The posting
Title: Physical Therapist 2021-2022-234
Reports to: Director of Special Education and School Principal
Status: Full Time or Part Time Negotiable
Competitive benefit package and state retirement plan
Location: Districtwide
Start Date: August 24,2021
Physical therapists provide evaluation/screening, consultation, collaboration and/or interventions with students whose qualifying educational disability, developmental delay, and/or functional performance interferes with the ability to learn in the areas of physical disability, bodily malfunction and pain, injury, manipulation, positioning, mobility, self-regulation, and any bodily or mental conditions.
Essential Job Duties
- Screen, observe, evaluate, re-evaluate, monitor, interpret, document, and report student’s functional physical status in the school setting, including determining recommendations and implications for education; to include the identification of disability and the determination of need for special education services.
- Develop and implement individualized therapy programs for qualifying students.
- Assist students in gaining functional independence to benefit from the educational environment.
- Recommend adaptive aids and equipment to enable the student to participate more effectively in the educational environment. Support the district purchase of aids and equipment and provide training to school district staff in their use.
- Adapt, fabricate and maintain specialized equipment required for therapy services or student needs.
- Support the mission and philosophy of the school district.
- Participate, plan, and assist in the completion of the IEP team process including collaborating for goal and objective development, for placement decisions, and for the need for related services.
- Maintain measurements of student’s progress in therapy and report the progress in accordance with district policy.
- Communicate with clinics, physicians and other therapists.
- Communicate with parents to assure their understanding and participation in the child’s therapy program.
- Provide consultation and inservice training for school staff regarding individual student’s programs, disabilities, positioning and handling activities of daily living and other therapy modalities, and general precautions.
- Maintain confidentiality.
- Carry out other duties as required by Special Education Services.
- Participate in ongoing continuing education to ensure professional competence, and meet state licensing requirements.
Only minimum duties are listed. Other functions may be required as given or assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of physical therapy and their proper application in the educational setting.
- Knowledge of and skill in adhering to safety practices and procedures.
- Ability to analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.
- Ability to follow oral or written work orders from supervisor, and to coordinate work with
principal and others.
- Ability to read, write and speak English fluently.
- Ability to read a variety of correspondences, medical records, educational records, test results, directives, etc.
- Ability to work flexibly with a diversity of individuals and/or groups and utilize specific, job-related equipment.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative working relationships with students, the public, staff, and community members.
- Ability to manage time and responsibilities, adapt to changing work priorities,
communicate with diverse groups, maintain confidentiality, and meet deadlines and
schedules.
- Ability to set priorities, work as part of a team and work with and manage frequent
interruptions.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to perform duties following District requirements and Board policies.
- Ability to schedule activities, meetings, and/or events, gather, collate, and/or classify
data and use job-related equipment.
- Skill in preparing and maintaining accurate records and using pertinent software
applications.
Equipment Used
- Computer, calculator, copier, telephone/voice mail, fax, wheelchairs and other special
needs equipment.
Required Qualifications
- Valid Montana Physical Therapy License.
- Montana Driver’s License or the ability to obtain license within three months of hire date.
Preferred Qualifications
- Successful experience in public school setting and/or related experiences in pediatrics.
Physical and Mental Demands and Work Hazards
- Regularly works inside with minimal temperature variations.
- Ability to meet deadlines with severe time constraints.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Regularly required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; carry, push and pull.
- Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms.
- Frequently required to use fine finger dexterity to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, depth
perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
- Required to be able to hear effectively in loud and quiet environments.
- May be required to lift or carry up to 40 pounds on a routine basis with or without an
accommodation.
- Frequently involved in interactions which require oral and written communications.
- Exercises flexibility and the ability to shift from one task to another.
- Travel/mobility between schools, or between schools and the Administration
office will be required.
- Work area is generally a hazard free environment.
- Demonstrates regular attendance performing duties as described.
- Reports to work fit for duty with characteristics inherent to the position.
The duties, physical demands, work-environment characteristics, and mental/motor demands
described within this vacancy announcement are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job with compliance with the
American with Disabilities Act Amendment Act (ADAAA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties
performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding
this position and additional duties may be assigned.
