SNOWLINE JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Certificated Job Description
SPEECH AND LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST
Primary Function
The Speech and Language Pathologist provides effective screening and writes accurate diagnoses basic to individualized instructional planning and therapy for children with impairments of language, speech and hearing; in partnership with psychologists, teachers, medical staff, community agencies, and parents, generates appropriate objectives and provides services as articulated in Individualized Educational Plans; stays current relative to trends in field of communications disorders in order to enhance assessment and therapy skills.
Examples of Duties
1. Employ professionally sound and valid diagnostic procedures, techniques, behavior samples and standardized tests necessary for thorough and accurate evaluation in order to convey pertinent information to cooperating personnel and to parents carrying on instruction in class and training at home.
2. Identify and put into use additional professional resources when supplementary diagnostic information is needed (e.g., psychologist, nurse, physician).
3. Formulate explicit and appropriate short and long term therapeutic objectives to meet individual needs of pupils.
4. Guide pupils toward an awareness of their responsibility for modifying the behavior which characterizes their communicative disorder.
5. Ability to record and analyze responses related to improving pupil communication skills.
6. Utilize effective evaluative strategies and results to improve services to pupils.
7. Ability to redefine objectives and modify therapy as needed, while keeping parents and school collaborators informed.
8. Provide reinforced progress within the therapy situation to provide for effective techniques and reinforcement within other environments (on-campus instruction by teachers; home instruction by parents).
9. Develop and implement appropriate follow-up procedure for pupils transferring to other programs or regular classes.
10. Maintain necessary confidential case-study and necessary open records according to professional ethics, district policy, and statute.
11. Participate in appropriate Evaluation and Placement Committees and other district meetings.
11. Participate in conferences with school, county, and community personnel as appropriate.
12. Demonstrate continuing professional growth.
13. Contribute to community information efforts (e.g., brochures, video tape recording, meetings).
14. When appropriate, collaborate with psychologist managing the case to initiate referrals to other agencies and allied disciplines.
15. Perform such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned.
Education
A master’s degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with specialization in speech, language, speech-pathology, speech-hearing therapy, language-development, etc.
Certification Requirement
Possession of a valid California credential authorizing holder to provide students with speech, language and hearing therapy.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essentials functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.