Occupational Therapist starting the 2026-2027 School Year

About the role

The occupational therapist will work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team to assist in the identification of students in need of therapy using a variety of diagnostic instruments for assessing functional mobility, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, gross and fine motor function, and self-care skills.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct programs of prevention, instruction, remediation and/or evaluation relative to the discipline of occupational therapy.
• Determine the educational significance of a student’s physical, sensory or gross/fine motor deficits in terms of reasonable functional needs.
• Recommend appropriate methods of intervention to remediate or compensate for deficits as related to the environment and the student’s current levels of functioning.
• Apply purposeful, goal-directed, developmentally sequenced activities to enhance student deficits through specially designed instruction or related service delivery models.
• Manage student caseloads, complete all annual IEP’s following district guidelines and state/federal compliance mandates, write measurable goals and objectives.
• Assess and review educational and medical records and perform evaluations in the areas of gross/fine motor function: activities of daily living and self-help skills; sensorimotor development, muscle strength and endurance; functional mobility skills and range of motion; equipment needs; function of orthotic and prosthetic devices; and prevocational skills.
• Establish and maintain a standard of student behavior needed to provide an orderly, safe and productive therapy service.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with staff, administrators, parents, support groups, governmental and community service agencies.
• Maintain appropriate confidential reports, records, and files in compliance with state and federal law.
• Attend and participate in all required staff meetings and other activities deemed necessary by the district and/or building principal in order to accomplish the objectives of the position including on-going professional staff development.
• Report incidents of child abuse, altercations, and substance abuse for the purpose of maintaining personal safety of students, providing a positive learning environment, and adheres to the educational code of ethics and district/school policies.
• Identify equipment needs and assist in securing, fabricating, adapting and maintaining equipment inventories.
• Plan, develop and monitor instructional programs carried out by Para Educator and/or other educational personnel.
• Provide training to staff and parents as appropriate.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited Masters Level program in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration with the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy.
• Valid Washington State Occupational Therapist license.
• Hold or have the ability to obtain a current Washington State Educational Staff Associate Certification.

Qualifications

• Knowledge/awareness of own cultural identity and how this influences behavior, and desire to learn about the cultural identity of others.
• Ability to establish and nurture an environment that promotes cultural competence and equitable treatment of staff, students, and patrons of the district.
• Advocate for equity, inclusion and professional practices that ensure all students achieve at high levels.
• Knowledge of SEL practices and approaches.
• Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding the identification and placement of students in special education/ 504.
• Experience and knowledge of current theories and methodologies of assessment, treatment, data collection for functional mobility, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal gross motor and self-care skills of children ages 3 to 21.
• Ability to plan, write and deliver instructional programs on student’s IEP.
• Knowledge of current state assessments, and graduation requirements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate regularly with parent and staff regarding therapy services and student progress.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive effective working relationships with a variety of students, staff, and community in multicultural and diverse socioeconomic settings.
• Ability to participate collaboratively in teams and with staff at multiple building sites.
• Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations.
• Ability to maintain state and federal special education compliance requirements including timelines.
• Ability to continue participation in staff development to maintain professional skills.
• Ability to attend to students’ personal hygiene, gastrostomy tube, feeding/medication, intermittent catheterization, diapering or other health needs.

Skills

• Knowledge of current state assessments, and graduation requirements.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate regularly with parent and staff regarding therapy services and student progress.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive effective working relationships with a variety of students, staff, and community in multicultural and diverse socioeconomic settings.
• Ability to participate collaboratively in teams and with staff at multiple building sites.
• Ability to meet and maintain punctuality and attendance expectations.
• Ability to maintain state and federal special education compliance requirements including timelines.
• Ability to continue participation in staff development to maintain professional skills.
• Ability to attend to students’ personal hygiene, gastrostomy tube, feeding/medication, intermittent catheterization, diapering or other health needs.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

Walla Walla Public Schools Teachers Salary Schedule.

Schedule

Not specified.