Speech - Language Pathologist

Job Responsibilities

1. To create an environment which fosters independence, confidence, creativity, respect for materials and the people in the environment and is conducive to enjoyment in learning.

2. To provide a comfortable, supportive environment for parents in which they are respected, encouraged to observe their children, and supported in their efforts to parent their hearing-impaired children.

3. To facilitate children’s communication in individualized sessions and ensure carryover of activities in the classroom.

4. To observe children in the classroom and record information related to all aspects of the child’s developmental profile to be used later in reports, as needed.

5. To work collaboratively with the classroom teacher to maximize opportunities for auditory and language learning in the classroom.

Other Responsibilities

1. To provide diagnostic information about auditory and spoken language skills of hearing-impaired primary students using formal tests, diagnostic teaching and observation.

2. To educate parents and provide them with follow-up activities which will enhance the development of their child’s communication skills. To develop speech notebooks for reinforcement of skills by the caretakers.

3. Discuss concerns regarding individual children’s needs, abilities, etc., with the director to ensure consistent and accurate communication with parents, thereby best serving the children.

4. Other requested duties when needed by the Director.

Meetings and Planning

1. Will participate in general staff meetings and SLP meetings to plan therapy schedules as dictated by the changing needs of the children. Work collaboratively with teachers who will provide input regarding the progress of students, curriculum issues, concerns, reinforcement of skills, etc. in the classroom. Provide teachers with lesson plans/goals created for individual weekly files.

2. Will attend other professional meetings, conventions, and conferences for the hearing-impaired, schedule permitting (e.g., cochlear implant workshops) and as needed.

Written Plans and Reports

1. Contributions to the hearing-impaired children’s Individualized Educational Plans will be in the form of supplying goals and objectives in the areas of speech perception functioning, speech production and oral vocabulary/ language development.

2. Semi-annual reports following comprehensive assessment, will be written for the hearing-impaired children, and submitted on a timely basis on dates provided at the beginning of the school year (in November and June) to the lead speech pathologist and then the Co-Directors for editing and modifications.

3. Ongoing data collection on daily performance with auditory/speech/language goals as written in their speech file. Entries in the student’s communication notebook will be one way of informing parents about audition, speech, and language skills development that occurred in the therapy sessions daily. Reinforcement sheets will be inserted by the speech pathologist in support of requested reinforcement.

The SLP reports to the Director, Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech, Florida. The hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, Monday through Friday.

Qualifications for this position includes:

• an educational background with a master’s level degree in Speech Language Pathology
• Florida Speech-Language License
• experience in developing oral communication skills in deaf children and experience with cochlear implants is preferred

Title IX Notice of Non-discrimination

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech does not discriminate on the basis of sex in admission and administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. Clarke is required by Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 not to discrimination on the basis of sex in admission, administration of its educational programs or activities or employment. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to Clarke may be referred to Clarke’s Title IX Coordinator, Andrea Harkins, CHRO, 45 Round Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060, aharkins@clarkeschools.org , 413.582.1155 or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, at 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202, telephone number 800-421-3481.