PHYSICAL THERAPIST - REGISTERED

Orange County Public Schools; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Orange County Public Schools seeks a licensed Physical Therapist to provide services to students in the ESE program, with emphasis on evaluation, plan development and collaboration with educators.

You will implement therapy, monitor progress, document outcomes, and coordinate with families and school staff to support student access to learning.

The role requires knowledge of ADA/IDEA and commitment to student-centered, evidence-based practice in a school setting.

Qualifications

• Graduate with an accredited PT program.
• Licensed by Florida Department of Health in Physical Therapy.
• One year pediatric experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide PT assessment and intervention for students.
• Develop and monitor individualized therapy goals aligned to IEP/504 plans.
• Collaborate with teachers and families to support student learning.
• Maintain accurate documentation and progress reports.
• Comply with district policies and IDEA/ADA requirements.
• Supervise PTA and participate in department meetings.

Skills

Pediatric Therapy

PT Licensure

Communication Skills

Collaborative Practice

Education

Bachelor's in Physical Therapy

Master's in Physical Therapy

Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Job description

Salary Schedule

To facilitate exceptional education students' ability to participate in their educational setting and to ensure that recommendations, intervention and communication enhance students’ success in the least restrictive environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s (grandfathered in 1990), Master’s (grandfathered in by 2016) or Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from an accredited institution level program.
• Licensed by the Florida Department of Health in Physical Therapy.
• One year of experience in a pediatric setting is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of current physical therapy theory and practices. Knowledge of support service delivery systems and exceptional education services and current diagnostic procedures in physical therapy. Knowledge of federal guidelines and legislation as it relates to exceptional education; knowledge of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA); Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral communication skills. Ability to use effective positive interpersonal skills; Ability to analyze data, both verbal and written. Knowledge of various learning styles. Commitment to a core set of beliefs about learning, treatment, and ongoing professional development. Ability to collaborate with other disciplines and services at departmental, system levels, and to review outcomes and modify intervention programs according to student needs. Understands how to lead the process in development, implementation, and coordination of the physical therapy support as a related service. Screening, evaluation, educational program and transition planning, as well as therapeutic intervention is provided for students identified with or suspected of having a disability that impacts their ability to access the school environment. Professional judgment and clinical knowledge are used to develop individualized program-based school performance deficits in the areas of postural control, positioning, and gait/mobility.

REPORTS TO

Director-ESE Itinerant & Specialized Services

SUPERVISES

Certified Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)

MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT

Machines, tools, equipment, electronic devices, vehicles, etc., used in this position. Telephone, Computer, (Personal Computer and Mainframe), Automobile, Copier

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Describes physical conditions of this position. Medium Work Exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated as Light Work.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Percentage
• 40 Sitting Resting with the body supported by the buttocks or thighs.
• 40 Standing Assuming an upright position on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
• 20 Walking Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances.
• 10 Bending Lowering the body forward from the waist.
• 10 Reaching Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• 10 Lifting Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position through the use of the upper extremities and back muscles exerting up to 10 pounds of force.
• 80 Finger Dexterity Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand or arm.
• 70 Grasping Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• 90 Talking Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed accurately, loudly or quickly.
• 90 Hearing Acuity The ability to perceive speech and other environmental sounds at normal loudness levels.
• 90 Visual Acuity The power to see at a level which allows reading of numbers and text, operation of equipment, inspection of machines, etc.

Note Will total more than 100 percent as several activities may be performed at one time.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Conditions the worker will be subject to in this position. Indoors and Outdoors The worker is subject to both environmental conditions. Activities occur inside and outside.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manifests a professional code of ethics and values.
• Responds to internal and external customers in a timely, accurate, courteous and empathetic manner representing OCPS in a positive light.
• Models the routine, intentional and effective use of technology in daily work, including communications, organization and management tasks.
• Provide services to exceptional student education and 504 Plan students.
• Provide support to students receiving Multi-Tiered System of Supports.
• Provide physical therapy assessment or evaluations for students suspected of a disability.
• Effectively communicate results of evaluations and reports of therapy services to the educational staff, parents, students and when appropriate and approved, to other professionals and agencies concerned with the students.
• Develop individual goals and objectives for students, based upon results of a physical therapy evaluation.
• Develop and collaborate on a student’s physical therapy goals and objectives to be incorporated into the student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan.
• Develop and maintain up to date treatment plans focused on students’ IEP goals and objectives.
• Maintain departmental statistics and required documentation of treatment.
• Implement appropriate physical therapy services as identified through evaluations and defined by the goals and objectives of a student’s IEP (Direct therapy-inclusion, group, individual or Indirect therapy-consultation.
• Provide trainings/professional development for instructional and classified staff on the use of adaptive equipment for students.
• Follow OCPS compliance procedures as it pertains to providing Physical Therapy.
• Participate in department meetings, contribute suggestions, enter discussions assist in the decision-making process, and share professional information with colleagues.
• Identify the disparity between “what is” (current condition) and “what ought to be” (desired condition) regarding the priorities in his/her assigned programs.
• Keep the ESE Director, and/or school administrator informed of current critical issues and incidents about which they should be aware.
• Participate in staff development activities for personnel.
• Attend staffing and other school meetings when necessary and feasible.
• Maintain supplies, equipment and therapy areas.
• Supervise PT Fieldwork students; serve as resource for other therapists
• Supervise PTA, as appropriate, for carrying out duties within the department.
• Responsible for maintaining timely and accurate information and accountable for the quality of information maintained by those they supervise.
• Follow the district’s policies and procedures as related to all HRMD guidelines and the district’s instructional initiatives.
• Follow the district’s policies and procedures as it relates to fixed assets.
• Develop leadership in subordinates.
• Responsible for keeping up to date on current technology being used by OCPS. With the support of the district, attends training to ensure skill level in various technologies is at the level required to perform in current position.
• Responsible for maintaining timely and accurate information and accountable for the quality of information maintained by those they supervise.
• Responsible for self-development and keeping up to date on current research, trends and best practices to the area of responsibility.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Non-bargaining unit compensation plan, 217 days, 4.0 hours per day.

EVALUATION

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with provisions of the Board's policy on evaluation of personnel.

07/01/2026