Frontline Applicant Tracking - Allentown City School District

Openings as of 4/11/2025
Special Education Department

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant

JobID: 3066

Position Type:
  Special Education Department/Occupational Specialist/Therapist


Date Posted:
  7/30/2024


Location:
  Administration Center - Allentown, PA


  Additional Information:  Show/Hide
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)
Salary: $39,545

Qualifications:
1. Valid Pennsylvania licensure as a certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA).
2. Minimum of three years’ experience as a COTA in an educational environment, preferred.
3. Knowledge of written and verbal processes and procedures required to maintain compliance with special education laws and protocols, including, but not limited to, contributing to the development or maintenance of Individualized Education Programs (IEP).
4. Demonstrated record of positive interactions and communication with colleagues and students to promote IEP progress monitoring.
5. Ability to read, write and communicate in English to understand directions and communicate with students.
6. Ability to make decisions with minimal supervision in accordance with established procedures.
7. Ability to lift and position students, as required needed, with assistance from other individuals or using approved assistive devices.
8. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable.

 

Summary
Under the direction of occupational therapists, the certified occupational therapy specialist provides rehabilitative services to students with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The COTA provides unique therapeutic services to enhance the goals and objectives of eligible students, and is primarily responsible for implementing the therapeutic program prescribed by the occupational therapist.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following essential duties 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.


Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Competencies
1. Collaborates with occupational therapists to develop and implement physical treatment plans with assigned student caseloads; discusses and exchanges information about the students assigned with the occupational therapist.
2. Monitors students’ physical activities to make sure they are performed correctly; encourages behavior and activities that conform to physical treatment plan.
3. Maintains students’ occupational therapy records, including progress reports.
4. Promote independence in activities of daily living through problem solving; observes student progress and recommends modifications to enhance educational participation.
5. Consults and assists classroom staff through gathering and sharing information at team meetings when requested.
6. Implements the individualized/small group therapeutic program prescribed by the occupational therapist based on goals and objectives.
7. Collaborates with colleagues and parents in order to share information and expertise to plan and implement effective student programs.
8. Assists occupational therapists with evaluating student progress relative to IEPs and physical treatment plans.
9. Assist therapist in formulating new goals based on data analysis.
10. Adheres to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal, state, and local requirements and performance standards.
11. Participates in approved continuing educational opportunities to maintain professional credentials, including but not limited to behavior management procedures and Crisis Prevention Institute Training (CPI).
12. Performs other tasks and assumes other responsibilities as assigned.


Share in our community! Grow with our students! Join our district today and be a part of our future!
 
The Allentown School District is committed to excellence! The richness of The Allentown School District's diversity is strengthened by its central role in educating our students for America's future through academic excellence and celebrating the culturally responsive, athletic and artistic range of talent in the schools. ASD students originate from 51 countries and speak 26 languages.
 
The Allentown School District offers a comprehensive benefits package to those who qualify.
This may include*
o             Medical Insurance
o             Dental Insurance
o             Vision Reimbursement
o             Tuition Reimbursement
o             Personal and Sick time
o             PSERS Retirement Fund
 
*Eligibility for specific benefits will be outlined in each labor group's specific collective bargaining agreement. 
 




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Openings as of 4/11/2025
Special Education Department

Occupational Specialist/Therapist

JobID: 3446

Position Type:
  Special Education Department/Occupational Specialist/Therapist


Date Posted:
  1/12/2025


Location:
  Administration Center - Allentown, PA


  Additional Information:  Show/Hide
Occupational Specialist/Therapist
Salary range: $64,983-$74,343/yr.

Qualifications:

1. Minimum, Master of Science degree with a major in Occupational Therapy;
2. Hold a valid and current Pennsylvania license in Occupational Therapy
3. Maintain current licensure and must continue to meet the required obligations of maintaining such licensure
4. Satisfactory work record & criminal/child abuse clearances (Acts 34, 114, and 151).
5. 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.
6. Such additional or alternatives to the above qualifications as the board or superintendents may determine appropriate and acceptable.
 

Summary
Under the supervision of the Director of Special Education, the registered Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) will provide the supervision of the assessment, planning, organization, and delivery of occupational therapy services for students with disabilities or students eligible under section 504 (Chapter 15) within the educational setting. IDEA defines occupational therapy in the schools as a “related service,” that is, “developmental, corrective, and other support services as required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education” (34CFR 300.24 [a] [b] [5] ). Working with school-age students, the OTR/L will work collaboratively with the Certified Occupational Therapist Assistants (COTA). The OTR/L will conduct evaluations with appropriate assessment tools, interpret the results, plan appropriate intervention plans, assign and monitor intervention duties of the COTA, and supervise the direct treatment interventions and progress monitoring of the student’s response to such interventions as provided by the COTA.
.
Essential Duties, Responsibilities and Competencies

1. Under the supervision of the Director of Special Education, the OTR/L provides the coordination of a District-wide occupational therapy service delivery system within all school settings.
2. The OTR/L initiates and directs all aspects of the screening, evaluation, and re-evaluation process and analyzes the data in accordance with federal and state law.
3. The OTR/L utilizes current assessments and procedures while following defined protocols of standardized assessments in developing and implementing an appropriate school-based intervention plan with clearly defined eligibility and qualified areas of need.
4. The OTR/L will collaborate in a team-based approach to develop and implement the intervention plan, based on the student’s needs and meaningful participation within the educational setting.
5. The OTR/L coordinates the oversight and planning in offering a continuum of therapeutic models (large group, small group, individual, combination, and consultation).
6. The OTR/L oversees modifications as needed in the intervention plan and documents changes in the student’s needs, goals, and performances.
7. The OTR/L is knowledgeable of exiting determination procedures and facilitates the transition or discontinuation plan in collaboration with input from the student, school team members, and parents.
8. When eligible, the OTR/L will complete accurate Medicaid/ACCESS billing paperwork.
9. The OTR/L will accurately utilize District data bases in benchmarking student’s growth in reaching their goals
10. The OTR/L communicates and collaborates with staff, parents, community and advocates on issues pertaining to services for students with disabilities (e.g., LCTI, OVR, MH/MR, CLIU).
11. The OTR/L provides guidance, support and direct services to address compliance issues related to the placement of newly identified and comparable program placement eligible students.
12. The OTR/L works directly with a full spectrum of eligible students; mild to severe disorders. Eligibility includes: students with speech and language as a primary disability or students with autism, deaf-blindness, deafness or hard of hearing, emotional disturbance, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disabilities, traumatic brain injury and visual impairment including blindness as a related
services.
13. The OTR/L will provide data to the special education teachers, general education teachers, and special education facilitators/supervisors for RR, IEP development, Chapter 15 development, and progress monitoring.
14. The OTR/L will participate in scheduled IEP meetings as appropriate or provide the necessary written input.
15. The OTR/L will maintain progress monitoring information on annual OT goals and provide updated progress monitoring information at least on a quarterly basis to the parent.
16. The OTR/L will develop and revise as necessary an efficient therapy schedule which provides therapy service as described on the IEP.
17. The OTR/L will participate in the transition assessment process for students transitioning from early intervention service.
18. The OTR/L will remain current in the field by participating in approved training.
19. The OTR/L will promote a Consultative Model approach by providing collegial support; specifically sharing knowledge and skills, with general and special education teachers.
20. The OTR/L will promote least restrictive environment (LRE) opportunities by offering therapy in an Integrative Model approach; e.g., support within the community-based instruction format, within general education classroom, or within special education settings when appropriate.

Share in our community! Grow with our students! Join our district today and be a part of our future!
 
The Allentown School District is committed to excellence! The richness of The Allentown School District's diversity is strengthened by its central role in educating our students for America's future through academic excellence and celebrating the culturally responsive, athletic and artistic range of talent in the schools. ASD students originate from 51 countries and speak 26 languages.
 
The Allentown School District offers a comprehensive benefits package to those who qualify.
This may include*
o             Medical Insurance
o             Dental Insurance
o             Vision Reimbursement
o             Tuition Reimbursement
o             Personal and Sick time
o             PSERS Retirement Fund
 
*Eligibility for specific benefits will be outlined in each labor group's specific collective bargaining agreement. 
 




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