Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)

Green Hills Area Education Agency is looking to fill a full-time Certified Occupational Therapist (COTA) for the 2025-2026 school year (190 days). We offer a competitive starting wage and excellent benefits, including IPERS. Green Hills pays 100% of employee single coverage for medical, dental and vision. We also offer family insurance at a great rate.

Qualifications: The COTA must be accredited by an approved Associate Degree course for Occupational Therapy Assistants and licensed by the state of Iowa. The candidate must have the experience or capacity to demonstrate positive interpersonal skills, cooperative teamwork, multiagency coordination, and excellent written and verbal communication. Hold a current Statement of Professional Recognition through the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners, or ability to obtain one.

Experience working with children and youth. Personal communication skills that demonstrate good speech and language function. Must have collaboration skills and the ability to learn new skills and willingness to perform a variety of tasks.

Possess skills to plan and work with a high degree of ingenuity, initiative, independent judgment and flexibility

Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing. Excellent organizational skills. Driver’s license and personal vehicle required.

General Summary: The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), under the direction of a licensed occupational therapist, assists in providing therapy with students who have physical and perceptual difficulties. These services include contribution and participation in the assessment, intervention and documentation process as well as collaboration with AEA, LEA and parents.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Maintain communication with the Occupational Therapist (OT).

Collaborate with local district staff, AEA staff and parents.

Assist the OT with assessments and therapy interventions.

Maintain records of the COTA therapy interventions and reports progress toward goals as required by AEA and local school district (LEA).

Assist OT with maintenance of materials and equipment.

Maintain a current knowledge of occupational therapy practices and related areas of special education.

Attend team meetings, discipline meetings, school meetings, and AEA meetings as assigned.

Maintain confidentiality of all student information.

Comply with State and Federal rules and regulations and AEA policies and procedures.

Maintain data required for use in LEA, AEA, state, and federal reporting.

Participation in professional development and collaborates effectively as a team member.

Perform duties as assigned.

Physical Requirements:

Regular attendance is required.

Ability to travel within assigned schools

Ability to work flexible hours, including minimal evenings and weekends

Requires good eye/hand/finger coordination to keyboard and to operate office machines. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing. Good concentration and visual skills required. Normal, routine levels of activity related to bending, carrying, hearing, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, vision and walking and may also involve above-average levels of activity at times that can’t always be anticipated.

Regular attendance is required

Green Hills AEA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age, or sexual orientation, in is an employment practices or on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, or economic status in its educational programs and activities, or as otherwise prohibited by statute or regulation.