KIPP Texas Public Schools is a nonprofit public charter school network, dedicated to preparing students in educationally underserved communities for college success and choice-filled lives. Today, KIPP Texas operates 59 public charter schools educating over 31,100 students across four regions – Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. KIPP schools are part of the free public school system and enrollment is open to all students. Nationwide, KIPP students complete four-year college at a rate of 36 percent, comparable to the national average for all students and approximately three times higher than the average of students from low-income families.

The Lead Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) is responsible for: providing guidance and support to regional Speech-Language Pathologists and Speech-Language Pathology Assistants; and working in tandem with the Houston Director of Special Populations and the KIPP Texas Program Manager of Speech-Language services to make continuous improvements to regional and district wide speech-language services. The Lead Speech-Language Pathologist is also responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and treating students in grades K-12 with speech (including articulation, phonological, voice, resonance, and fluency disorders), language, and social communication disorders. He/she also serves as a campus consultant for staff, teachers, and parents on issues related to speech and language development. The Lead SLP is responsible for maintaining accurate clinical records for students receiving speech therapy. This position furthers the mission of KIPP Texas as it helps ensure that all students with communication disorders receive the specialized interventions they need to make meaningful progress and lead a life of choice.  

Key Responsibilities

Lead speech-language services (SLS) team in the region

• Report to and work in partnership with both the KIPP Texas Program Manager of Speech-Language Services and the Houston Director of Special Populations to: (a) align practices (where needed) across all four regions over time; (b) make continuous improvements to SLS regionally and as a whole; and (c) develop SLS teammates
• Support SLS team in successfully carrying out region-specific procedures
• Serve as an exemplar SLP

Evaluate and reevaluate students with speech impairments

• Support general education teachers in identifying students at-risk for communication disorders
• Administer screening tests, collect teacher and parent report, and conduct records reviews to determine steps following a referral
• Design in-classroom interventions if student is a good candidate for response-to-intervention
• Lead multidisciplinary meetings to obtain parental consent for initial evaluations
• Evaluate students to determine eligibility for services and/or present levels of performance for the purpose of developing an individualized education plan (IEP)
• Participate in Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee meetings to interpret assessment results and to discuss present levels of performance, proposed goals, accommodations, and service time for students identified as having a “speech impairment”
• Lead Review of Existing Evaluation Data meetings for students identified as having a “speech impairment” and no other qualifying eligibilities

Provide therapy to students with a speech impairment 

• Provide speech-language services as indicated in the ARD document and provide make-up sessions as needed
• Implement evidence-based interventions in the areas of articulation, phonology, language, pragmatics, fluency, voice, and resonance
• Record quantitative and qualitative data regarding student progress for each student regularly
• Report on student progress each quarter
• Assist general and/or special education teachers in differentiating instruction for students with communication disorders
• Routinely monitor progress toward IEP goals and make adjustments as needed to interventions and/or the student’s plan
• Develop new IEPs annually

Evaluate the effectiveness of speech therapy 

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of speech therapy throughout the year, making adjustments as necessary
• Meet with the ARD committee to discuss progress, interpret test results, and modify students’ IEPs
• Effectively communicate with colleagues, students, and parents regarding met goals and the needs of each student

Serve as a resource for educators, school leaders, staff, and parents

• Provide a workshop to elementary staff on developmental norms for communication skills and the referral process
• Address issues such as developmental and educational norms for speech and in-classroom interventions
• Provide educators and parents with resources related to speech and language development
• Assist school personnel in the identification and understanding of students with communication deficits

Education and Knowledge:

• Master’s degree in Speech-language pathology from an accredited four-year institution required
• Previous experience as a school Speech-Language Pathologist required
• Certificate of Clinical Competence required
• Texas Speech-language Pathology License required
• Training to evaluate, diagnose and treat bilingual Spanish-English students and/or culturally and linguistically diverse students preferred
• Previous experience managing or leading a team preferred

Skills:

• Proven track record of impact and influence with direct reports
• Experience collaborating with team members and providing constructive and instructive feedback
• Proactive planning to address future needs associated with district growth
• Experience using a variety of assessments to diagnose communication disorders
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
• Ability to work both on broad-based strategy and everyday details
• Ability to exercise excellent judgment in decision-making
• Ability to be flexible and adapt to changing priorities
• Ability to synthesize knowledge and present it to stakeholders in a comprehensive manner
• Independent, self-starter with a strong focus on student development 
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Possession of a passionate and loving attitude toward all children
• Responsiveness; Follow-up and follow-through with students, families, and staff members is essential  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook)
• Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, and fax machines
• Reliable transportation is needed to travel between campuses
• Bilingualism (English-Spanish) is a plus

In addition to a competitive salary scale, a part of KIPP Texas’ competitive benefits options, KIPP offers all employees an $0 HMO plan for the employee only. In addition to our $0 plan, KIPP provides a $600 employer contribution towards a Health Savings Account and a variety of other supplemental benefits such as Dental, Vision, Short and Long-Term Disability, Pet Insurance, Life, etc.