Speech - Language Pathologist

The Speech - Language Pathologist will be responsible for classroom activities and one-to-one auditory, speech and language work, coordinating goals and objectives with classroom teachers and working with the Director of Clarke PA and the Lead SLP. This position includes providing auditory, speech and language services and parent support and education for families of children who are enrolled in other Clarke PA programs.

Therapy Room Responsibilities:

• To create an environment which fosters independence, confidence, creativity, and respect for materials and the people in the environment and is conducive to enjoyment in learning.
• To facilitate children’s interaction with a curriculum which is child-centered, based on basic principles of child development, and will provide children with problem-solving skills and a foundation for acquiring knowledge which is more content-related in the elementary years.
• To provide a comfortable, supportive environment for parents in which they are respected and encouraged to observe their children, and supported in their efforts to parent their hearing-impaired children.
• To observe children in the classroom and record information related to all aspects of the child’s developmental profile to be used later in quarterly reports.
• To maximize opportunities for auditory and language.
• To facilitate children’s communication and ensure carryover of activities between the classroom and individualized sessions.
• The role of the therapist is primarily one of facilitator, diagnostician and observer.

One-to-one Responsibilities:

• To engage individual and small groups of preschoolers, on a daily basis, in activities which contribute to the development of auditory and spoken language skills.
• To provide diagnostic information about auditory and spoken language skills of hearing-impaired preschoolers using formal tests, language samples, diagnostic teaching and observation.
• To provide a comfortable, supportive environment for parents in which they are respected, encouraged to observe their children in the individualized sessions, and supported in their efforts to communicate with their hearing-impaired children.
• To educate parents and provide them with follow-up activities which will enhance the development of their child’s communication skills.

Meetings and Planning:

• Participate in regular meetings of the Preschool team to plan classroom activities as dictated by the developmental needs and interests of the children.
• Attend I.E.P. meetings, schedule permitting.
• Attend Professional Staff meetings at Clarke’s main campus in Northampton, or view the videotaped meetings with all Clarke Pennsylvania staff, commensurate with the percentage of FTE as schedule permits. Attend all Parent Support meetings and Clarke sponsored events.

Written Plans and Reports:

• Therapy lesson plans will be kept to ensure that information is available to professionals working in the classroom and to provide a record of activity in the classroom. Lesson plans should include child’s targeted auditory, speech, pragmatic and spoken language goals, activities and state standards addressed. Data collection will be completed weekly.
• Contribution to the children’s Individualized Educational Plans will be in the form of supplying goals and objectives in the areas of auditory, speech and language development.
• Write and submit trimester reports for, on dates provided at the beginning of the school year.
• Regular entries in a communication notebook will be one way of informing parents about audition, speech and language work that takes place with their children.

Qualifications necessary for this position include:

• Master’s degree and appropriate certification in Speech Language Pathology and/or Listening and Spoken Language/Auditory Verbal Therapy
• Experience in education, training and expertise in listening and spoken language education of children with hearing loss.
• Experience in parent counseling is preferred but not necessary.

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.