Do you want to grow your career in An American Classical Education, helping students to live responsible, courageous, and virtuous lives? Ascent Classical Academies is currently hiring a School Occupational Therapist for its Douglas County campus in Lone Tree, Colorado, for the 2023-24 school year.

Ascent Classical Academies are dedicated to the intellectual and moral betterment of students and encourage teachers to take their own moral and intellectual improvement seriously as part of a supportive and excellence-driven culture. At Ascent Classical Academy charter schools, well-educated and articulate faculty utilize direct instruction to convey real knowledge to students using traditional teaching methods. Teachers enjoy a wide array of resources as they create their own lessons within the content-rich curriculum to engage students in a positive and virtue-imbued learning experience in the liberal arts. General education grammar school teachers experience the joy of mastering the key elements of their instruction, such as explicit phonics, Singapore math, Core Knowledge history and science, and English grammar with support from peers within the school and other Ascent Classical Academy network schools.

The occupational therapist works on the acquisition of/or compensations for deficits in fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and self-care skills. More specifically, occupational therapists work with students on foundation skills needed for school participation through task analysis, individually selected motor activities, and consultation with team members to modify the environment, the instructional methodology, or to support student achievement on a particular classroom/vocational project.

The qualified candidate will be responsible for the following functions, and other duties as assigned

• Provide direct individual and group therapy services to students with occupational therapy needs
• Develop and implement IEPs and 504 plans for students with fine motor skills, sensory motor skills, visual motor and visual perception, and self-care skills deficits
• Assess, screen, and evaluate students and effectively share results with parents and educational staff, and participate in eligibility determinations according to Charter School Institute, AOTA, State, and Federal regulations and guidelines
• Maintain ongoing assessment to verify progress toward meeting IEP goals
• Provide consultation to parents and teachers to improve students’ occupational therapy outcomes
• Participate in the school’s MTSS/RtI meetings to design, implement, and monitor student response to research-based interventions for targeted fine motor, sensory motor, visual motor, visual perception and self-care deficits
• Participates in the evaluation and selection of accommodations and adaptive equipment to ensure access to the general education environment for students to with fine motor, sensory motor, visual motor, visual perception and self-care deficits
• Direct and supervise the work and service delivery of an occupational therapist assistant when appropriate

ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete assessments, evaluation reports, and progress reports within expected timelines
• Schedule direct student services according with regard to the needs of students, school, and faculty
• Maintain service logs and progress notes for all students receiving occupational therapy interventions
• Observe students in classroom and unstructured settings as needed to conduct evaluations, monitor student interventions and to provide teacher consultation
• Enter all occupational therapy assessment and progress monitoring data, evaluation reports, and other relevant information into the school’s electronic IEP/504 system as appropriate

Desired Start Date: August 1, 2023, Part-time and Full-time option is available*

Compensation Range and Particulars: $65,000 - $80,000, highly dependent on experience, qualifications, and workload (prorated for part time)

Schedule and Classification: Exempt

Benefits Available for Full Time:

• Competitive compensation package including performance pay and stipends available
• Employee-only coverage for group medical, dental, and vision plan; dependent coverage available
• Health savings account with employer contributions
• Short- and long-term disability and life insurance plans
• Retirement investment account with employer match
• Paid time off for a wide array of health reasons for employees and dependents, consistent with the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Free employee benefit and healthcare guidance
• Paid leave for qualifying events under the Family Medical Leave Act
• Robust teacher training including several weeks of on-site training

Part-Time employees may be eligible for the following benefits:

• Paid leave for qualifying events under the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act
• Retirement investment account with employer match
• Robust teacher training including several weeks of on-site training

• This position may allow flexibility as to schedule, including part-time hours in the appropriate situations.

About Ascent Classical Academies

Ascent Classical Academies partners with a network of classical charter schools based in Colorado delivering a content-rich curriculum in the liberal arts and sciences, with underlying principles in the Western tradition of the study of history, literature, philosophy, and fine arts. Our American Classical Education includes, among other things, the study of Latin; a rich examination of American literary, moral, philosophical, political, and historical tradition; and a school culture centered upon moral virtue, respect, discipline, and studiousness among students and faculty alike. Ascent Classical Academy charter schools currently serve approximately 1,700 students in K-12 campuses located in the Denver and Fort Collins areas of Colorado, with significant expansion planned throughout Colorado, the Carolinas, and beyond.

See Ascent Classical Academy of Northern Colorado and Ascent Classical Academy of Douglas County to learn more about our existing schools.

Qualified candidates will have a strong background in the subject matter, demonstrate high moral character and embrace the virtues of a democratic society. They will also foster professional friendships with faculty and staff, seek collaborative relationships with parents, and mentor students in the pursuit of their own flourishing.

Minimum Job Requirements:

• Some experience delivering occupational therapy services within a school setting preferred
• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accepted institution of higher education
• Valid occupational therapy license issued by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA)
• Colorado Dept of Education-issued Special Services License as an Occupational Therapist
• Familiarity with Federal, State and CSI guidelines for special education
• Expertise with a wide range of standardized and informal assessment procedures to evaluate fine motor, sensory motor, visual motor, visual perception and self-care deficits
• Knowledge of research-based occupational therapy interventions
• Ability to effectively plan for, and efficiently deliver, all occupational therapy services as required
• Ability to effectively communicate effectively in oral and written form
• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with team members
• Ability to use a variety of approaches and materials to address IEP goals that are compatible with students’ age and abilities
• Eligibility to work in the United States
• After offer is accepted, satisfactory background check as required by state law and Colorado Department of Education
• Dedication to the value of a rigorous liberal arts education
• Loyalty to the school and ACA’s mission and vision