Speech and Language Specialist

Laguna Beach Unified School District Speech and Language Specialist (Position Description) A. Primary Function: Provides direct services, including evaluation and therapy to students with speech and language disorders, as well as consultation to staff and parents regarding optimum strategies for maximizing curricular success. B. Examples of Duties: •Consults with teachers, administrators and parents regarding typical speech and language development, classroom accommodations and /or modifications, and assists in the referral process as necessary. •Provides speech and language assessment, diagnosing speech and language disorders. Interprets finding to teachers, administrators and parents. •Evaluates, in conjunction, with other professionals, as necessary, the effects of speech, language or hearing disorder on a pupil’s educational performance and academic achievement. •Demonstrates therapeutic competence for various speech/language disorders. •Provides intervention (either direct or on a consultative basis) for that addresses individual goals and objectives directed toward academic success through remediation of and/or compensation strategies for speech/language or hearing disorders. •For students with hearing impairments, provides training in effective use of residual hearing, skillful use of amplified sound, speech reading skills, and effective use of visual/environmental cues. •Conducts ongoing evaluation for eligible students and makes periodic reports towards of progress towards meeting goals and objectives, recommending adjustments in intervention program as necessary. •Serves as a member of Student Study Team meetings, staffings, and Individualized Education Planning Team meetings for individual students, providing expertise as needed in the area of speech and language, as well as input on student performance and recommendations for accommodations, modifications or interventions. •Meets legal timelines for assessment, initial Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), annual IEPs and triennial IEPs. •Maintains appropriate documentation required by law, including assessment reports, progress reports, IEPs, registers, etc. •Attends regular Special Education staff meetings, District,/SELPA inservices, and professional growth activities. •Develops personal performance goals that are based on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession on an annual basis. C. Directly Responsible to Director of Special Education/Student Services D. Minimum Qualifications: Experience and Education Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and skill is qualifying. Credential: California Clinical or Rehabilitative Services Credential with Language, Speech, and Hearing authorization. Education: Equivalent to the completion of a Master of Arts or higher degree in a communicative disorders/language, speech, and hearing therapy area such as speech and hearing sciences, speech pathology and audiology or language, speech and hearing disorders from an accredited college or university. Personal Qualities: Independent worker Maturity and good judgment Neat and clean appearance Willingness to assume a wide range of responsibilities Willingness to learn new skills Willingness to continuously improve Excellent interpersonal skills Good organizational skills Good communication skills Decisiveness Commitment to high staff morale Commitment to professional courtesy Belief in high standards Commitment to professional responsibility High intrinsic motivation Creativity in problem solving