KIPP Texas Public Schools is a network of 59 public charter, open-enrollment, pre-k-12 schools educating nearly 34,000 students across Austin, Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, and San Antonio. Together with families and communities, our mission is to create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose —college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.

Founded in Houston in 1994, and operating as KIPP Texas since 2018, our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism in our classrooms, in our offices, and in the communities we serve is unwavering. We are looking to hire a diverse team of dynamic, collaborative, and dedicated individuals with an unyielding belief that every child will succeed. Join our Team and Family and champion equity, chase excellence, persist with purpose, bring joy, and help us rise together.

KIPP Texas is part of the national KIPP network of 255 college-preparatory public charter schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia. 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 communities.

Duties and Essential Job Functions:

1. Complete AAC evaluations as part of a multi-disciplinary team using the feature matching process to provide students with appropriate technology based on their individual needs

2. Provide technical support for AAC hardware and software

3. Provide small and large group training for staff, parents and students on principles of AAC assessment, intervention, hardware, and software.

4. Provide direct therapy to students with complex communication needs

5. Performs other related job duties and training as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Familiarity with major software providers

• Familiarity with Texas AAC funding options

• Understanding of alternative access methods

• Up-to-date EBP/ ideas

Required Education and/or Experience: 

• A Masters degree in Speech and Language Pathology is required, including specialized training in Augmentative Alternative Communication or degree in special education or related field.

• Classroom and clinical experience as required for credential

Required Licensure/Certification/Specialized Training:

•  Experience in Special education or speech language pathology

Preferred Licensure/Certification/Specialized Training:

• License as a Speech-Language Pathologist 

• Certification as a special education teacher

Location

Any KIPP Texas region (Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio)

Compensation and Benefits:

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.

Funding:

The Specialist, AAC/AT will be funded directly from the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) grants awarded by the Texas Education Agency under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (ESSER II) and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ESSER III). This position will be funded solely (100%) from the ESSER II and III allocation for direct expenses through September 30, 2023, and may continue to be funded through September 30, 2024, depending upon the availability of ESSER grant funds. At the end of the grant period this position may be eliminated unless other sources of funds are secured to maintain this position or a similar position. The employee must sign this job description acknowledging receipt of the job description and signing their acknowledgement that this position is grant funded and is temporarily aligning with the terms of the grant period.