Occupational Therapist

This position is a 1.0 FTE position (184 days) with an expected start date of August 2025. This position is assigned to Karner Blue Education Center, Pankalo Education Center, and White Bear Lake Area Schools. Starting salary is based on education and years of experience. This position is fully benefit eligible, please click here to review the full contract and benefits offered.

Nature of Work

Provides occupational therapy to students identified or suspected of having disabilities, and providing consultation to families, teachers, and other staff. Responsibilities may include: evaluating and screenings students' school performance; developing individualized education or intervention plans; implementing and reassessing occupational therapy services; devising and facilitating accommodations and equipment adaption; providing recommendations, consultation and trainings to families, teachers and other staff; and preparing a variety of reports, documents, and correspondence.

Typical Class Responsibilities

• Provides direct and indirect occupational therapy services; conducts occupational therapy screening, evaluation, and intervention services to support students with identified or suspected barriers to occupational performance; and documents services rendered such as daily treatment notes, progress reports, and summary reports.
• Collaborates with members of the Individual Education Plan (IEP) team regarding plans for occupational therapy services.
• Develops and implements program wide (Tier 1) supports to benefit all students and their ability to participate in schools as identified by the program's Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports.
• Conducts in-service programs to educate school personnel on topics pertaining to individuals with disabilities.
• Communicates and responds to inquiries from families, teachers, and other staff; provides instructional information to students, staff, and families to support and implement proactive behavior management strategies; and supports and educates classroom personnel on the effective use of assistive technology.
• Supervises, collaborates with, and evaluates the performance of the Occupational Therapy Assistant(s) consistent with the licensure and program specific requirements.
• Adapts, modifies, and recommends specialized equipment.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.
  

Training and Experience Requirements

Requires a minimum of a master's degree in Occupational Therapy, licensure from the Minnesota Department of Health as an Occupational Therapist, registration with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy; and one year of related experience.

Knowledge Requirements

• Occupational therapy principles, practices, ethics, and safety requirements;
• Applicable principles and practices needed to support students with special needs;
• Understanding of special needs students and the cultural awareness needed to support those students;
• Evaluation, screening, and assessment of special needs student;
• Assistive learning tools and technologies;
• Teaching and instructions principles and methods;
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
• Recordkeeping principles;
• Computers and related software applications.

Skill Requirements

• Providing occupational therapy intervention;
• Evaluating, screening, and assessing of special needs children;
• Using assistive learning tools and technologies;
• Organizing and managing materials for high caseloads of students;
• Applying local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations;
• Preparing and maintaining records and reports;
• Operating a computer and related software applications;
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements

Positions in this class typically require: reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motions.

Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Walking and standing are required only occasionally.

Commitment to Equity

At Northeast Metro 916, equity means that everyone has access to what they need in order to learn, grow and thrive.

Northeast Metro 916 will not discriminate against individuals based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, parental status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, age or sexual orientation.