Position Overview

Salary: $51,539-$83,199

The purpose of this position is to eliminate, reduce and/or provide compensatory strategies in the area of speech and language development. The Speech Language Pathologist supports the students' ability to derive full benefit from the District’s educational program. The scope of work has impact through the Office of Special Education in the District of Columbia Public Schools.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and scope of work being performed by this position. This is not a complete listing of all responsibilities, duties, and/or skills required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides direct and indirect clinical services to students who have been diagnosed with an academically-based communication disorder in areas of articulation, languages, voice and/or fluency.
• Provides and completes comprehensive diagnostic assessments of speech, voice, and language impairments; and determines the presence/absence of a specific communication disorder which adversely impacts academic progress.
• Serves as a resource to school staff members by developing a balanced program for oral communication and speech, language, and literacy development.
• Provides direct/indirect service to students diagnosed with a swallowing disorder as it relates to the educational environment.
• Provides an implemented therapeutic program to meet the individual needs of students with diagnosed communication impairment.
• Assists and guides teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified speech and language impairments.
• Assists in proper referrals of students to agencies and specialists in the community, as appropriate.
• Provides appropriate individualized programs of therapy to meet individual students’ needs and correct existing speech or language impairments.
• Compiles case history data on those cases where additional family history, health history, and early developmental history are deemed appropriate.
• Conducts speech and language screenings.
• Coordinates assistive technology support services.
• Participates/lends to child study committees.
• Supervises support personnel and Speech - Language Pathology Clinical Fellows.
• Maintains all documents required to file Medicaid claims and required by Medicaid, including signed copies of all Health Encounter Tracking Forms, Assessment reports, and progress notes in the student file.

Desired Qualities

• Commitment to Equity: Passionate about closing the achievement gap and ensuring that every child, regardless of background or circumstance, receives an excellent education.
• Leadership: Coaches, mentors, and challenges others to excel despite obstacles and challenging situations.
• Focus on Data-Driven Results: Relentlessly pursues the improvement of central office performance and school leadership, instruction, and operations, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
• Innovative Problem-Solving: Approaches work with a sense of possibility and sees challenges as opportunities for creative problem solving; takes initiative to explore issues and find potential innovative solutions.
• Adaptability: Excels in constantly changing environments and adapts flexibly in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort; comfortable with ambiguity and non-routine situations.
• Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting others; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others
• Dependability: Does whatever it takes to consistently deliver with high quality under tight deadlines; successfully manages own projects through strong organization, detailed workplans, and balancing of multiple priorities.
• Communication and Customer Service Skills: Communicates clearly and compellingly with diverse stakeholders in both oral and written forms; anticipates and responds to customer needs in a high-quality and courteous manner.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree (MA/MS) in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology.
• Certification as a Speech Language Pathologist by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).
• Eligible for AHSA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology. The ASHA Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech – Language Pathology must be completed within four (4) years of DCPS hire date.