Description

Role Mission: The Occupational Therapist (OT) sets ambitious goals for IDEA student achievement and invests in students and families in accomplishing them, creates a powerful learning environment, plans and delivers purposeful, educational-based occupational therapy, assesses for the presence of fine motor, visual motor integration, and coordination deficits, as well as dysregulation, sensory issues, and behavioral deficits, tracks student progress toward goals, analyzes data to intervene and adjusts therapy, and seeks excellence as an educator and an IDEA team member.

This is a general application for OT positions across all IDEA Texas regions. Please specify your region of interest in your application.

Accountabilities:

The Occupational Therapist will plan and provide 100% of appropriate individual and group therapy to students as per State and Federal Guidelines and consistent with occupational therapy services contained in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) that are aligned to TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge Skills).

• Review IEPs and ensure 100% implementation of extensive knowledge and provide top quality occupational therapy services.
• Create IEPs aligned to the curriculum with the collaboration of parents, general educators, special educators, and interventionists.
• Monitor students' therapy and academic progress throughout the year in order to update goals and request additional testing when deemed necessary.

The Occupational Therapist will ensure 100% compliance of Initial Evaluations, Re-Evaluations, Annual Review Meetings, and Evaluation Review Meetings as per State and Federal Guidelines for students who qualify and receive occupational therapy services.

• Ensure 100% compliance by completing Occupational Therapy Initials and Re-Evaluations prior to due date as per Texas Education Agency (TEA) timelines.
• Demonstrate extensive knowledge in the appropriate selection of assessment tools, conducting assessments, interpreting, and identifying students with the presence of fine motor deficits, dysregulation, sensory issues, and/or behavioral deficits and determine eligibility for services according to IDEA Public Schools Policies and Procedures, TEA guidelines, and Licensing Boards.
• Ensure 100% compliance with ARDs by reviewing Special Education Student Rosters for Annual ARDs and Re-Evaluations due dates on a weekly basis.
• Schedule Annual ARDs and Re-Evaluation ARDs prior to due date with Diagnostician, Licensed Specialist School Psychology, and/or Speech Language Pathologist to ensure 100% compliance.
• Participate in ARDs and update IEPs, Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance, and schedule of service in accordance with students' progress and academic needs.

The Occupational Therapist will follow correct procedures for obtaining and maintaining records on a regular basis.

• Maintain Therapy Notes, Tracking Logs, ARD Logs, and Evaluation Logs on a daily basis and review with the Manager on a weekly/bi-weekly basis.
• Submit Therapy Logs on a Quarterly Basis to their Manager.
• Maintain SHARS (Medicaid) records and submit SHARS documentation on a monthly basis.
• Ensure and monitor students' progress in order to complete progress reports on a quarterly basis.
• Participate in Annual Performance Review with their Manager and submit required documentation.

The Occupational Therapist will support the Response to Intervention (RTI) Team to ensure the success of all students through high quality instruction and intervention.

• Communicate a shared vision and shared responsibility to establish and promote efficient implementation of RTI at the campus level throughout the various tiers.
• Support the RTI Team in providing recommendations for the implementation of fine motor, dysregulation, sensory, and/or behavioral interventions with high levels of fidelity.
• Participate in the formal assessment, planning, and scheduling of ARDs alongside the Diagnostician, Licensed Specialist in School Psychology, and/or Speech Language Pathologist in order to report evaluation results within TEA timeframe to the ARD Committee.

Live Values of IDEA

• Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college
• Is driven by outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes
• Embodies IDEA's core values

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited college or university
• Valid Texas License as an Occupational Therapist granted by the Texas Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners
• National Certification in Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapist Registered
• Valid Driver's License

Knowledge and Skills:

• Knowledge and ability to assess students for the presence of fine motor deficits, visual motor integration, and coordination, dysregulation, sensory issues, and/or behavioral deficits, and determine eligibility for services using various assessment tools.
• Ability to plan and provide appropriate individual and group therapy to students consistent with occupational therapy goals contained in Individual Education Plan (IEP) and collaborate with general educators, special educators, and interventionists in order to plan and implement classroom-based activities to improve writing skills and behavioral skills.
• Participate in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee regarding interpretation of assessment data, appropriate placement, and goal setting for students with the presence of fine motor deficits, dysregulation, sensory issues, and/or behavioral deficits, in accordance with IDEA Public Schools Policies and Procedures, Texas Education Agency (TEA) guidelines, and Licensing Boards.
• Develop and provide district wide trainings to school personnel and parents in the identification and understanding of students with the presence of fine motor deficits, dysregulation, sensory issues, and behavioral deficits.
• Compile, maintain, and file all reports, records, and other documents required by IDEA Public Schools

Compensation: Salary for this role is commensurate with relevant qualifications and experience. This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on individual and organizational goal attainment.

IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.