2025-2026 School Year-Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant (COTA) 4 Day School Week

2025-2026 School Year


CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (COTA)

General Statement of Responsibilities:
Assists in providing Occupational Therapy services in the educational setting on behalf of students who are limited by physical impairments or illness, psychosocial dysfunction, developmental or learning disabilities, socioeconomic and cultural differences in order to achieve optimum functional performance, maximize independence, prevent disability, and maintain health; to include evaluation, treatment, environmental modification, consultation, training and program monitoring.

Qualifications and Experience:

1. Must have graduated from an accredited college or training program in occupational therapy.
2. Arizona State OTA License
3. AZ IVP Fingerprint Clearnace Card
4. Related fieldwork experience preferred
5. Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board may find appropriate and acceptable. 

Responsibilities and Duties:

1. In collaboration with an OTR, prepares and implements IEP goals and objectives that are purposeful, goal-directed and developmentally sequenced.
2. Provides OTR prescribed treatment to eligible students with disabilities in special education programs or who require specialized ancillary services in the general education classroom and using pull-out services only when necessary.
3. Communicate regularly with team members and parents, working collaboratively to develop and implement effective and appropriate educational plans.
4. Provides screening services for referred students, within required timeline.
5. Seeks assistance from and collaborates with OT, when necessary, to ensure quality, appropriate services to students as required by licensure standards.
6. Demonstrates knowledge of content and therapeutic knowledge.
7. Demonstrates knowledge of students.
8. Manages student behavior.
9. Suggests ways to integrate therapy goals and objectives into daily classroom and home activities.
10. Ability to modify, and document the effectiveness of occupational therapy intervention as it relates to the student’s education program
11. Prepares and maintains accurate and thorough therapy progress notes, therapy logs and compliance documentation.
12. Knowledge of applicable Federal, state, county and city statutes, rules, policies and procedures
13. Knowledge of applicable Liberty Elementary School District and departmental policies and procedures
14. Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, vendors, students, parents, the general public and others having business with the school district.
15. Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications 
16. Performs other duties as assigned or required 

Essential Duties
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Language Skills
Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Able to communicate effectively with staff, students, parents, and community members.

Reasoning Ability
Ability to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to address problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects or controls and use a keyboard or keypad. The employee occasionally is required to reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand and walk or sit. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. May be required to lift students weighing up to 60 pounds.  May be required to travel to perform work functions.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus and monitor students on the periphery.

Work Environment
The employee regularly works indoors.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Terms of Employment
Exempt Status
10 months (164 work days)
Sick/Personal Leave
Health Benefits
Participation in Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

Salary
Per Board Approved- Please see attached

Reports to
Supervising Occupational Therapist
Executive Director of Special Services