Position Type:
Special Education/Occupational Therapist
Date Posted:
11/18/2024
Location:
Multiple Locations
District:
Spring Lake Park School District 16 About Spring Lake Park Schools
Welcome to Spring Lake Park Schools! We are a vibrant school community serving about 6,200 students from the suburbs of Blaine, Fridley and Spring Lake Park, in the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Our district purpose -- "High expectations, high achievement for all. No excuses" - provides our focus to meet the unique and varied needs of each student.
Spring Lake Park Schools is recognized for our commitment to personalized learning, creating a culture of innovation and creativity through human-centered design thinking. We are working to create a system - a culture with a methodology and set of processes - where teachers and staff have the freedom, flexibility and invitation to design new ways of learning centered around deepening student engagement to continuously improve student success.
Position Overview
The successful candidate will be an individual who ...
... firmly believes:

• all students can and will learn, and that their learning can be directly influenced by focusing on factors over which we have control;
• in the need to work interdependently with teachers, school, and district leaders throughout the system, aligning the work of adults around improving student learning by meeting the needs, interests, and aspirations of students;
• in the need to work in partnership with staff to continuously improve practices to enhance student and family engagement, creating the conditions for equity, excellence and student success; and
• in personalizing learning for students, meeting academic, social, and emotional needs and aspirations so that each student feels valued and has a sense of belonging, leading to academic success

Position Overview
Under the direction of the Director of Student Services, the Occupational Therapist provides direct occupational therapy services to students (birth through age twenty-one) and consultation (indirect) services to employees and parents throughout the district.
General Responsibilities include...

• screens and/or evaluates students who have been referred to occupational therapy in the areas of: fine motor coordination and postural adjustments, perceptual motor control, sensory integration and activities of daily living with emphasis on specific lags, and pathological responses, as related to academic functioning;
• consults with teachers and parents regarding appropriate motor activities, self-help skills, and special equipment/assistive devices;
• maintains close communication with classroom teachers, other staff members, and parents concerning student's performance;
• maintains accurate records of students evaluated and served in the occupational therapy program, including: assessment results, therapy progress, and reports;
• participates in designated team meetings, Individualized Education Plan (IEP) conferences, and periodic reviews to assess programming and reevaluation decisions; and
• schedules occupational therapy evaluation and treatment times and locations with teachers and building administration.

Knowledge and Skills, include, but are not limited to the ability to:

• communicate clearly and concisely, in both oral and written form;
• read and interpret documents, such as professional assessment and program manuals;
• make decisions regarding eligibility for and dismissal from special education services;
• score and interpret scores on standardized tests;
• schedule efficiently, across multiple sites;
• apply knowledge of occupational therapy to students in an educational setting, to effectively and efficiently meet their individual needs;
• function independently and as a member of a professional team;
• provide consultation services to teachers, paraprofessionals, and parents to effectively serve students in need of educationally-based occupational therapy;
• handle and manipulate specialized equipment and demonstrate for students, as needed;
• perform work wherever required by students and parents, including: schools, offices, and residences; and
• use typical office productivity software and applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Schoology, Infinite Campus, etc.)

Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in Occupational Therapy or related area.
Licensing Requirements:

• Licensure from the Minnesota Department of Health in Occupational Therapy.
• National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.

Physical Requirements:
Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force, and/or negligible of force constantly, to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body.
How to Apply:
Individuals who wish to be considered for this position must apply online at Qualified and appropriately licensed individuals will be considered for an interview.
Please contact the Management Assistant for Student Services, Cyndi Steinke at or 763-600-5081 with questions.
Equity is a priority in Spring Lake Park Schools and is essential to our goal of putting children first to ensure college and career readiness. A diverse workforce fuels innovation and allows us to better understand, communicate with, and educate our students. Spring Lake Park Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of sex, race, religion, color, creed, national origin, marital status, age, sexual preference, disability, or status with regard to public assistance.