Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) - Salem Public Schools SY2024-2025

About Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.

Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history.  Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students across our 11 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. Over the next three years (2023-2026), we are committed to the work outlined by the four core priorities in our strategic plan: 1) Elevate Learning; 2) Empower Educators; 3) Center Belonging; and 4) Strengthen Our Foundation. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. Applicants who have experience working in urban schools and settings and are bilingual are strongly encouraged to apply.

What You’ll Do:

As a collaborative member of the Special Education team in Salem and in accordance with the policies and procedures of Salem Public Schools, the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA) works under the supervision of a district Occupational Therapist and provides direct service to identified students both in and out of the general education classroom and in sub-separate settings. The COTA assists with observation and data collection and helps to develop IEP goals, objectives, and accommodations. This specialist maintains required documentation to track services and for Medicaid reimbursement. Under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist, the COTA delivers a variety of instruction designed to develop fine, visual and perceptual-motor skills and the use of assistive technology devices for access to instruction and learning.

Responsibilities:

• Provide individual and small group, skilled occupational therapy activities, in pull-out and inclusive settings at multiple job sites within the district.
• Assist the Occupational Therapist with informal assessment of fine-motor and development skills (e.g., oral motor, sensory integration, motor planning, developmental function, activities of daily living, fine motor function, postural tone, etc.) to determine present levels of function, and develop recommendations
• Follow and implement students’ IEPs and/or documented treatment plans
• Develop and maintain a consistent service delivery schedule
• Under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist, provide staff consultation
• Document student progress toward meeting established objectives and report the information to therapists
• Adapt school and classroom environment, tools, and materials under the supervision of the Occupational Therapist to improve student function and facilitate student access to activities and learning
• Maintain treatment equipment, devices, and supplies in clean, proper working condition
• Work in conjunction with multidisciplinary educational teams
• Complete job-related functions, including paperwork, in a timely manner and in compliance with special education regulations
• Complete observations, collect data, prepare and maintain accurate records, ensuring up-to-date documentation for compliance with various state, federal, and administrative regulations
• Attend IEP meetings, special education staff meetings and building events, if requested
• Utilize a variety of job-related assistive technology and pertinent software
• Routinely attend district and school-wide meetings, trainings, workshops and ongoing professional development
• Maintain compliance with existing laws and professional ethics
• Provide inclusive occupational therapy intervention and support that is integrated into classroom lessons
• Assist the Occupational Therapist with staff consultation, IEP goals and Progress Report development
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with students, staff, families and administrators
• Be able to move and position oneself to adequately operate therapy equipment, including lifting up to 30 lbs.

What You’ll Bring:

We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level.  We expect our SPS employees to:

• Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
• Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
• Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS.  You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
• Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from failure, using mistakes and challenges as opportunities for growth. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.

Job Requirements:

• Graduate of an accredited Occupational Therapy Assistant program
• Certified by the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy
• Licensure in Massachusetts as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant required
• Prior experience working in a public-school setting, preferred
• Valid Driver’s License or must be able to provide own transportation within the District
• Experience with delivering school-based services
• Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing
• Participation in Medicaid reimbursement submission/services verification process
• Safety Care Training Certification or willing to be certified (District will provide training)
• Second language (Spanish and/or Portuguese) proficiency a plus
• Bilingual candidates and candidates of color strongly encouraged to apply
• Current authorization to work in the United States 

The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant is considered a district-wide staff member and may be assigned to 2 or more schools, depending upon the caseload in a given year.  This position is an in-person, full-year school-year position.  The Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant reports to the assigned special education supervisor and to the Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services.

Contact Information:         

Jennifer Doucette-Ly, Executive Director of Special Education

Salem Public Schools

29 Highland Avenue

Salem, MA  01970

Phone: 978-740-1249

Fax: 978-740-1137

Equal Opportunity Employer

Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information, or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.