Occupational Therapist

Occupational Therapist JobID: 1036

Position Type:

Certificated: Student Support Services

Date Posted:

5/19/2025

Location:

District Wide

Date Available:

08/26/2025

Additional Information: Show/Hide

This vacancy is a 1.0 FTE position, set to begin in the 2025-2026 school year.

SUMMARY OF ASSIGNMENT:

The Occupational Therapist (OT) will assess, design, organize and conduct rehabilitative programs for students identified to receive services. Within that role, the OT will evaluate and determine the educational significance of student's physical, sensory or perceptual-motor deficits in terms of reasonable functional needs. The OT will manage a caseload based on documented student need. The OT will plan and monitor instructional programs carried out by paraeducators and other staff.

GENERAL LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS:

• Understand and support the educational environment and the District's Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan.
• Implement principles of research-based best practices.
• Facilitate and promote collaborative decision-making and consensus among groups of individuals with diverse interests, values, and needs.
• Participate as a member or facilitator in meetings, workshops, required trainings, and seminars that may involve a wide range of issues for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job duties.
• Recommend solutions to a wide variety of issues for the purpose of addressing the short and long-term needs of the District.

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ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The performance elements listed below are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect an all-inclusive scope of responsibilities:

• Demonstrates competency (skill and knowledge) in assessing, designing and conducting programs of prevention, instruction, remediation and/or evaluation relative to the discipline of occupational therapy
• Determines educational significance of student's physical, sensory or perceptual-motor deficits in terms of reasonable functional needs.
• Recommends appropriate methods of intervention to remediate or compensate for deficits

as related to environment

• Demonstrates evidence of ability to manage a caseload as determined by students' needs
• Demonstrates evidence of ability assess and review educational and medical records and perform evaluations in the areas of fine and gross motor function; activities of daily living

and self-help skills; sensorimotor development, muscle strength and endurance; functional mobility skills and range of motion; equipment needs; function of orthotic and prosthetic

devise; and prevocational skills

• Demonstrates strength in developing and maintaining good working relationships with administrators, staff, parents and agencies
• Attends to professional responsibilities through attendance at seminars/conferences and maintains appropriate certification
• Identifies equipment and assist in securing, fabricating, adapting and maintaining the equipment
• Plans, develops and monitors instructional programs carried out by paraeducator and other

non-student support services staff.

• Maintains accurate comprehensive records of individual student's progress in therapy with timelines determined by the district.
• Communicates regularly with parents and staff regarding therapy services and progress
• Communicates and/or consults with physicians, community therapists and school staff (determined by student need) through oral or written reports and conferences to facilitate implementation of therapy programs
• Consults with families and community medical and social service agencies in coordinating services and home programs
• Participates with other guidance team members in the multidisciplinary assessment of students for qualification as handicapped
• Develops and implements transition plan for students returning to the regular classroom
• Provides training to staff and parents as appropriate
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

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CONDITIONS:

May be required to deal with distraught students/parents/staff. May be exposed to infectious diseases.

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REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge to utilize current media technologies, various electronic media, reference and multi-media, iPads, the Internet, computerized circulation systems, and other resources.

Knowledge of and ability to comply with State and Federal regulations and local school district policies regarding special education and student and family information

Ability and commitment to continue participation in staff development to maintain professional skills.

Ability and commitment to work with a full range of students.

Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain a standard of student behavior needed to provide an orderly, safe and productive learning environment.

Ability to establishes and maintains collaborative working relationships with staff, administrators, parents, support groups, governmental and community service agencies.

Ability to manage a caseload as determined by students' needs.

Ability assess and review educational and medical records and perform evaluations in the areas of fine and gross motor function.

Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations.

Ability to participate collaboratively in teams.

Ability to serve as a role model and treat students as individuals in a professional manner.

Skill in classroom management, student discipline, and developing positive techniques for improving student behavior.

Skills in organizational techniques.

Experience and/or training with cultural, ethnic and language diversity is desired

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in occupational therapy.

LICENSES/SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid Washington State Education Staff Associate Certification as an occupational therapist

Completed employment application and successful background check upon hire.

Must maintain all licenses and certifications as a condition of continued employment.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Report to the Executive Director for Student Support Services with input from building Principals.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Required to deal with a wide range of staff expertise; will experience frequent interruptions and the need to remain flexible to meet the needs of others; may deal with angry or distraught people; experience demands from a diversity of others, including students, community and staff; involves sitting, walking and standing; potentially exposed to ordinary infectious diseases carried by students; in some positions the necessary and appropriate instructional methods may require specific positions and movements, and sufficient stamina and exertions, to demonstrate techniques properly for the safety of others, or to conduct or direct staff; may teach in a room without telephone communication; will involve attendance at meetings beyond regular business hours periodically.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Work Year: 180 days aligned with the academic school calendar, plus 4 Enrichment Days (3 occurr in August and 1 will be in February)

Paid Hours: 7.0 per day, plus 30 minute duty free lunch period

Time of Contract Hours: Work day starts 30 minutes before the student bell schedule and concludes 30 minutes after the student day ends at the work location

Salary: 2024-25 OEA Salary Schedule A* (Includes Base contract and a Professional Responsibility & Enrichment Supplemental Contract (PRESC), and four additional days, at minimum)

• This Position will be paid at the 2025-26 OEA Salary Schedule

BARGAINING UNIT: OEA

FLSA: Exempt

BENEFITS

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours an employee is anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Employees anticipated to work 630 hours or more in a year are eligible for the following benefits: medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, long-term disability and the employee assistance program.

The district's healthcare benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Benefit eligible employees also qualify to optionally participate in deferred compensation/403B plans, dependent care flexible spending/health savings accounts, and additional life insurance and/or added long-term disability coverage through employee contributions. Sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and any paid holidays are aligned with bargaining agreements by association, as listed on our website.

Other benefits include VEBA, which is a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) and serves as a way to contribute dollars on a pre-tax basis for out of pocket benefits costs, whether it be for medical, dental or vision premiums, or any other out of pocket medical expenses. This benefit is available, based on the outcome of annual voting of employees by group.

The preceding list is not exhaustive and may be supplemented as necessary. The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the scope of responsibility and the level of knowledge and skills typically required, but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements, skills, or duties so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. The District reserves the right to revise or amend duties at any time.

Nondiscrimination in Education and Employment:

Orting School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, marital status, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following employees have been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination and their offices are located at 121 Whitesell St NE, Orting, WA 98360:

Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX/ADA Coordinator

Debi Christensen, Executive Director for Human Resources

..., ext. 4028

...

Section 504 Coordinator

Dr. Jennifer Westover, Executive Director for Student Support Services

..., ext. 4027

...

Information about the nondiscrimination and sex-based discrimination policies and grievance procedures, and how to report a concern or complaint can be accessed here.

Title IX inquiries may also be directed toward the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.