Speech Language Pathologist

This employee is responsible for organizing and implementing a therapy program to meet the needs of speech, language, and hearing impaired students, and meeting the duties of teaching as outlined in laws and policies. Speech and Language services are federally mandated through IDEA, governed by licensure laws, and WACS-Washington Administrative Codes.

General Leadership Expectations

• Understand and support the educational environment and the District's mission, vision, and Strategic Plan.
• Implement principles and practices of effective leadership and management as well as research-based best practices.
• Facilitate and promote collaborative decision-making and consensus among groups of individuals with diverse interests, values, and needs; provide guidance and direction to staff; facilitate conflict resolution; and inspire and support staff in carrying out District and Department goals.
• Participate as a member or facilitator in meetings, workshops, and seminars that may involve a wide range of issues such as goals attainment, problem resolution, and District operations for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job duties.
• Recommend solutions to a wide variety of issues for the purpose of addressing the short and long-term needs of the District.

Responsibilities

• Plans and implements treatment based upon evaluations and reevaluations of eligible students.
• Evaluates, assesses, observes, and writes reports about findings for students as part of the special education evaluation for eligibility or for additional evaluation requests.
• Evaluates, assesses, observes, and writes reports for students as part of the special education reevaluation process.
• Writes treatment plans, IEPs, and progress notes.
• Consults with teachers, parents, other staff members, and private medical professionals.
• Manages, operates, and makes minor repairs and adjustments to various equipment and supplies.
• Attends IEP, evaluation, staff, and other related meetings.
• Participates in education for students and provides program improvement recommendations.
• Assesses speech and language skills of students suspected of having a communication disorder and consults with teachers in developing IEP goals and objectives that are aligned with the Washington State Learning Standards.
• Provides resources, modeling strategies, and training to other team members in communication interventions.
• Participates in the Child-find and other screening programs established.
• Designs and implements in-class interventions (small groups, large groups, and/or individual).
• Provides educationally related communication intervention for students handicapped by disorders of language, speech, or hearing in a variety of settings as appropriate.
• Increases knowledge/skills related to communication intervention in the schools through participation in continuing education and in-service opportunities.
• Works effectively as a team member (i.e., special education evaluation team, IEP committee, integrative classroom team, etc.) in various settings.
• Supervises Speech Language Pathologist Assistants.

Requirements

• M.S. in Speech and Language Pathology.
• ESA certification required.
• Training in school-based therapy or Pediatric therapy methodology (or the ability to apply & obtain ESA certification ahead of the enrichment days).
• May be required to have a valid State of Washington Driver's license.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous training and experience in Pediatrics or School District is desirable. New graduates without preferred experience will be considered.
• Familiarity with writing reports and IEPs.
• Familiarity with using a computer.

Schedule

• Work Year: 180 days aligned with the academic school calendar, plus 4 Enrichment Days (August 25, 26, 27, 2026, and February 16, 2027).
• Paid Hours: 7.5 per day, including a 30-minute lunch period.
• Work day starts 30 minutes before the student bell schedule and concludes 30 minutes after the student day ends at the work location.

Pay

2025-26 OEA Salary Schedule A (Includes Base contract and a Professional Responsibility & Enrichment Supplemental Contract (PRESC), at minimum). Will be paid at 2026-27 rates.

Work Environment

• Experiences frequent interruptions.
• Required to meet inflexible deadlines.
• Requires concentration on details.
• Required to operate a motor vehicle on public roads.
• Have precise controls of fingers and hand movements.
• Focus on a computer screen for extended periods of time.
• May deal with angry or distraught people.
• Experience demands from a diversity of others, including students, parents, community, and staff.
• Required to attend evening/weekend meetings or activities.
• Involves sitting, walking, and standing.

Benefits

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours an employee is anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Employees anticipated to work 630 hours or more in a year are eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical, dental, vision, retirement, life insurance, long-term disability, and the employee assistance program (administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority under the School Employees Benefits Board).
• Option to participate in deferred compensation/403B plans, dependent care flexible spending/health savings accounts, and additional life insurance and/or added long-term disability coverage through employee contributions.
• Sick leave, vacation, personal leave, and paid holidays aligned with bargaining agreements.
• VEBA (Health Reimbursement Account) for out-of-pocket benefits costs, available based on annual employee voting.

Reports to: Executive Director for Student Support Services.