Job Description

Description

Organization Overview

Excel Academy was founded in 2003 with the mission to provide a high-quality, free, and public education to students in East Boston and Chelsea Massachusetts, communities that are predominantly low-income and Latinx and historically have faced significant social and educational barriers. Our success in Massachusetts is proof that the opportunity gap can be closed and we opened a new school in Rhode Island in 2022.  At Excel Academy Charter Schools, we believe that when a student has the support and tools to pursue a productive post-secondary pathway aligned to their personal identity and values, it can fundamentally change their life trajectory.  

At Excel Academy we learn from our students, families, and staff and make improvements. We have increasingly adapted to provide a holistic education that values our community as collaborators in the learning process, social-emotional support, equity for diverse learners, and fosters identity development. We prioritize an approach that is both rigorous and inclusive. Our team of passionate, intelligent, driven, and loving staff are at the core of the work we do. 

About the Role

The Network Speech Language Pathologist Assistant position is designed to encompass direct service to students with speech and language needs. This position works across two Excel MA campuses and will report to the Speech Language Pathologist. The SLP-A will perform a variety of essential responsibilities, including (but not limited to):

Essential Functions & Responsibilities 

Direct Support of Student Learning: Ensure students receiving special education and/or 504 accommodations make significant academic gains towards meeting their IEP or 504 plan goals, in line with the school’s Big Goals

• With the support of the Speech Language Pathologist plan and provide speech and/or language therapy to students on caseload

• Support students’ development in pragmatic, receptive or expressive language, language memory, articulation, etc. as dictated by their learning profile and IEP

• Ensure that implementation of any Speech and Language services is in compliance with student IEP requirements

• Provide speech and language support in the context of students’ content classes

• Support and innovate methods of intervention to support students’ progress in language development and content classes (assistive technology, accommodations, explicit strategies)

• Collect and keep progress monitoring data on all students

• Communicate regularly with Learning Specialists and core teachers to ensure that students receive meaningful and pertinent instruction

Administrative Responsibilities: With support of Learning Specialists, manage administrative aspects of providing a special education service

• Evaluation and IEP Process Responsibilities

• Act as part of an evaluation and diagnostic team for new and three-year evaluations, or for articulation screens

• Support the Speech Language Pathologist to schedule testing, coordinate with learning specialists, write comprehensive evaluation report of results, attend evaluation meetings and present findings

• Support the Speech Language Pathologist to use assessment tools to determine student present levels of educational performance, eligibility for special education services and for speech and language services, and to develop recommendations for the student’s IEP team if appropriate. More specifically: 

• CELF, TOWL, TOPS, TONL, CASL

• Contribute to all required paperwork (e.g. IEPs, 504s, IEP Progress Reports etc.) ensuring deadlines are met and information is accurately recorded

• With the support and supervision of the Speech Language Pathologist write IEP goals that align with service delivery, monitor and report on progress towards goals each Trimester / Marking Period

Family Relations: With support of school administrators, manage relationships between Excel and families on issues related to Speech and Language therapy 

• Maintain and document regular contact with families of students receiving services, informing them of successes and setbacks, and always acting as an available resource for questions/concerns

• Gather feedback from families of Special Education students with end-of-year evaluation surveys

Support for Teachers: With the support of the Speech Language Pathologist instruct/assist teachers on issues related to Speech and Language, specifically: 

• Consult with Learning Specialists to support instruction for students with speech and language needs, and support their creation of effective accommodations (as dictated by IEPs)

• Work with general education teachers as needed to ensure that language needs within the classroom are met

• Communicate effectively with teachers on an ongoing basis regarding needs and progress of Special Education students 

Community: Serve as a productive member of the Excel community

• Align student support services with the school’s mission and educational philosophy

• Cultivate key relationships within the student supports department at school locations you serve; escalate concerns and needs to ensure that they do not serve as barriers to your success with students 

• Collaborate with special education teachers and other service providers in line with student IEPs and to ensure that students are able to make meaningful progress; escalate concerns or mismatched services to IEP team chairs or to your direct supervisor 

• Participate in generating and upholding Excel Staff norms

• Follow the appropriate protocol when absent to request coverage

• Meaningfully participate in Friday meetings, school and Department Professional Development meetings

• Communicate frequently with the families of your students, attend Family Conferences

• Do whatever it takes to ensure that the mission of the school is fulfilled.

Qualifications

• Massachusetts Speech Language Pathologist Assistant  license required

• Preference will be given to applicants who share points of intersection with our students, such as speaking Spanish, Portuguese, or Arabic at an advanced level, being first generation college graduates, or having grown up low-income;

• A commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;

• A commitment to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;

• The ability to focus and thrive in a fast paced, entrepreneurial environment;

• The ability to work effectively in a team environment and the willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and

• An openness to change, a willingness to problem-solve, and an interest in receiving feedback for continuous improvement.

Mission Alignment

• You share a commitment to and belief in all students and the mission of Excel Academy Charter Schools, including Excel’s values and educational model;

• You are committed to addressing racial and economic inequity in education;

• You work effectively in a team environment and have a willingness and desire to support others in doing their best work; and

• You are open to change, are willing to problem-solve, and seek feedback for your own professional growth and improvement.

Excel Academy Charter Schools do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, athletic performance, special need, proficiency in the English language or a foreign language or prior academic achievement.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

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