Job Description:

Location: District
Department: Specialists
Reports To: Assistant Director of Special Education
Term: Ongoing 184-day position at 0.8 FTE starting with the 2025-26 school year
Schedule: Part-time. Schedule TBD with Supervisor.

SUMMARY: The Physical Therapist shall provide direct care to learners with physical disabilities and/or functional limitations by planning and implementing therapy programs, evaluating learner progress, and educating learners and families in appropriate physical therapy methods.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and requirement satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: (Other duties may be assigned)
Collaboration:
Develops positive, effective working relationships with learners and staff.
Communication:
Instructs learners and parents/guardians and other family members of learner’s exercise programs, transfer training, positioning, safety issues, modifications and/or removal of architectural barriers, and use of special delivery services as necessary for the learner.
Effectively communicates with other professionals regarding updating care plans for learners, coordinating services, and/or reporting adverse responses to treatment.
Shares new information with staff on treatment techniques through in-service teaching and timely verbal communication.
Directs and aids learners in active and passive exercises, muscle re-education, gait, functional training, utilizing pulleys and weights, steps and inclined surfaces.
Connects and shares ideas through appropriate/applicable formats to express thoughts and ideas with integrity.
Compassion:
Understands the complexities of cultural and global issues and how they relate to employee and learners’ experiences.
Partners with others to resolve potential controversy and conflict through respectful discussion.
Proactively seeks to understand the ideas, opinions, and skills of others.
Creativity:
Connects with team members and shares ideas in an effort to improve the overall learner and employee experience.
Critical Thinking:
Adapts conventional physical therapy techniques to meet the needs of learners unable to comprehend verbal commands or voluntarily carry out a regiment of therapeutic exercises; educates parents/guardians and family members.
Performs administrative duties including documentation of learner visits, daily, monthly and yearly statistics; short- and long-term goals of department; equipment maintenance, repair and new purchases; coordination with pharmacy for resale purchases.
Reasons, interprets, and analyzes information to generate new knowledge and understanding.
Reflection:
Maintains communication with supervisor and director regarding general feedback, career advancement opportunities, and areas of growth opportunities.
Resilience:
Maintains composure while dealing with stressful situations.
Proactively seeks out resolutions and takes initiative to resolve knowledge gaps.
Responsibility:
Performs manual therapy techniques including soft tissue mobilization, extremity and joint mobilization, medical exercise therapy, myofascial release, and craniofacial therapy.
Performs therapeutic exercise with and without equipment.
Monitors learner progress throughout treatment; prepares and maintains records and reports as appropriate, ensures adherence to procedural safeguards and confidentiality requirements (e.g. progress reports, activity logs, Medicaid or insurance billing information, treatment plans).
Complies with all Medicaid requirements for school-based claiming.
Establishes a safe work environment at each session Ensuring the environment is free from distractions and obstacles.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
While performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this role, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, bend, talk, and hear.
The specific vision abilities required for this role include close and peripheral vision.
The employee may frequently lift up to ~25 pounds without assistance.
The employee may occasionally lift up to ~50 pounds without assistance.
The employee may have to push/pull up to ~120 pounds while performing the duties of the role.
The employee may frequently be required to sit on, and rise from, the floor.
The employee may perform a two-person transport, restraint, or lift (with training provided).
The employee must work with the public and various WFPS staff while simultaneously managing several competing demands.
The employee will work in an environment that has a quiet to loud noise level.
 
Education and/or Experience:
Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT)
Experience as a Physical Therapist is preferred.
Experience managing complex learners behaviors is preferred.
Experience working in a school setting is preferred.
 
Language Skills:
Ability to read, write, and comprehend simple instructions and short correspondences in the English language.
Ability to communicate effectively verbally, expressively, and reactively.
 
Other Skills and Abilities:
Exercise confidentiality, discretion, and good judgment.
Adhere to the assigned work schedule by maintaining regular and punctual attendance.
 
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
None.

Salary: Position follows the 2024-2025 Classified Salary Schedule at PT. Starting salary begins at $41.25-$43.05/hour, based on experience.

To Apply: Please complete the application and include three references.