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Job description
Occupational Therapist Or Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), Anticipated, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA (SY )Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds.As a collaborative member of the Special Education team in Salem, and in accordance with the policies and procedures of Salem Public Schools, the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) or Occupational Therapist provides direct services to identified students, both in and out of the general education classroom and in substantially-separate settings.Responsibilities:Provide individual and small group, skilled occupational therapy activities, in pull-out and inclusive settings at multiple job sites within the district.COTA- Assist the Occupational Therapist with informal assessment of fine-motor and development skills (e.g., oral motor, sensory integration, motor planning, developmental function, activities of daily living, fine motor function, postural tone, etc.) to determine present levels of function, and develop recommendationsOTR- Evaluate, service and report on student progress.Follow and implement students' IEPs and/or documented treatment plansDevelop and maintain a consistent service delivery scheduleCOTA- Under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist, provide staff consultationOTR- Provide supervision for Occupational Therapist Assistant if neededDocument student progress toward meeting established objectives and report the information to therapistsAdapt school and classroom environment, tools, and materials under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist to improve student function and facilitate student access to activities and learningMaintain treatment equipment, devices, and supplies in clean, proper working conditionWork in conjunction with multidisciplinary educational teamsComplete job-related functions, including paperwork, in a timely manner and in compliance with special education regulationsComplete observations, collect data, prepare and maintain accurate records, ensuring up-to-date documentation for compliance with various state, federal, and administrative regulationsAttend IEP meetings, special education staff meetings and building events, if requestedUtilize a variety of job-related assistive technology and pertinent softwareRoutinely attend district and school-wide meetings, trainings, workshops and ongoing professional developmentMaintain compliance with existing laws and professional ethicsProvide inclusive occupational therapy intervention and support that is integrated into classroom lessonsAssist the Occupational Therapist with staff consultation, IEP goals and Progress Report developmentAble to work independently and as part of a teamEstablish and maintain effective relationships with students, staff, families and administratorsBe able to move and position oneself to adequately operate therapy equipment, including lifting up to 30 lbs.What You'll Bring:We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education. You'll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure, using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.Job Requirements:Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant programCertified by the National Board of Certification in Occupational TherapyLicensure in Massachusetts as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant requiredPrior experience working in a public-school setting, preferredValid Driver's License or must be able to provide own transportation within the DistrictExperience with delivering school-based servicesAbility to effectively communicate orally and in writingParticipation in Medicaid reimbursement submission/services verification processSafety Care Training Certification or willing to be certified (District will provide training)Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plusBilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to applyCurrent authorization to work in the United StatesThe Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant is considered a district-wide staff member and may be assigned to 2 or more schools, depending upon the caseload in a given year. This position is an in-person, full-year school-year position. The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant reports to the assigned special education supervisor and to the Executive Director of Special Education.Equal Opportunity EmployerSalem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
Worksite address
salem, MA, 01970, US
Who can apply
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