School Speech-Language Pathologist: IEP & AAC Expert

Claiborne County Schools; Tazewell (TN); On-site; Full time

Job description

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) in Tennessee public schools are licensed specialists who diagnose and treat communication disorders that interfere with a student's ability to learn. They serve as critical members of Individualized Education Programs (IEP) teams who support literacy and academic success.

Core Responsibilities

• Assessments & Evaluations: Conduct formal screenings and diagnostic evaluations for speech, language, voice, fluency, and hearing disorders in accordance with Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) eligibility criteria.
• Therapeutic Intervention: Provide direct therapy sessions (individual or group) focusing on articulation, language comprehension, and social communication.
• IEP Development: Lead the creation of communication-based goals and objectives within a student's IEP, ensuring they align with state curriculum standards.
• Collaboration: Consult with teachers, parents, and medical professionals to integrate therapy goals into the classroom and home environments.
• Documentation & Compliance: Maintain detailed logs of student progress, activity logs for Medicaid billing, and all required special education paperwork to ensure legal compliance.

Required Qualifications

• Education: A Master's Degree in Speech-Language Pathology or Communication Disorders from a CAA-accredited program is mandatory.
• Licensure: Must hold two specific credentials:
  1. A valid clinical license from the Tennessee Board of Communication Disorders and Sciences.
  2. A School Services Personnel license with an SLP endorsement from the TDOE.
• Certification: While often listed as preferred, many districts strongly favor candidates with the ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC-SLP) and may offer a salary supplement for it.
• National Exam: Passing score of 162 or higher on the Praxis SLP Examination.

Physical & Technical Demands

• Mobility: Ability to travel between multiple school sites as assigned.
• Assistive Technology: Proficiency in using and training others on Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
• Interpersonal: Strong "coping skills" for managing student behavior and the ability to work under pressure with frequent interruptions.