides students with an opportunity to maintain and improve fine  motor skills as needed to access their educational environment.  In order to respond to the individual needs and abilities of students, the Occupational Therapist must work closely with the staff and administration of the Interlocal and school district.

Locations: (Mupltiple openings: Neodesha/Fredonia/Thayer, Parsons/Cherryvale)

Essential Responsibilities

• Provide students with an opportunity to maintain and improve gross and fine motor skills as needed for access to educational programming.
• Establish a positive therapy environment and respond to the individual needs of students.
• Ensure that all student activities conform to federal, state and Interlocal guidelines.
• Communicate effectively with all members of the school district, Interlocal, and community.
• Work effectively with community organizations.
• Monitor and provide training/assistance to staff on student transition activities.
• React to change productively and handle other tasks as assigned.
• Support the value of an education.
• Support the philosophy and mission of the Interlocal and the school district.

Physical Requirements/Environmental Conditions

• Requires prolonged sitting or standing.
• Occasionally requires physical exertion to manually move, lift, carry, pull, or push heavy objects or materials.
• Occasional stooping, bending, and reaching.
• Requires regular travel.
• Must be able to work in a variety of noisy and crowded environments.

Other General Responsibilities

• Display an adequate knowledge to remediate targeted deficits within the educational framework.
• Provide for necessary assessments as needed for eligibility determination, SIT Team activities and IEP development.
• Provide direct and indirect interventions using a variety of modalities/strategies to address student needs.
• Supervise OTA, if assigned to the OT. 
• Establish a regular schedule that is submitted annually to the Tri-County office.
• Provide information to parents regarding therapy services and programming.
• Provide formal and informal inservice training for paraprofessionals, as needed.
• Monitor student progress and make informed, timely educational decisions.
• Motivate students through effective communication and evaluative feedback.
• Demonstrate awareness of the needs of students and provide for individual differences.
• Set high expectations for student achievement and behavior.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal relationships with others.
• Consult with parents, teachers, administrators, and others concerning the needs of students and special services that are available.
• Assist with public awareness activities which lead to a better understanding of the needs of exceptional children.
• Cooperate with agencies serving students and their families.
• Monitor post-secondary outcomes for special education students and provide ongoing input to the staff and administrations on strengths/weaknesses in this process.
• Maintain appropriate, confidential records and provide timely reports.
• Keep abreast of new information, innovative ideas, and techniques.
• Supervise staff members as assigned.
• See that school district and Interlocal policies are observed during all activities.
• Obtain advance approval for all special activities and expenditures.
• Order and maintain an adequate inventory of materials and supplies.
• Adhere to all district and Interlocal health and safety policies, including all precautions of the Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Special Education.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Degree from an accredited college/university
• Current Kansas State Board of Healing Arts Licensure (OT) on file in the Central Office
• Health and Inoculation Certificate on file in the Central Office
• Desire to continue career improvement

Salary

Based on experience and degree attainment. 

Length of term

Typical, 185 days 

Responsible to

Building Principals, Elementary/Secondary Coordinator and Special Education Administration

Start Date: Open until filled.