SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

*Bonus eligibility: Beginning with the 2024-25 school year Wilkes County Schools will offer an annual bonus to newly hired speech-language pathologists. New hires must be actively employed annually on March 1st. The bonus will be paid during the March payroll. Bonus amounts will be prorated by hire date if hired after the start of the school calendar year for certified employees. Bonus amounts will be prorated for employees not employed 100%. Any employee who separates employment between April 1st and the end of the school calendar year will be required to reimburse a prorated portion of the bonus amount. Bonus amounts include: $7,000 first year of employment, $5,000 second year of employment, and $3,000 for the third year of employment. 

Wilkes County Schools provides a robust variety of state and local benefit offerings that include but are not limited to health insurance, annual leave, sick leave, holiday pay, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, state pension plan, and other ancillary benefits. Benefit eligibility is determined by job status and percentage of employment. In addition, Wilkes County Schools offers a local salary supplement of 5%.

NATURE OF WORK

Assists students with special communicative needs to sue the maximum communication possible.  Employee is responsible for assisting identified speech-language delayed/impaired students to achieve their communicative potential both receptively through listening comprehension and/or expressively through oral expression.  Employee coordinates services with the student’s educational staff and family.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizes the school program, cooperates with others to accomplish its goals, coordinates program services with other student services and maintains records in accordance with established rules, regulations and ethical standards.

Conducts screening and testing, obtains diagnostic information, analyzes information and makes recommendations regarding programs and services.  The speech-language specialist can supervise speech-language assistants and clinical fellows working on ASHA certification.

Develops individual education plans for each speech-language eligible child in collaboration with the classroom teacher, parent, LEA representative and other pertinent professionals.

Plans therapy and uses appropriate diagnostic tools and therapy techniques to support the curriculum.  The employee manages time, facilities and resources to facilitate delivery of services.  The employee promotes effective interpersonal relations and engages in continuing professional growth.

Provides consultation, seeks assistance of others, uses related research and makes recommendations and referrals for the implementation of services.

Completes random moment in time studies as required by MAC program guidelines.

Performs other related work as required.

MINIMUM TRAINING

Must have a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology.  Must have a G license from the NC Department of Public Instruction.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment and tools including computer software, computer hardware, cables, etc.  Must be able to exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 5 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. 

Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving and receiving instructions, assignments and/or directions from superiors.

Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, technical manuals, newsletters, trade journals, etc.  Requires the ability to prepare reports, forms, training materials, documentation, etc., using prescribed formats.

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including computer terminology.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Thorough knowledge of the theory, principles and methods of speech pathology and their proper application in the educational environment.

Considerable knowledge of appropriate evaluating tools.

Considerable knowledge of the equipment and assistive technology available to use in therapy.

Considerable knowledge of current literature, trends and developments in the field of speech pathology.

General knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.

Skill in directly providing a wide range of treatment activities.

Ability to select and administer appropriate assessment and treatment methods.

Ability to plan, coordinate and conduct on-the-job training and continuing education for a variety of individuals.

Ability to screen, evaluate and provide required speech pathology services.

Ability to develop and implement individualized programs.

Ability to accurately document sessions.

Ability to maintain adequate inventory of supplies.

Ability to maintain complete and accurate records and to develop simple reports from those records.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

REPORTS TO:     Exceptional Children’s Director

FSLA STATUS:    Exempt

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification.  It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this job.