Occupational Therapist

Sylvania; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 69,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200 (OPRF) seeks an Occupational Therapist for a 10-month school-year role in Oak Park, IL. Duties include evaluating students, developing IEP goals, and delivering OT services to high school students with diverse needs.

Position requires Master’s in OT and IL OT license, with experience in school settings preferred. Schedule is 3 days a week, 7 hours per day, at $50–$60 per hour, commensurate with experience.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current Illinois Occupational Therapist license (IDFPR) is required.
• Public school setting experience with high school students preferred.
• Knowledge of OT evaluation, intervention, and progress-monitoring practices.
• Ability to develop and implement IEP-related goals/services.

Responsibilities

• Review referrals and evaluate students through interviews and testing.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings to develop IEP goals.
• Determine therapy frequency and duration and modify programs as needed.
• Provide direct OT treatments to eligible students to support skill development.
• Maintain up-to-date OT records and comply with regulations.
• Maintain licensure and participate in professional development.

Skills

Written and verbal communication

Team collaboration

Caseload management

Data-driven progress monitoring

Multidisciplinary collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

Illinois OT license (IDFPR)

Job description

Job Title: Occupational Therapist
Reports to: Special Education Administration
Terms and Conditions: 10 month school year position, 3 days a week, 7 hours per day
Rate of Pay: $50-60/per hour, commensurate with experience

OPRF – WHO WE ARE…

Oak Park and River Forest High School, or OPRF, is a comprehensive public high school located in Oak Park, IL, a suburb eight miles due west of downtown Chicago. We are a one-school district, with the majority of our students coming from two sender districts, River Forest Public Schools District 90 and Oak Park Elementary School District 97. We offer more than 200 courses, a variety of programs for students with special needs, 103 clubs and activities, and 34 competitive sports. We prepare our students well for post-secondary success, with an average ACT composite score of 24 and a 96% graduation rate.

Oak Park and River Forest are communities that highly value diversity. OPRF is a founding member of the national Minority Student Achievement Network, and our school is racially and economically diverse, with about 48% of our 3,300 students identifying as African-American, Hispanic, multiracial, or Asian. Our villages have long embraced the LGBTQ community, and we have a significant mix of homeowners and renters.

We seek faculty and staff who have high expectations for all students, and who value student voice in education. As a school, we are particularly focused on closing opportunity gaps for our students of color and other under-represented groups. OPRF is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to all without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. OPRF’s goal is to increase the diversity of its workforce.

OPRF is a great place for those who are interested in an environment that supports creativity, leadership at all levels, innovation, a focus on professional and curriculum development, and the best practices of instruction. We are currently seeking individuals to join our team that all students are capable of high levels of academic and social success.

Position Summary

This position serves special education students with challenges that interfere with their ability to function within the educational setting, requiring assessment and support of students with needs in the area of sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor, functional life skills and prevocational/vocational skills. The position focuses on curriculum and collaboration with the educational team for specific skill development, modifications, and adaptations that promote student participation and independence within the school environment.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in Occupational Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current Illinois Occupational Therapist license through Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
• Previous occupational therapy experience in a public school setting, working specifically with high school students preferred.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy evaluation, assessment, intervention, and progress-monitoring practices.
• Demonstrated ability to perform school-based OT evaluations, develop and implement IEP-related goals/services.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain accurate documentation and comply with applicable timelines and legal requirements.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to establish positive, professional relationships with adolescents.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as part of multidisciplinary teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a caseload and prioritize responsibilities independently.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data and use progress-monitoring information to adjust services.

Position Responsibilities

1. Review referrals from parents, medical personnel, school district or other public agency personnel through screening procedures; evaluates students through interviews, skilled observations and/or testing.
2. Participates in multidisciplinary meetings to review evaluation results, integrate findings with other disciplines, offer recommendations, and develop individual education plans and intervention plans to achieve IEP goals.
3. Determines performance criteria in the areas of sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor and functional life skills and determines progress through criteria measures; determines equipment, environment and technology needed for OT treatment; modifies and makes accommodations to address fine motor, sensory motor, perceptual motor and functional life skills needs in the educational setting.
4. Focuses OT program on the educational needs of students and determines the frequency and duration of therapy, type of therapy and support for treatment techniques from colleagues; develops OT treatment programs in sensory motor, perceptual motor and fine motor skills as it pertains to the educational setting in the areas of life skills, assistive technology and vocational skills.
5. Provides direct occupational therapy treatments to eligible students to facilitate the development of sensory motor, fine motor, perceptual motor and functional life skills.
6. Evaluates the effects of treatment at various stages and adjusts treatments to achieve maximum benefit; uses performance criteria to determine discharge through interviews, skilled observations and/or testing.
7. Maintains up-to-date cumulative occupational therapy records and other records as required by the district, state and federal law; follows all relevant state and federal regulations for special education.
8. Maintains and updates knowledge and skills required for success in the position by participating in professional development activities as needed or as assigned.
9. Maintains and updates national and state licensure for Occupational Therapy.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive listing of the duties performed in this position. The individuals currently holding this position perform additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.

Oak Park & River Forest High School District 200 (OPRF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer