School Based Occupational Therapist

The job in one paragraph

You own your caseload end to end, from the first evaluation through IEP goals and treatment, working side by side with teachers, families and the rest of the school team. It is pediatric practice with a school schedule attached: five 7 hour days with a half hour lunch, and paid time off whenever the schools close for breaks, holidays and snow days. School based or pediatric experience helps, but it is genuinely not required here.

What you would actually be doing

• Evaluating. Screening, evaluating and re‑evaluating students with standardized and non‑standardized assessments, then turning what you find into clear, measurable goals.
• Treating. Delivering treatment built around each student's IEP in the therapy room, the classroom and other settings the district designates, including teletherapy when the district calls for it.
• Equipment and access. Designing, adapting and maintaining equipment for positioning, self care and classroom access, and helping the school spot accessibility barriers before they become problems.
• Coaching the adults. Showing teachers and aides how to handle positioning and equipment, and how to weave therapy goals into ordinary classroom activities.
• Working with families. Talking through progress and carryover at home, and showing up for IEP meetings, annual reviews and parent conferences.
• Documentation. Daily notes, progress reports and evaluations that meet NYSED, Medicaid and district standards, done on time.
• Supervision and teaching. Clinical supervision of an OTA when one is assigned, plus in‑services that pass what you know to the rest of the team.

What you need to be considered

• A bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited occupational therapy program.
• A New York State OT license, kept current with triennial registration.
• Strong, clear writing for evaluations and progress notes, and comfort with Word and Google Docs.
• The organization to manage a caseload and its documentation independently.
• A warm, steady presence with students, and the confidence to collaborate with teachers and parents.
• Ability to complete NYS fingerprint clearance through the TEACH system and a pre‑employment physical with immunization records.

What moves you up the list

None of this is required. It is what will make the employer want to interview you sooner.

• School based practice. If you have written IEP goals and sat in a CSE meeting, say so plainly.
• Pediatric experience of any kind. Early intervention, outpatient peds, clinic or hospital all count.
• Standardized assessment depth. The tools you are trained on and comfortable administering.
• OTA supervision. Experience directing an assistant under New York supervision rules.
• Teletherapy. Districts ask for it periodically, so prior experience is useful.
• A realistic Niagara County commute. The role is in district, so the drive has to work five days a week.

The details

How this works from here

1. You send your resume

   Use the form below. It takes about two minutes and it goes straight to Jamie, not into a queue.

2. Jamie calls you

   A real conversation about what you have done, what you are looking for, and whether this seat is honestly a fit. If it is not, he will tell you that instead of wasting your time.

3. He presents you to the employer

   With context, not just a resume attachment. You will know exactly who you are being sent to before he sends you.

4. You interview, and you get prepped first

   You will know who is in the room, what they care about, and what they have passed on other people for. Then you get honest feedback either way.

Apply for this role

Resume plus four fields. Jamie reads every one of these himself.