Speech & Language Pathologist

SUMMARY :

Public school speech-language pathologists are communication specialists who work with students with language handicaps, articulation deficits, dysfluencies and voice disorders.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : Other duties may be assigned.

Serves as a resource to the school staff members in the development of a balanced program for oral communication and speech improvement.

• Assists and guides teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified speech and language impairments.
• Provides a thorough assessment and diagnosis of speech, voice, and language impairments.
• Provides screening to identify speech handicapped children at regular intervals and at specified levels.
• Assists in proper referrals of individuals to agencies and specialists in the community.
• Provides appropriate individualized programs of therapy to meet individual students’ needs and correct existing speech or language handicaps.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers and other school staff members to implement therapy by suggestions for the student’s daily activities.
• Provides information, support, and counseling to parents and families when appropriate.
• Maintains regular attendance.

JOB SPECIFIC SKILLS AND ABILITIES :

Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory in specific field.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and the school community.
• Ability to speak clearly and concisely both in oral and written communication.
• Ability to perform duties with awareness of all district requirements and Board of School Trustees policies.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES :

Supervises students and paraprofessionals.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS :

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 AND / OR EXPERIENCE :

Master’s degree in speech and language pathology.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS :

Certification as speech pathologist.

LANGUAGE SKILLS :

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from customers, school personnel, the director of special education, and parents.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS :

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

REASONING ABILITY :

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret an 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 will regularly sit, and occasionally walk and stand.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee will continuously hear conversation in a quiet and / or noisy environment.
• Continuously need the ability to tell where a sound is coming from and tell the difference among bells, buzzers, beeps, horns, etc.
• Aural discrimination abilities are extremely important.
• May occasionally life or move up to 50 pounds.
• Must be able to push items of 50 pounds or more, such as pushing materials on a cart.

WORK ENVIRONMENT :

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an 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.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate.
• The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being and work output of students.
• The employee will typically be responsible to travel between schools within the day. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)- The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The job description is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position and it does not serve to proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned or changed by management.