SUMMARY

Determine eligibility for speech therapy services. Design and implement therapy program. Provide training and support for staff and parents.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

- Prepare for and conduct all ARD meetings, transfer, annual, behavioral, evaluations within state adopted timelines.
- Complete full individual evaluations and re-evaluations within state adopted timelines.
- Screen students that teachers/parents are considering for referral to Special Education for speech assessments.
- Participate in the campus SIT process through teacher consultation, team membership (level III) and/or provision of short-term intervention.
- Participate as a member of a multidisciplinary team for specialized assessment and interventions such as autism or assistive technology.
- Develop individual educational plans.
- Schedule therapy sessions and assessments.
- Prepare instructional/therapeutic materials.
- Design and assist in the maintenance of communication systems and visual supports for behavior, organization, and/or interaction in the classroom.
- Plan and provide speech therapy services, maintain therapy logs, supervisory logs, Medicaid logs, and file Medicaid tickets per departmental timelines.
- Maintain accurate records to reflect 100% on the PBMAS compliance monitoring document.
- Assist with planning and presentation of professional development programs for special education personnel.
- Assist with planning and presentation of professional development programs for regular education personnel as requested by administration.
- Assist in the development of special education operating guidelines and handbook for special education personnel, facilitators, counselors and principals.
- Assist in the revision of special education forms and procedures.
- Supervise Clinical Fellows, Speech Assistants or non-licensed speech therapists (ASHA certification required).
- Review revisions of regulations and interpretations of current laws as information is received from TEA, the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association, and the State Board of Examiner’s for Speech Pathology and Audiology.
- Perform other tasks as may be assigned by Supervisor/Superintendent.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Speech pathologists with at least three years of experience and who meet national and state mandated qualifications may be assigned supervisory responsibilities for clinical fellows (interns) or assistant speech-language pathologists. Responsibilities may include scheduled on-site supervision, conducting or approving assessments, developing IEPs, conducting ARDC meetings, and monitoring student progress. The supervising speech pathologist assumes legal responsibility for services provided by those employees under her supervision as recognized by the State Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION/CREDENTIALS

- Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology or Communication Disorders
- Successful completion of the National Examination for Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Texas License (issued by State Board of Examiners for Speech Pathology and Audiology
- TEA certification in speech and hearing therapy (optional)
- Certificate of Clinical Competency (issued by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association – necessary for supervisors and Medicaid providers)

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret educational periodicals, professional journals, educational procedures, or governmental laws and regulations. Ability to write reports, educational correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from administrators, faculty, parents and students.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers and decimals. Ability to draw and interpret bar graphs. Ability to formulate and interpret statistical data such as mean, mode, median, and standard deviation. Ability to apply determination of test reliability and validity analysis of variance correlation techniques, sampling theory factor analysis.

REASONING ABILITIES

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret and extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; prolonged standing; frequent kneeling/squatting, bending/stooping, pushing/pulling, and twisting. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those and employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to travel within the district to multiple campuses. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Stipend: $1,250 for critical needs and $5,000 for bilingual

Speech-Language Pathologist