Qualifications: Must meet the Michigan Physical Therapist Assistant License criteria.
Experience working with students with disabilities is preferred but not required.
Position Summary: The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) assists the Physical Therapist in providing
direct therapy to students and consultation with the educational team in District classrooms.
Supervision and Controls over the Work: The assistant must implement individually designed interventions according to District guidelines and state licensing regulations. The interventions are planned with the supervising therapist. The assistant is expected to review outcomes and modify intervention programs with the supervising therapist. The supervising physical therapist defines the level of supervision required in the work environment according to District and licensing board standards.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities (depending on specific assignment):
- Provides individualized or small-group direct physical therapy to students whose Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or Individualized Education Program (IEP) contains physical therapy services.
- Assists and supports the physical therapist in developing students’ individualized goals and treatment within the context of the total instructional program by planning with the IEP team.
- Creates instruction per licensing allowance and makes independent decisions in implementing goals with students, as directed by the supervising physical therapist.
- Select and implement therapeutic interventions based on the intervention plan to enhance student performance in movement, safety, and social participation within the school environment.
- Consult with other educational staff, the Physical Therapist, staff from other educational agencies providing services, and parents related to student needs, treatment, and progress.
- Contributes information to multi-disciplinary team meetings assessing student progress.
- Collects, records, monitors, and interprets student progress data. Continuously monitors, through observation and consultation, student progress, the effect of intervention, and the need for continuation,
modification, or termination. Communicates this information to the supervising physical therapist.
- Trains and provides ongoing support to education staff to implement physical therapy programs and intervention techniques that may be delegated, including training on proper student transitions for the safety of the staff member and the student.
- Frequent driving between schools and districts to meet student needs.
- Manages student behavior using intervention techniques devised by the teacher and/or classroom instructional team.
- Participates in planning and program development, including Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Speech and Language Pathologist, Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Physical Education Teacher(s), and classroom staff.
- Maintains, organizes, and prioritizes workload and treatment environments.
- Records service delivery information necessary for the district to bill third-party medical reimbursement. Documents physical therapy intervention services and maintains administrative records under state guidelines, school policy, and reimbursement standards.
Location: Gogebic and Ontonagon Counties
Questions regarding this position may be directed to Heidi Lauzon, Associate Director of Special Education: hlauzon@goisd.org or 906-575-3438, ext 300.
The candidate selected for this position must pass a criminal background check and drug test before being recommended to the Board of Education.
