Occupational Therapist at Oak Park Elementary School District 97 in Oak Park, IL

Job description

Occupational Therapist Revised: April 2025 Perm/contract: SY26-27 Department: Core Instruction FLSA Status: Non-exempt Reports To: Core Instruction Administration Primary Reporting Location: TBD Level: Elementary PK-8 Compensation: In accordance with Oak Park Teachers Association Collective Date Available: SY26-27 Bargaining Unit & Classification: OPTA & Certified Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A Benefits: Insurance- medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance are available Leaves- paid sick and personal days provided Retirement- pre-tax retirement plans (e.g. 403b available) Portrait of a District 97 Leader: Champions the vision of the school district Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility Leads with an unrelenting commitment to universal student success Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals Leads with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality Demonstrates a passion for working with a culturally, racially linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth Understands the intersection of public school leadership, student learning and equity Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations About This Role District 97 seeks a dedicated and dynamic full-time Occupational Therapist to join our team. The job of the Occupational Therapist was established for the purpose(s) of assessing students' functional physical development level, planning and implementing appropriate treatment to meet individual student objectives, identifying architectural barriers, and providing recommendations for accessibility, program development, and student placement in various school locations as needed. Essential Role Responsibilities: Administers occupational therapy procedures and modalities to achieve IEP/504 plan objectives. 1) Therapeutic Intervention/Strategies/Techniques for IEP Development and Implementation: Develop draft instructional programs (e.g., emergency evacuation plan, positioning and transfer protocols, sensory diet, analyzing tasks to teach) to be carried out by school personnel for consideration by the IEP team; and Prepare data on student functioning/performance, progress reports, and proposed goals/objectives for consideration by the IEP team. Identify and develop appropriate, evidence-based therapeutic strategies and techniques for implementing goals in the IEP Prepare an intervention plan or plan of care for implementing the student's IEP goals and/or supplementary aids and services safely and effectively and to use as a tool for data collection; Document time spent on interventions with, and on behalf of, students (intervention completed, student response, and plan for follow-up intervention). 2) Collaboration with school personnel: Problem-solve barriers/challenges to the student accessing the educational environment; Act as a resource to share information regarding physical, sensory, skill development, and medical issues; Discuss issues and concerns related to student participation or performance and identify proposed strategies to address them for consideration by the IEP team; Collaborate on adapting functional and meaningful activities typically occurring in the student's routine; Create opportunities for the student to practice and/or generalize new skills; Act as a liaison between outside agency and school personnel; Promote optimal independence, autonomy and/or self-determination appropriate for an individual student; Support the staff's holistic approach of all factors impacting the student in the school environment (e.g., lunchroom, playground, classrooms, art, music, physical edu