Primary Purpose:

Plan and provide speech-language pathology services to students with speech, voice, or language disorders.  Assess students and provide therapeutic intervention to eliminate or reduce problems or impairments with their students’ ability to derive full benefit from the educational program.

Qualifications:

      Education/Certification:

      Master’s degree in speech-language pathology from an accredited college or university

      Valid Texas license as a speech-language pathologist granted by the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology (SBESLPA)

      Or

      Bachelor’s degree

      Valid Texas Education Agency speech therapy certificate

      Special Knowledge/Skills:

      Ability to use the accepted tests and measurements to assess communication disorders and conditions

      Knowledge of evaluation, habilitation, and rehabilitation of speech-language disorders and conditions

      Ability to instruct and manage student behavior

      Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills

      Experience:

      One year supervised clinical speech-language pathology experience

Major Responsibilities and Duties:

Therapy

1. Plan and provide appropriate individual and group therapy to students consistent with speech and language goals contained in Individual Education Plans (IEP).
2. Evaluate student progress and determine readiness for termination of therapy services.
3. Conduct independent evaluations to assess students with speech or language disorders and conditions to determine eligibility for services.
4. Develop clinical management strategies or procedures and diagnostic statements by interpreting observations or data.
5. Participate in the Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee to assist in interpretation of assessment data, appropriate placement, and goal setting for students with communication disorders or conditions according to district procedures.

 Consultation

6. Counsel and involve parents in remedial process.
7. Collaborate with classroom teachers to plan and implement classroom activities to improve communication skills of students.
8. Provide professional development in assigned schools to help school personnel identify and understand communication defecits in students.
9. Communicate effectively with colleagues , students, and parents regarding the accomplishment of therapy goals and needs of the student.

Student Management

10. Create an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the maturity level and interests of students.
11. Establish control and administer discipline according the Student Code of Conduct and student handbook.

 Program Management

12. May supervise licensed speech-language pathology assistant(s) or speech aide(s). *
13. Develop and coordinate a continuing evaluation of speech-language pathology services and make changes based on the findings.
14. Assist in the selection of equipment and instructional materials.

 Supervisory Responsibilities:

      None.

Working Conditions:

      Mental Demands/Physical Demands/Environmental Factors:

      Maintain emotional control under stress.  Regular districtwide travel to student homes and multiple work locations as assigned.  May be required to lift and transfer students to and from wheelchair or assist with positioning students with physical disabilities.

      *Supervisors of licensed speech-language assistants must be licensed by SPESLPA as speech-language pathologists.  A person with a TEA certificate who is not licensed may not be a supervisor of a licensed speech-language pathology assistant.