JOB TITLE:                                       Physical Therapist
JOB SUMMARY:                           Position assesses, plans, and implements physical therapy services for children from birth to 21; collaborates and establishes good relationships with parents and other staff members.
EMPLOYEE CATEGORY:             Support Services

FLSA STATUS:                                ?Exempt       ?Non-Exempt

EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:  Contract – Salary with Benefits

WORK PERIOD:                             Defined by Contract
REPORTS TO:                                 Special Education Director

WORKS WITH:                               Administrators, certified staff, support staff, classified staff
 

POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

EDUCATION LEVEL:                        Degree from accredited program.

REQUIRED CERTIFICATION:        Certification as required by the State of South Dakota.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:        Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to use phone and computer; see and read computer screen and printed material with or without visual aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors, and on phone; and, to bend, stoop, sit on floor, climb stairs, walk and reach overhead.  May be required to meet sometimes strenuous physical requirements necessary to safely and effectively perform assigned duties including lifting 50 pounds on a regular basis and periodically lifting in excess of 50 pounds with assistance.  Must be able to lift and position students with disabilities with assistance; control behavior through physical restraint; assist non-ambulatory students; take appropriate action in emergency situations; and, follow procedures in a calm, responsible manner.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT:        Usually works indoors in a climate controlled environment.  Some duties may occasionally be performed outdoors or away from school.

 

TEA AREA BEHAVIORS OF EXCELLENCE:

1.       Ability to embrace the organization’s mission.

2.       Be responsible and follow through with important actions.

3.       Do the right thing even when no one is looking.

4.       Maintain confidentiality and respect privacy at all times.

5.       Ability to establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships.

6.       Work together in a supportive manner by being dependable, trustworthy and flexible.

7.       Take personal ownership to improve.

8.       Communicate with sincerity, honesty and respect.

9.       Maintain a high degree of professionalism.

 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Teaches motorically impaired students in accordance with approved programs and professional standards.
2. Provides itinerant services on a district wide basis as dictated by student needs in sensory and motor disorders.
3. Participates in identification, assessment, and IEP development and development and delivery for eligible students.
4. Maintains student records regarding the referral, evaluation, and placement process in compliance with district, state, and federal requirements.
5. Participates in IEP/placement conferences and communicates with parents on a routine basis keeping them informed about their child’s developmental progress.
6. Utilizes therapy techniques consistent with the research on characteristics of effective occupational and physical therapy.
7. Establishes student success as a primary teaching goal and provides opportunities for students to experience success.
8. Promotes achievement in the areas of gross motor for qualified students.
9. Monitors student effort providing continuous feedback to students of progress.
10. Establishes a learning climate that promotes the orderly behavior of all students while maintaining the dignity and positive self-concept of each student.
11. Develops prerequisites for gross motor coordination.
    1. Facilitates neuromuscular and neurodevelopmental maturation.
    2. Develops automatic balance reactions and promotes trunk control for upright postures.
    3. Develops appropriate movement patterns in legs and feet.
    4. Range of motion in trunk, legs, and feet.
    5. Increases strength, coordination, and endurance.
12. Develops and promotes mobility including:
    1. Promotes and refines all appropriate levels of gross motor development.
    2. Develops independent walking, crawling, and creeping.
    3. Uses wheelchairs.
    4. Uses assistive devises such as crutches, canes, walkers, adapted tricycles.
    5. Uses prosthetic lower extremities.
13. Consults with and trains staff in the following areas:
    3. Safety/transfer.
    4. Equipment
14. Develops and monitors programs designed to improve breathing and postural drainage.
15. Provides for the well-being, health, and safety of all students.
16. Adheres to the direction of administration and respond to administrative supervision.
17. Maintains accurate, complete, and correct records as required by law, District policy, and administrative regulation.
18. Continues personal professional growth and upgrading of skills.
19. Completes all trainings and other compliance requirements as assigned by designated deadline.
20. Respects and practices confidentiality both in and out of school with regard to records, activities, and communications relating to all students, parents/guardians, and staff.
21. Performs other duties as assigned.

 

DISCLAIMER:      The preceding description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required.  These may be changed, added or deleted at any time with or without notice.  Personnel may be required to perform duties outside the scope of their normal responsibilities if needed.  The Tea Area School District reserves the right to revise this description at any time.

 

The District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, genetic information, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local law, ordinance, or regulation.