Speech and Language Pathologist (2021-2022)

ABOUT US

The Primary School is creating a new school model that brings together all of the adults in a child’s life, including parents, educators, and medical and mental health providers, starting from a very early age. We recognize the entrenched racism that exists within our public systems and the unjust impact this has had on families of color. Our aim is that children and families most impacted by systemic poverty and racism receive the multidisciplinary support they deserve to be well, learn, and thrive.

Long-term, we hope to create a game-changing school model that can be replicated across the country. As we continue to learn and grow, we plan to share what we’ve learned and pursue policy and systems change on a local, state, and national level. We are proud to receive funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, a major national philanthropy.

Our approach has three defining characteristics:

• We start early. We start working with children as young as 8 months and provide full-time school starting at age three to reach them at a critical stage in development.
• We partner with parents. We believe that when parents thrive, children thrive, so we support the wellness and growth of parents alongside the growth of their children.
• We integrate services. Our unique model unites health care and education, building a multi-disciplinary team and holistic system of care around a child’s full needs.

In 2016, we opened our flagship school in East Palo Alto, California, with our first class of four year olds. We have grown to serve over 300 children and their families through a birth to three program, parent wellness program, full-day preschool, and elementary school, which will grow through eighth grade. In 2020, we began programming at our second site in Hayward, California.

ABOUT OUR EAST PALO ALTO SITE

We are continuing to grow our East Palo Alto site and are excited to launch 4th grade for our 2021-2022 school year. In our school we currently serve ~250 students across two preschool grades (3 and 4 year olds), kindergarten, first grade, second grade and third grade. Beyond school, core components of our model include partnering closely with parents throughout their child’s development and supporting parent wellness; coordinating early screening and developmental support; and working with existing health care providers in the community to coordinate care for children.

ABOUT THE ROLE

At The Primary School we are committed to supporting all children in developing expressive, receptive, and social language skills. We are looking for someone to join our team who is excited to build a program that creatively serves all children in achieving goals around speech, language and pragmatics and supports teachers and families in building environments where language is prioritized.

The Speech and Language Pathologist reports to the Special Education Manager and is responsible for delivering direct services to children with identified needs, collaborating with teachers and support staff on integrated support plans, and may serve as case manager for students with IEPs driven by speech and language needs. The SLP will provide small group and individual services both in the classroom and outside the classroom while also collaborating with teachers about in-class supports.

Responsibilities

The Speech and Language Pathologist will be part of our Integrated Supports team, helping ensure that all children at The Primary School receive the support they need to be successful at school.

• Provide direct services for students identified with specific speech and language needs.
• Support the school team in formal and informal screening and assessment of children with specific speech and language needs or concerns.
• Build capacity of staff and parents by modeling best practices, and creating plans to help generalize the work done with the speech therapist to the classroom and other environments.
• Work with school district partners to report progress and recommend goals for students with identified speech and language needs.
• Design and monitor curriculum modifications.
• Utilize online systems for goal tracking, collaboration and family communication
• Work with parents to ensure understanding of student’s needs and progress, and provide tools to support children at home.
• Work with a team of service providers and program designers to create and implement professional development and coaching to support teachers and parents in building environments that are responsive to student language needs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s Degree in speech-language pathology
• Current California license in speech and language pathology,
• Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC), and at least 1-3 years working in the field, preferred
• CFY and SLPA candidates also considered
• A strong commitment to supporting the highest need students in succeeding both socially and academically.
• A background working with young children (aged 3 - 9), English Language Learners, and supporting both teachers and families.
• A drive to work in a high energy start-up environment.
• A flexible mindset and desire to jump in across programming wherever support is needed.
• A plus if you have experience in a special day or cross-categorical classroom.
• A plus if you have experience working with diverse populations of kids and families.

A Plus If

• You speak fluent Spanish.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear, and communicate with both adults and children. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is moderate to high.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience, plus excellent health benefits, 401k retirement plan, flexible spending account (FSA), dependent care FSA, and generous paid time off, including a competitive paid parental leave benefit.