Occupational Therapist

KIPP New Orleans Schools seeks an Occupational Therapist who helps students with disabilities participate meaningfully and independently in learning and school life. Working alongside students families educators and other service providers the Occupational Therapist identifies barriers to participation and delivers evidence-based services that build functional skills and improve access to instruction school routines and activities.

This role combines direct therapy consultation and staff coaching to help students apply skills throughout the school day. The Occupational Therapist supports inclusive learning environments and contributes to KIPP New Orleans Schools commitment to academically excellent schools and opportunity for every student.

Key Responsibilities

Evaluation and Educational Planning

• Conduct initial evaluations and reevaluations using appropriate assessments observations work samples and input from students families and school teams to identify needs affecting educational participation.

• Assess relevant areas of function including fine motor and visual motor skills sensory processing and regulation access to classroom tools and technology and school-related self-care routines.

• Explain findings in clear accessible language and contribute to team decisions about the need for occupational therapy as a related service.

• Collaborate with Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to develop measurable educationally relevant goals and recommend services accommodations and supports based on student needs.

Therapy and Student Progress

• Provide individual small-group classroom-based and consultative services consistent with students IEPs using approaches that support participation alongside peers.

• Design and adapt interventions that connect to classroom tasks and daily routines including written work use of materials transitions organization and self-care as appropriate to each student.

• Collect and analyze progress data adjust interventions and share timely updates with families and IEP teams. Use evidence of functional progress to inform recommendations for continued revised or discontinued services through the IEP process.

• Recommend and support the use of adaptive materials assistive technology and environmental modifications; train staff and students in their safe effective use.

Collaboration and Capacity Building

• Partner with general and special education teachers school leaders paraprofessionals and related service providers to embed effective strategies into instruction and school routines.

• Model strategies coach staff and provide practical resources that help students use skills consistently across settings and reduce reliance on adult support.

• Build trusting partnerships with families invite their expertise and share understandable recommendations that support student goals.

• Coordinate with outside providers when appropriate and with required consent to support continuity of services and student transitions.

Documentation and Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate timely evaluations service logs progress reports and IEP documentation in designated systems; protect confidential student information.

• Manage schedules and caseload responsibilities across assigned campuses to deliver required services and meet evaluation and reporting timelines. Promptly communicate barriers to service delivery and collaborate on solutions.

• Follow applicable special education requirements professional standards licensure requirements and KNOS procedures. Complete service and reimbursement documentation when applicable.

• Participate in IEP meetings professional learning and team planning; use feedback and current evidence to improve practice. Perform other related duties within the scope of the role.

In support of KIPP New Orleans Schools commitment to providing a safe and orderly learning environment all school-based employees are expected to perform the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Maintain active supervision of students in classrooms hallways common areas and other school settings as assigned to ensure student safety and well-being.
• Be physically present and engaged in assigned work locations during the scheduled workday to fulfill responsibilities requiring in-person interaction with students families and colleagues.
• Respond appropriately to school emergencies and actively participate in emergency response procedures including but not limited to evacuations lockdowns shelter-in-place reunification and other crisis protocols.
• Support student and staff safety by implementing established behavioral expectations and utilizing de-escalation strategies when appropriate consistent with district policies and training.
• Maintain situational awareness and communicate promptly with school leadership and emergency personnel during safety incidents.
• Participate in required safety emergency preparedness and crisis response training.

Qualifications :

Required:

• Degree in occupational therapy or related field from an accredited program that meets Louisiana licensure requirements.

• Current Louisiana Occupational Therapist license in good standing or eligibility to obtain licensure before providing services; current NBCOT certification.

• Knowledge of pediatric development school-based occupational therapy and the IEP process; ability to apply relevant special education requirements and maintain student confidentiality.

• Ability to connect assessment findings to measurable goals select evidence-based interventions and use data to evaluate student progress.

• Strong communication collaboration organization and documentation skills including the ability to manage priorities across school teams.

• Commitment to inclusive culturally responsive practice respectful family partnerships and high expectations for students with disabilities.

• Personal affinity to our mission and vision as well as demonstrated commitment to our 5 core beliefs - Relentlessness Elevation Achievement Community and Hope

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of a professional reference check proof of identity and work authorization (all KNOS employees must complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form) a state background check and verification of teaching experience

Preferred:

• Experience providing occupational therapy in schools or other pediatric settings including collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

• Experience coaching educators and supporting assistive technology adaptive equipment and classroom accommodations.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative but not exhaustive of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements should be able to be performed with clarity coherence and connectedness of the KNOS vision and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job the individual is regularly required to communicate information and ideas effectively so others will understand. 

• Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations including noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds to more moderate situations such as classrooms or large group professional settings.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers and various digital devices and one needs to be able to read analyze and interpret data (emails memos letters etc.) and maintain visual attention and mental concentration for significant periods of time.

• Able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time.

• Must be able to move throughout the school campus including classrooms hallways stairwells playgrounds cafeterias and other instructional or student activity spaces and may be required to stand walk or respond quickly during routine supervision or emergency situations.

• Ability to safely lift and move up to 30 lbs independently

• Duties may require traveling to other school facilities using employees personal transportation.

• This is a full-time 100% on-site position; Regular work hours Monday through Friday will be established with your supervisor. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Work Authorization

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer

Commitments

• Maintain a friendly respectful professional and courteous attitude with all people including all KNOS employees Board members community and philanthropic partners funders and vendors.

• Model superior customer service behavior by maintaining positive relationships with all KNOS stakeholders.

• Contribute as a positive and effective team member; work effectively with other team members to accomplish KNOS goals. 

• Be prompt and available for flexible scheduling; be honest and fair in all professional dealings.

Additional Information :

• Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience and we routinely engage in compensation analysis for all roles across the organization to ensure that we remain competitive in the market. 

• 403(b) retirement plan KNOS matches 100% of employee contribution up to the first 5% of salary and any bonuses. Vested immediately in 403(b).

• KNOS employees are eligible for health and wellbeing benefits starting the first day of the month following their Date of Hire.

• Comprehensive customizable health coverage including disability life insurance hospital indemnity FSAs for health and dependent care and free dental and vision for employees.

• KNOS employees are provided 30 paid holidays and additional paid time off.

• Opportunities for on-going professional development.

Disclaimer:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• This job description shall not constitute or be construed as a promise of employment or as a contract between KNOS and any of its employees.

KIPP New Orleans Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

At KIPP New Orleans Schools we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race color religion or belief national social or ethnic origin sex (including pregnancy) age disability sexual orientation gender identity and/or expression marital status veteran service genetic information family or parental status or any other status in accordance with applicable federal state and local laws. KNOS expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on any of the characteristics listed here. Improper interference with the ability of KNOS employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

KNOS complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the KNOS has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment including but not limited to hiring placement promotion termination layoff recall transfer leaves of absence compensation and training.

Contact Us:

Please contact our regional Talent Team at with any questions.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time