Occupational Therapist

Job Description

KIPP New Orleans Schools seeks an Occupational Therapist who helps students with disabilities participate meaningfully and independently in learning and school life. Working alongside students, families, educators, and other service providers, the Occupational Therapist identifies barriers to participation and delivers evidence-based services that build functional skills and improve access to instruction, school routines, and activities.

This role combines direct therapy, consultation, and staff coaching to help students apply skills throughout the school day. The Occupational Therapist supports inclusive learning environments and contributes to KIPP New Orleans Schools’ commitment to academically excellent schools and opportunity for every student.

Key Responsibilities

Evaluation and Educational Planning

• Conduct initial evaluations and reevaluations using appropriate assessments, observations, work samples, and input from students, families, and school teams to identify needs affecting educational participation.

• Assess relevant areas of function, including fine motor and visual motor skills, sensory processing and regulation, access to classroom tools and technology, and school-related self-care routines.

• Explain findings in clear, accessible language and contribute to team decisions about the need for occupational therapy as a related service.

• Collaborate with Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to develop measurable, educationally relevant goals and recommend services, accommodations, and supports based on student needs.

Therapy and Student Progress

• Provide individual, small-group, classroom-based, and consultative services consistent with students’ IEPs, using approaches that support participation alongside peers.

• Design and adapt interventions that connect to classroom tasks and daily routines, including written work, use of materials, transitions, organization, and self-care, as appropriate to each student.

• Collect and analyze progress data, adjust interventions, and share timely updates with families and IEP teams. Use evidence of functional progress to inform recommendations for continued, revised, or discontinued services through the IEP process.

• Recommend and support the use of adaptive materials, assistive technology, and environmental modifications; train staff and students in their safe, effective use.

Collaboration and Capacity Building

• Partner with general and special education teachers, school leaders, paraprofessionals, and related service providers to embed effective strategies into instruction and school routines.

• Model strategies, coach staff, and provide practical resources that help students use skills consistently across settings and reduce reliance on adult support.

• Build trusting partnerships with families, invite their expertise, and share understandable recommendations that support student goals.

• Coordinate with outside providers when appropriate and with required consent to support continuity of services and student transitions.

Documentation and Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate, timely evaluations, service logs, progress reports, and IEP documentation in designated systems; protect confidential student information.

• Manage schedules and caseload responsibilities across assigned campuses to deliver required services and meet evaluation and reporting timelines. Promptly communicate barriers to service delivery and collaborate on solutions.

• Follow applicable special education requirements, professional standards, licensure requirements, and KNOS procedures. Complete service and reimbursement documentation when applicable.

• Participate in IEP meetings, professional learning, and team planning; use feedback and current evidence to improve practice. Perform other related duties within the scope of the role.

In support of KIPP New Orleans Schools' commitment to providing a safe and orderly learning environment, all school-based employees are expected to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Maintain active supervision of students in classrooms, hallways, common areas, and other school settings as assigned to ensure student safety and well-being.
• Be physically present and engaged in assigned work locations during the scheduled workday to fulfill responsibilities requiring in-person interaction with students, families, and colleagues.
• Respond appropriately to school emergencies and actively participate in emergency response procedures, including but not limited to evacuations, lockdowns, shelter-in-place, reunification, and other crisis protocols.
• Support student and staff safety by implementing established behavioral expectations and utilizing de-escalation strategies when appropriate, consistent with district policies and training.
• Maintain situational awareness and communicate promptly with school leadership and emergency personnel during safety incidents.
• Participate in required safety, emergency preparedness, and crisis response training.

Qualifications

Required:

• Degree in occupational therapy or related field from an accredited program that meets Louisiana licensure requirements.

• Current Louisiana Occupational Therapist license in good standing, or eligibility to obtain licensure before providing services; current NBCOT certification.

• Knowledge of pediatric development, school-based occupational therapy, and the IEP process; ability to apply relevant special education requirements and maintain student confidentiality.

• Ability to connect assessment findings to measurable goals, select evidence-based interventions, and use data to evaluate student progress.

• Strong communication, collaboration, organization, and documentation skills, including the ability to manage priorities across school teams.

• Commitment to inclusive, culturally responsive practice, respectful family partnerships, and high expectations for students with disabilities.

• Personal affinity to our mission and vision, as well as demonstrated commitment to our 5 core beliefs - Relentlessness, Elevation, Achievement, Community, and Hope

• Offers are contingent upon successful completion of a professional reference check, proof of identity and work authorization (all KNOS employees must complete an I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form), a state background check, and verification of teaching experience

Preferred:

• Experience providing occupational therapy in schools or other pediatric settings, including collaboration with multidisciplinary teams.

• Experience coaching educators and supporting assistive technology, adaptive equipment, and classroom accommodations.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

The physical demands and environmental conditions described below are representative, but not exhaustive, of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the role. All of these physical requirements should be able to be performed with clarity, coherence, and connectedness of the KNOS vision, and reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the individual is regularly required to communicate information and ideas effectively so others will understand. 

• Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations, including noisy environments such as cafeterias and playgrounds, to more moderate situations such as classrooms or large group professional settings.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

• This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers and various digital devices, and one needs to be able to read, analyze, and interpret data (emails, memos, letters, etc.) and maintain visual attention and mental concentration for significant periods of time.

• Able to sit and work at a desk/computer for extended periods of time.

• Must be able to move throughout the school campus, including classrooms, hallways, stairwells, playgrounds, cafeterias, and other instructional or student activity spaces, and may be required to stand, walk, or respond quickly during routine supervision or emergency situations.

• Ability to safely lift and move up to 30 lbs independently

• Duties may require traveling to other school facilities using employee's personal transportation.

• This is a full-time, 100% on-site position; Regular work hours, Monday through Friday, will be established with your supervisor. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

Work Authorization

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer

Commitments

• Maintain a friendly, respectful, professional and courteous attitude with all people, including all KNOS employees, Board members, community and philanthropic partners, funders, and vendors.

• Model superior customer service behavior by maintaining positive relationships with all KNOS stakeholders.

• Contribute as a positive and effective team member; work effectively with other team members to accomplish KNOS goals. 

• Be prompt and available for flexible scheduling; be honest and fair in all professional dealings.

Additional Information

• Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience, and we routinely engage in compensation analysis for all roles across the organization to ensure that we remain competitive in the market. 

• 403(b) retirement plan – KNOS matches 100% of employee contribution up to the first 5% of salary and any bonuses. Vested immediately in 403(b).

• KNOS employees are eligible for health and wellbeing benefits starting the first day of the month following their Date of Hire.

• Comprehensive, customizable health coverage, including disability, life insurance, hospital indemnity, FSAs for health and dependent care, and free dental and vision for employees.

• KNOS employees are provided ~30 paid holidays and additional paid time off.

• Opportunities for on-going professional development.

Disclaimer:

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

• This job description shall not constitute or be construed as a promise of employment or as a contract between KNOS and any of its employees.

KIPP New Orleans Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer:

At KIPP New Orleans Schools, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran service, genetic information, family or parental status, or any other status in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. KNOS expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on any of the characteristics listed here. Improper interference with the ability of KNOS employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

KNOS complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the KNOS has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Contact Us:

Please contact our regional Talent Team at [email protected] with any questions.