Position Type:
Special Education/ Occupational Therapist
Date Posted:
4/7/2026
Closing Date:
04/14/2026
Position:
Occupational Therapist
Effective ********* School Year
Position Purpose:
Under the general supervision of the Director of Special Education, to participate in the development, implementation, and coordination of the school district's occupational therapy program for students with disabilities or physical/mental impairments by developing individualized programming based on occupational performance deficits activities of daily living, including personal care, interaction skills, community integration, work, and communication.
Essential Performance Responsibilities
Screens, evaluates, and monitors students with disabilities or physical/mental impairments for the purpose of providing educational programs, therapeutic intervention, and transition and exit planning, enhancing their ability to perform activities of daily living or participate in desired occupations.
Collaborates with staff to ensure team understanding of student occupational performance strengths and needs, as well as student outcomes.
Evaluates the student's ability and formulates the student's occupational profile, providing written reports that reflect strengths and barriers to student participation in the educational environment and guide evidence-based intervention.
Participates in the development of Individualized Education Programs.
Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and occupational performance within the school environment.
Assesses the need for assistive technology and equipment and makes recommendations for its use at school to help students function as independently as possible.
Documents occupational therapy services and maintains records in accordance with school district policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
Supervises Occupational Therapy Assistants as needed.
Plans, coordinates, and conducts continuing education for school staff, parents, and students.
Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops or professional meetings, or by conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships.
Regular, reliable and punctual attendance.
Additional Duties
Performs other related tasks as assigned by the Principal and other central office administrators as designated by the Superintendent.
Equipment
Uses standard office equipment such as personal computers, printer, copy and fax machines, and telephone.
Travel Requirements
Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence-based practice to guide intervention decisions.
Knowledge of human development throughout the life span and integration with student's unique developmental status.
Knowledge of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on student's ability to participate in occupations.
Knowledge of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Section 504, and other federal and state laws and regulations regarding education and students and physical therapy practice in schools.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.
Skill in selecting and providing a wide range of intervention strategies and monitoring their effectiveness.
Effective computer skills as needed for work (e.g., ability to use Microsoft Office suite).
Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student.
Ability to organize and coordinate work.
Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.
Ability to work in an economically, culturally and racially diverse environment.
Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards
Ada Requirements:
The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described 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 essential functions.
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment), taste and smell.
The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.
Work Environment:
The noise level in the work environment is usually loud to moderate.
Mental Functions:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile and negotiate.
Qualifications Profile
State Certification to practice as evidenced by current state licensure as an Occupational Therapist.
Initial certification by National Board for Certification of Occupational Therapy.
Motor Vehicle Operator's License or ability to provide own transportation.
Education
Bachelor's from an accredited college or university in a related field.
Graduation from an accredited program of occupational therapy recognized by NBCOT.
Experience
Successful prior experience working as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in an educational or other pediatric practice setting.
FLSA Status
Exempt
EEO Statement
Kentwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, or any other protected status in its employment decisions or the provision of services.
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