Occupational Therapist

Position Type:
Student Services/Occupational Therapist

Date Posted:
1/7/2024

Location:
Lake Forest School Districts 67 & 115

Date Available:
08/11/2025

Closing Date:
01/24/2025Lake Forest School Districts 67 is seeking two full time Occupational Therapists starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The therapists will provide services to students in the early childhood, elementary, middle school, high school settings, and the D115 Transition program under the shared services model.

Description: The Occupational Therapist provides school based occupational therapy services to eligible students to allow for full access to their educational environment including reducing barriers and providing recommendations for accessibility. School-based occupational therapy services are provided to develop and increase fine motor, daily living, and sensory skills that enable students to participate in meaningful and purposeful educational activities. Occupational therapists collaborate with the family and educational team to identify the needs, supports, modifications and accommodations that are required for the student with diverse needs to access their education with improved outcomes. Occupational Therapists provide direct services and collaborate with the family and educational teams from D67 to identify the needs, supports, modifications and accommodations that are required for the student with diverse needs to access their education with improved outcomes.

Benefits:

• Salary Range - $50-$75/hour based on credentials and experience
• Schedule - Mon-Fri, 37.5 hours per week
• Work Calendar - 10 months (mid-August through mid-June), 179 work days and up to 5 flex days. Additionally, OTs are paid their hourly rate for up to 60 hours for Extended School Year (ESY).
• Reimbursement - OTs are eligible for tuition reimbursement and all other benefits in the LFEA 67 collective bargaining agreement.
• Retirement System - IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) - the district pays the full district premium, and employees pay the 4.5% employee contribution.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as a member of Student Services Department
• Demonstrates knowledge of relevant evidence-based pediatric assessments, tools, and treatment methods.
• Assess students' fine and gross motor skills and functional abilities (e.g. perceptual-motor, hand functions, motor coordination, sensory development, muscle strength, etc.) for the purpose of determining program eligibility and developing recommendations for occupational therapy treatment, appropriate assistive devices and/or curriculum access.
• Understand the special education and 504 processes/procedures to identify students with educational needs including present level of performance, measurable goals, appropriate therapeutic priorities and methods to achieve goals
• Provide clear, concise reports analyzing educational impact; determining educational needs and appropriate interventions/strategies.
• Collaborate with a variety of groups and/or individuals (e.g. parents, teachers, physicians, administration, maintenance personnel, team members, other professionals, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information, resolving issues and providing services in compliance with established guidelines.
• Consult with teachers, parents, other personnel and/or outside professionals for the purpose of providing requested information, developing plans for services, making recommendations and/or occupational therapy services with those of other disciplines.
• Provides direct occupational therapy services for the purpose of developing students' daily living skills in compliance with established goals and objectives.
• Provide the necessary equipment for optimal classroom participation.
• Maintain timely communication with the necessary stakeholder groups
• Use appropriate data collection instruments and measures to communicate progress to team, staff, teachers, parents and students of current progress and including the completion of service logs
• Maintains files and/or records (e.g. progress reports, activity logs, treatment plans, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of information as required for reference and/or compliance
• Establish expectations for student behavior through appropriate means, e.g., visual schedules, behavior charts.
• Collaborate with staff to adapt environment, tools, materials, equipment and activities according to the need of the student as well as ordering those supplies, materials, tools and equipment for therapy needs
• Develop and implement evidence-based intervention consistent with the student's needs.
• Select/design assistive devices/adaptive equipment to assist students in meeting educational needs.
• Establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships with the team; contribute positively during interactions with teams/meetings.
• Initiate and respond to parents regarding student progress and therapeutic carry-over in the home.
• Participates in a variety of meetings (e.g. training workshops, seminars, committees, IEP's team meetings, etc.) for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information and growing professionally.
• Establishes and maintains a positive and safe therapeutic environment for students.
• Supports problem-solving at the universal, targeted, and intensive levels through consultation and coaching.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:
Education, Experience, and Licensure (required and preferred):

• Minimum of a Master's Degree
• Graduate of accredited school of Occupational Therapy
• Illinois State Occupational Therapy license from the Division of Professional Regulations
• In compliance with both the American Occupational Therapy Association and National Board of
• Certification for Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric and special education experience preferred
• Valid Illinois Driver's License and access to a reliable and insured vehicle to drive between service provision locations in member districts.
• Experience with 504/IEP writing and implementation preferred

Competencies (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities):

• Oral and written communication skills.
• Critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Ability to initiate and complete work without an inordinate amount of supervision and direction
• Ability to maintain confidentiality in all aspects of the job.
• Proficient use Google Apps for Education, online testing platforms, and school-based processing and management systems.
• Treats others with respect, works with integrity and ethics, and demonstrates teamwork skills.
• Ability to promote and follow Board of Education policies, District policies and building and department procedures.
• Ability to recognize the importance of safety in the workplace, follow safety rules, practice safe work habits, utilize appropriate safety equipment and report unsafe conditions to the appropriate administrator.
• Demonstrate timely and consistent follow-through with paperwork, referrals, reports, logs, Medicaid tracking and other reports as needed or appropriate
• Ability to organize and manage schedule to meet the needs of students and building/teams

Physical Demands:
The job requires light physical exertion (e.g., lifting, carrying materials or supplies, driving, clerical tasks while sitting or standing, and mobility) with the possibility of occasional exertion (e.g., lifting more than 50 lbs.; assisting students or staff during instruction or therapy). Independent transportation is also required because staff frequently work in multiple locations within the Lake Forest community.

Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly subject to inside environmental conditions and is subject to noises associated with both office and educational environments.
The physical demands and work environment 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.

Application Procedure: Interested candidates must apply online. Click here to access the online application.

To learn more about Lake Forest School Districts 67 & 115, visit our website at www.lakeforestschools.org.

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