About this role
SPEECH & LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST OPEN POSITIONS: (includes those servicing Early On ages 0-3, Early Childhood ages 3-5; not yet enrolled in Kindergarten, and K-12 serving both Public and Non-public schools in St. Joseph County) QUALIFICATIONS:
• Master's Degree in Speech/Language Pathology.
• Maintain Speech-Language Pathology License through LARA.
• Certificate of Clinical Competency or eligibility for Clinical Fellowship Year.
• Responsibility of employee to obtain and maintain all training(s), certificate(s), approval(s), etc. and provide documentation to the business office before expiration date of said document(s).
• Must be able to lift 50 pounds.
• CPR and First Aid certification is required for staff providing services in programs operating under child care licensing regulations, including Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) classrooms and licensed child care settings.
• Required to have a physical presence at the designated job site each scheduled work day.
• Must have regular and reliable job attendance, performance, and the physical ability to do the job.
PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: In addition to requirements outlined in MARSE, IDEA and MDE as well as in this district's Plan for the Delivery of Special Education Programs and Services, the duties of the Speech Language Pathologist may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Participate in Child Find activities.
• Initiate and manage the referral process to determine if a student requires supplemental services based on data.
• Conduct comprehensive communication evaluations in all areas of concern (articulation, language, fluency, AAC, and/or pragmatics) to determine educational impact and make recommendations regarding speech therapy eligibility under MARSE and MSHA guidelines.
• Provide diagnostic information to committees involved in the placement of students.
• Provide information to the GSRP Program or school staff regarding tier one interventions and universal supports for strengthening communication skills within the classroom.
• Assist in the delivery of MTSS/Intervention services when deemed appropriate.
• Provide direct/indirect services to students consistent with current rules and regulations, following a workload approach model, to students on caseload in assigned service areas using high-quality, developmentally appropriate practices.
• Develop an appropriate schedule and share it with the assigned district staff and supervisor.
• Follow current procedures for records maintenance.
• Monitor progress following the goal-specific schedule, complete progress reports, and communicate that progress with families.
• Document attendance and session data by completing student encounters monthly, billable and non-billable.
• Complete required forms and procedures pursuant to MAARSE, IDEA, and MDE regulations and timelines, such as Permission to Place, IEPs, MET eligibility reports, and initial/re-evaluations within the appropriate time frame and hold required meetings.
• Communicate with community agencies, including medical, social services, or private therapies, while maintaining confidentiality requirements and obtaining appropriate releases of information.
• Provide reliable personal transportation for travel between work-related locations, ensuring necessary materials and assessments are accessible.
• Order or make purchase requests for appropriate materials, supplies, or evaluation tools to meet the needs of students on the caseload.
• Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Attend required staff and department-level meetings.
• Maintain licensing requirements for Speech Language Pathologists, including staying current with evidence-based practices through professional development, and facilitate ongoing professional development for other professionals.
• Maintain professionalism, acting at all times as a representative of the profession and SJCISD.
• Complete other duties as assigned by the St. Joseph County ISD Administration.
EARLY ON (Birth-3):
• Complete home visits in the community.
• Complete speech language pathology evaluations for children aged birth to 3.
• Participate in the development and writing of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) outcomes.
• Using the primary service provider model based on family routines, confer and work with parents/providers to implement the IFSP.
• Attend and engage in weekly team meetings with the transdisciplinary team to support whole child developmental needs as identified by the IFSP.
• Provide ongoing training and coaching support to eligible families and early intervention team.
EARLY CHILDHOOD (Ages 3-5; not yet enrolled in Kindergarten):
• Visit community sites serving children ages 3-5, including GSRP and other preschool settings, or provide services to eligible students through a walk-in service model.
• Demonstrate knowledge of and implement the Early Childhood Standards of Quality for Pre-Kindergarten.
• Demonstrate knowledge of specialized, age, and developmentally appropriate Early Childhood Curriculum, such as HighScope COR. HighScope is an approved, research-based, play-centered curriculum that heavily emphasizes child-led exploration and discovery.
• Collaborate in the analysis of student behavior, participate in the development and implementation of behavior plans as needed, utilizing positive, preventative guidance methods that respect children's self-esteem and prohibit corporal or humiliating punishment, such as the Conscious Discipline framework.
REPORTS TO: Special Education Supervisor PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS: Special Education Supervisor TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Salary for this position is based on the IEA Master Agreement This position includes a three year sign on bonus: $2,500: Year 1 $2,000: Year 2 $1,500: Year 3 We offer Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance on the first day of employment, cash in lieu, if you have Medical Insurance coverage ($641.90 paid out monthly), Life Insurance and State Retirement.