Speech-Language Pathologist

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. Our 650+ students are a diverse mix of African-American, Latino, Asian, African, and White students. Almost 30% of our students are English language learners, and we have one of the largest Hispanic populations in DC charter schools. We are committed to building a community of teachers and staff who reflect the rich diversity of our student body. Our middle school campus serves nearly 200 students in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in grades 6-8.

Meridian is committed to serving families from our local communities; and one-third of our students live within a half mile of the school. The U Street Corridor was once the heart of black culture in DC and offers a tangible historical archive for our students, and Columbia Heights is one of the most racially and economically diverse neighborhoods in the District. We are also proud of the fact that Meridian is a school of choice for parents— all eight wards of the city are represented among our student population.

Meridian’s strengths include two beautiful and historic campuses, with nearby outdoor and recreational grounds; state of the art technology for students and teachers; updated and aligned curricula; an academic program laser-focused on student growth, achievement, and social-emotional development; extensive professional development and support for teachers and leaders; and a school culture grounded in student achievement, collaboration, and student-centered learning.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION

A Speech Language Pathologist at Meridian is responsible for the following:

• Provides direct and indirect clinical services to students who have been diagnosed with an academically based communication disorder in areas of articulation, languages, voice and/or fluency
• Provides and completes comprehensive diagnostic assessments and evaluations of speech, voice, and language impairments; and determines the presence/absence of a specific communication disorder which adversely impacts academic progress
• Serves as a resource to school staff members by developing a balanced program for oral communication and speech, language, and literacy development
• Assists and guides teachers in observing, describing, and referring suspected and identified speech and language impairments
• Assists in proper referrals of students to agencies and specialists in the community, as appropriate
• Provides appropriate individualized programs of therapy to meet individual students’ needs and correct existing speech or language impairments
• Provides speech and language therapy special education students in groups and as individuals per their Individual Education Plans (IEPs).
• Provides intervention to students through response to intervention (RTI) including small groups and classroom intervention
• Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings and related responsibilities, such as attending meetings, writing progress summaries on present levels of performance, and drafting/monitoring IEP goals.
• Provides direct/indirect service to students diagnosed with a swallowing disorder as it relates to the educational environment
• Provides an implemented therapeutic program to meet the individual needs of students with diagnosed communication impairment
• Compiles case history data on those cases where additional family history, health history, and early developmental history are deemed appropriate
• Conducts speech and language screenings
• Coordinates assistive technology support services
• Lends support and guidance to child study committees
• Maintains all documents required to file Medicaid claims and required by Medicaid, including signed copies of all Health Encounter Tracking Forms, Assessment reports, and progress notes in the student file
• Establishes and maintains strong and positive communication lines with all parents
• Makes self available for Meridian parent engagement events, such as Parent-Teacher Conferences, Back to School Night, and other events involving families

QUALIFICATIONS

Ideal candidates will have the following education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university required
• Master’s degree (MA/MS) in Communication Sciences and Disorders or Speech-Language Pathology preferred
• Certification as a Speech Language Pathologist by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE)
• Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Two or more years of experience working in schools preferred