Occupational Therapist (part-time)

START DATE:    approximately August 24, 2026

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:    Follows school year calendar 

HOURS:            approximately 20 hours/week, 180 days per year

LOCATION:      TBD

REPORTS TO:   Director of Special Services

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) provides specialized services to support students’ academic achievement, independence, and participation in the educational environment. The OT collaborates with educators, families, and multidisciplinary teams to assess, plan, and deliver interventions that promote students’ fine motor skills, sensory regulation, self-care, and functional performance in school-related activities.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Conduct evaluations and assessments to determine students’ need for occupational therapy services under IDEA and Section 504.
• Develop, implement, and monitor progress towards Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals related to students’ occupational performance and functional needs.
• Provide direct and collaborative OT services to students, both individually and in groups, as specified in IEPs or 504 Plans.
• Address areas such as fine motor skills, handwriting, visual-motor integration, sensory processing, self-help skills, adaptive behavior, and classroom participation.
• Collaborate with teachers, special education staff, families, and other service providers to support student success and generalize skills across settings.
• Document services, progress, and data collection in accordance with district, state, and federal requirements.
• Contribute to IEP meetings and multidisciplinary team discussions by providing professional insight and recommendations.
• Support the implementation of universal or tiered interventions as part of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), as needed.
• Maintain equipment, tools, and materials necessary for OT interventions.
• Serve as a resource for staff on occupational therapy related areas; provide training as requested by administrators
• Act as a liaison between the school district and outside agencies as necessary. Review reports from health care providers and coordinate occupational therapy related needs to address the needs of students.
• Stay current with best practices, continuing education, and licensure/certification requirements.
• Complies with School Board policies and all state and federal rules and regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current license to practice Occupational Therapy in the state of Montana.
• Certification from the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
• Experience in pediatric or school-based occupational therapy preferred.
• Strong communication, collaboration, and documentation skills.
• Ability to manage a caseload and work flexibly across various school environments.
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Work is performed in elementary, middle, and/or high school settings.
• May involve travel between school sites within the district.
• Involves interaction with students of diverse abilities and needs.
• The employee frequently will work irregular or extended hours while performing the duties of this job. 
• The employee must be able to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
•  The employee is directly responsible for the safety and well-being of students.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUIPMENT USED:

A variety of electronic and technology devices, as well as basic office equipment, copiers, calculators, personal computers, telephone/voicemail, fax.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, walk and stand; twist at the neck and waist; kneel.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.  The employee is required to be able to hear conversations in quiet environments.  May be required to lift or move and/or support up to 50 pounds. Position can require some degree of physical interaction with students who have difficulty controlling physical behavior.

MENTAL/MOTOR DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee rarely performs routine work.  The employee frequently exercises flexibility (ability to shift from one task to another).  Guidance and reinforcement are infrequently available.  The employee frequently works within time constraints and maintains attentiveness intensity.  The employee is frequently involved in social interactions which require oral and written communications.

The physical demands, work-environment characteristics, and mental/motor demands described within this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

An application is considered complete when all of the items listed below are received on or before the closing date. Only complete applications are eligible for screening.   Supplemental documents, such as those listed below, can be uploaded in the attachment page of the application, and MUST be in a pdf format.

1.  Cover letter.

2.  Current resume.

3.  Three (3) letters of recommendation, within the past three years and preferably from previous employers.  All letters of recommendation MUST be signed.  To upload 3 letters properly, all letters need to be in one document.  Uploading one letter at a time will replace the previous document.

4.  Copies of transcripts for all college or university credits completed to date.

5.  Copy of your current license.

If hired, these requirements must be met before the first day of work:

1.  Fingerprinting - This district requires final candidates to pay for their own background check. Fingerprinting is done by appointment only; please call Karla Therrien at (406) 892-6550, ext. 1421. The cost is $30.00, payable by cash or check at the time of service.

2.  MMR immunization records – If born after December 31, 1956, you will need to provide proof of immunity (titer test) or medical records verifying that your Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccinations are up-to-date before the first day of work.

All employment offers are contingent upon providing complete MMR records, satisfactory results of the background check, and Board approval.

Salary : $40 - $50