Speech & Language Therapy Assistant (SLPA)

 Holyoke Public Schools believes that all students have the right to an excellent education; our Speech and Language Pathology Assistants are crucial to ensuring all of our diverse learners have success in academics and life. Speech and Language Pathology Assistants provide direct services and treatment for students within the school setting, with communication disorders that adversely affect the student’s educational performance. The Speech and Language Pathology Assistant is a valuable member of the Team and supports the generalization of skills taught into the student’s educational program. 

Job Description: 

• Provide direct therapy to students of all ages through implementation of small group and/or inclusion intervention focused on listening, speaking, reading, writing, auditory memory/processing, executive functioning, and social thinking/pragmatics skills to support academic and social competencies
• Provide consultation to general education and special education staff regarding student needs and best practices
• Assist Speech and Language Pathologist with evaluations, as needed
• Participate in Individual Education Program (IEP) meetings, as directed
• Assist in the implementation and progress monitoring of IEP goals
• Meet all district, state and federal requirements for the program to which you are assigned, including IEP and Progress Report deadlines
• Create a positive educational environment for all students using a multi-tiered system of supports
• Use professional quality communication skills to convey information to the student’s team
• Remain current with accepted and appropriate instructional theory, practice and research. Including engaging in regular and strategic professional development to stay current in best practices for diverse learn

Personal Qualities of Top Candidates:

• 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 mastery of instruction based on student performance, and is driven by a desire to produce quantifiable student achievement gains.
• Adaptability: Excels in a constantly changing environment and adapts to flexibility in shifting projects or priorities to meet the needs of a dynamic transformation effort.
• Teamwork: Increases the effectiveness of surrounding teams through collaboration, constant learning and supporting other; sensitive to diversity in all its forms; respects and is committed to learning from others.

Qualifications: 

• Bachelors degree and Licensure from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
• Prior experience teaching social/pragmatics preferred
• Demonstrate collaborative teaching ability
• Experience working with students with disabilities
• Bilingual Preferred

Compensation and benefits

• Salary and benefits will be competitive and commensurate with experience