Speech Language Pathologist 2025-2026

Speech Language Pathologist

REPORTS TO:  Special Education Coordinator/Principal

DEPARTMENT: Student Services 

POSITION OVERVIEW 

The speech language pathologist (SLP) is responsible for identifying, assessing, and providing intervention services to students with communication disorders or delays.  The SLP ensures that students have the necessary communication skills to access and benefit from their educational environment.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS 

• Employment terms covering compensation, benefits, and working conditions are specified by the Board of Education’s policies, procedures, and agreements.
• SDNEA salary schedule, depending on education and experience.
• 10 month employment is based on an annual evaluation in accordance with this job description. 
• FLSA Status: Exempt 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience 

• Master’s degree in communication disorders required.  

• Speech/language teaching experience in schools or other comparable settings preferred. 

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations 

• Missouri licensure in Speech Pathology or SPCH/LANG SPCL K-12 required

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Schedules and instructs students in assigned schools

• Acts as a member of an evaluation team to screen, evaluate and find students eligible for speech-language impairments, attend eligibility conferences and submit written reports of assessment results to meet with state compliance requirements.
• Assesses the strengths and weaknesses of assigned students on a regular basis collects and analyzes data systematically
• Develops IEPs and implements educational learning plans to meet the speech-language needs, interests, and abilities of the students on caseload. Provides written evidence of daily and long-range instructional planning.
• Encourages students to set and maintain appropriate standards of behavior by implementing all district policies and rules governing student conduct, developing reasonable rules of classroom behavior, and maintaining classroom order in a fair and just manner.
• Plays an integral role in the intervention process.  Provides strategies, interventions and guidance to general educators as well as special educators to allow for student success. 
• Employs a variety of instructional and therapeutic techniques, interventions, and media consistent with the physical limitations of the location and capabilities of the students.
• Implements through instruction and action the district’s philosophy of education and instructional goals and objectives.
• On a regular basis, assesses student’s progress toward instructional goals and objectives.  Provides progress reports; maintains accurate, complete student records as required by law, district policy, and administrative regulations.  Provides written evidence of routine data collection and analysis.
• Takes necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials and facilities.
• Consistent with building requirements for faculty, makes self reasonably available to students and parents for education-related issues outside the instructional day.
• Plans, supervises, and evaluates the performance of teacher assistant(s) and/or aide(s) cooperatively with principal/area coordinator, when applicable
• Attends staff meetings and in-service training sessions, serves on staff committees as required, and continues education to enhance professional development.

Professional Responsibilities

• Communicates and works collaboratively with stakeholders 
• Promotes a positive image of Special School District
• Maintains the dignity of others and confidentiality of information
• Maintains regular attendance, follows assigned work schedule, and complies with attendance procedures
• Adheres to Special School District’s policies and procedures, including but not limited to the Board of Education Policies 
• Complies with applicable legal, regulatory, and procedural expectations in the workplace
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The requirements described below represent the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Communication Skills 

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and policy and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively one-on-one and before groups.

Mathematical Skills  

• Ability to collect and graph skill programming and behavior data, add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals, and percentages.

Reasoning Skills

• Ability to problem-solve and apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written and/or oral diagram form.

Technical Skills

• The ability to utilize a variety of assessment tools and data collection systems.  The ability to use an electronic IEP system.  

Physical Requirements 

• While performing the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate, stand, move and walk at a brisk pace, sit, and use hands and arms to handle, feel and reach.  The position requires the ability to accompany students anywhere on school premises.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop or kneel and occasionally lift and move up to 30 pounds.  Additionally, the employee must be physically able to implement all Board of Education Policies, District procedures, and to perform Nonviolent Crisis Intervention training and techniques. The employee must be physically able to react and intervene quickly during crisis situations, such as but not limited to the following circumstances: student elopement, physical altercations involving students, or any situation that requires physical intervention to maintain student safety.  Yearly NCI training with participation in physical intervention strategies is a requirement for the job.

Environmental Requirements

• Noise levels may vary based on the activity and the location.  Work is primarily completed indoors, while outdoor activities may occur as well.  The ability to commute between buildings and districts may be part of the assignment.  Moving between sitting and standing occurs frequently. 
• There may be some instances where travel to different school sites or locations for training or district events is required.  

Disclaimer  

The information contained in this job description is not an exhaustive list of the duties  performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently  holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.  

Board Approved:  October 2003

Date/s Revised: February 2011; August 2013; February 2019; July 2022; December 2023; October 2024; February 2025

Salary : $52,635 - $79,217