Job Summary

Salem School District is seeking a dedicated and collaborative Occupational Therapist to join our K-5 elementary team. This role is focused on helping students develop the functional skills necessary to access their educational curriculum, participate in school routines, and succeed within the classroom environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Comprehensive Assessment: Administer, score, and interpret standardized and clinical assessments related to fine motor, visual-motor, sensory processing, and activities of daily living (ADL) skills to determine educational need.
• Functional Analysis: Evaluate the intersection of student physical and sensory capabilities with environmental demands to identify barriers to academic participation and independence.
• Goal Development: Draft measurable, data-driven IEP goals and objectives that focus on functional outcomes and classroom access.
• IEP Collaboration: Serve as the subject matter expert during Eligibility and IEP meetings, articulating how motor and sensory challenges impact a student's ability to engage with the curriculum.
• Classroom Integration: Consult with General Education and Special Education teachers to implement ergonomic seating, sensory diets, and fine motor interventions that benefit the student within the flow of the school day.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all evaluations, documentation, and service delivery records strictly adhere to IDEA, state licensure, and school district standards.

Required Qualifications & Credentials

• Education: Master's in Occupational Therapy (MOT, MSOT, or OTD) from an ACOTE-accredited program.
• National Certification: Must hold current National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) registration.
• State Licensure: Must hold (or be eligible for) a valid New Hampshire Board of Allied Health Professionals license as an Occupational Therapist and New Hampshire Department of Education (NHDOE) educator certification (or eligibility).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in K-5 developmental milestones, with a deep understanding of sensory integration, fine/gross motor development, and executive function as it relates to classroom mechanics.
• Proficiency in recommending and training staff on assistive technology (AT) and adaptive equipment to support student independence.
• Ability to translate clinical observations into practical, teacher-friendly strategies that do not disrupt the learning environment.
• Strong organizational skills to manage a diverse caseload across multiple buildings while maintaining clear and timely communication with families and administrative teams.