Occupational Therapist

Brooklyn Center Community Schools is seeking a skilled, passionate Occupational Therapist to join our team! Currently, this position will primarily support secondary students, but as a district employee, the age group/building each staff is assigned to may change as needed, in order to best support our students’ and community’s needs.

BCCS is looking for applicants driven to uphold our Mission: To become a justice-center school community who fuels each student’s unique genius.

BCCS Core Values – Written on a foundation of students’ voice, our district core values communicate the culture and character of Brooklyn Center Community Schools.

• We stand front and center

• We demonstrate passion, pride, and perseverance

• We acknowledge and disrupt oppressive systems

• Our diversity fuels learning

• We fiercely lead in justice-centered educated

Job Summary: This position is accountable for providing occupational therapy services that include improving, developing, or restoring skills that will enable students to move toward independent functioning regarding physical, mental, emotional, and educational goals. Supports students in their least restrictive educational setting. Supports staff in evaluation, program planning, and environmental issues.

General Characteristics of a Brooklyn Center Occupational Therapist:  Collaborative with all stakeholder groups; Demonstrates a growth mindset with students;  Willingness to learn and advance research-based practice for self and other staff; Focus on creating equitable access and environments; Experience implementing culturally responsive practices; Evidence of data-driven decision making; Evidence of building strong relationships and communication with families; Ability to differentiate for all learners; Professional and collegial.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

• Creates welcoming and safe environments for students, families and staff while building strong, trusting relationships
• Screens, evaluates, and monitors students with disabilities or physical mental impairments for the purpose of providing educational programs, therapeutic intervention, and transition and exit planning and enhancing their ability to perform activities of daily living or participate in desired occupations.
• Collaborates with staff to ensure team understanding of student strengths and needs, as well as student outcomes.
• Evaluates the student’s ability and formulates the student’s occupational profile, providing written reports that reflect strengths and barriers to student participation in the general educational environment. Guides evidence-based intervention.
• Participates in the development of initial and reevaluations for students.
• Participates in the development of Individualized Education Programs.
• Provides targeted, evidence-based therapeutic intervention to facilitate student participation and performance within the school environment.
• Assesses the need for assistive technology and equipment and makes recommendations for its use at school to help students function as independently as possible.
• Documents occupational therapy services and maintains records in accordance with school district policies, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Plans, coordinates, and conducts continuing education for school staff, parents, and students.
• Continues to acquire professional knowledge and learn of current developments in the educational field by attending seminars, workshops, or professional meetings, conducting research, and by maintaining professional relationships.
• Attends meetings and training sessions as required.
• Other duties as assigned.

Essential Knowledge and Specialized Subject Knowledge Required to Perform the Functions of the Job:

• Knowledge and use of occupational therapy theories, models of practice, principles, and evidence-based practice to guide intervention decisions;
• Knowledge of appropriate State and Federal laws and regulations;
• Thorough knowledge of special education principles, practices, and procedures;
• Knowledge of human development throughout the life span and integrates with student’s unique developmental status;
• Knowledge of the influence of disabilities, socio-cultural and socioeconomic factors on student’s ability to participate in occupations;

Required Work Experience, Formal Education/ Training, and Licensure:

• Master’s Degree (Education)
• Previous experience working with diverse populations is preferred. Successful prior experience working as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in an educational or other pediatric practice setting
• Licensed by the Minnesota Department of Health as an Occupational Therapist. Must possess the National Board of Certified Occupational Therapist (NBCOT) designation. Licensed through the Minnesota Department of Education as Occupational Therapist.

Personal, Professional Skills Required to Perform the Work: Ability to articulate a clear direction for all students and staff; articulate a positive image of the school district and school district personnel; Ability to deliver articulate verbal presentations and written reports; Ability to relate and communicate effectively with people of different cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic background; Demonstrated success working effectively in a diverse, collaborative team environment, with skills in promoting cultural inclusiveness; Ability to organize and maintain confidential records; Ability to serve as a member of the professional learning community to promote an educational climate in which students can grow intellectually and emotionally; Skilled in selecting and providing a wide range of intervention strategies and monitoring their effectiveness; Ability to determine the need for an occupational therapy evaluation and to select and administer appropriate assessment tools to evaluate the student; Ability to organize and coordinate work; Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.

Pay and Benefits: Competitive Pay and Benefits based on the teacher contract
Duty Days: 197 new staff, 193 ongoing contract

Why Choose BCCS?

• Flexible and Affordable Health Insurance Options
• Dental Insurance
• Group Life and AD&D Insurance
• Supplemental Life and Dependent Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Pet Insurance
• Full service community school
• Sand Creek: Supportive counseling and coaching
• Breastfeeding Friendly Certified Workplace
• Staff Wellness Opportunities: Annual benefits fair, wellness challenges and campaigns, free yoga and personal trainer sessions
• NeoPath Health Clinic: Onsite medical care to help you improve your overall health and wellness.  The clinic offers all of the primary care services you would expect from a family physician/general practitioner.

We’re not a community on the fringe, we’re a community moving toward a center. Moving in unison with a shift in cultural expectations.  Our voice and achievement will not be disqualified, we’re moving toward a change in history and hearts.  
Standing FRONT AND CENTER so we are seen and heard.

Application Process:
Please select this link to learn more about Brooklyn Center Community Schools:  https://www.bccs286.org/
Please select this link to apply online:   https://www.applitrack.com/brooklyncenterschools/onlineapp/

BROOKLYN CENTER COMMUNITY SCHOOLS IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:  
Brooklyn Center Community Schools is committed to providing equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment in accordance with all applicable Equal Opportunity laws, directives, and regulations of Federal, State, and Local governing bodies or agencies. Brooklyn Center Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, gender identity and expression, disability, age, or status.