Occupational Therapist
Title: Occupational Therapist
FLSA: Exempt
Reports to: Special Education Supervisor
Updated: June 2026
Position Summary
Occupational Therapist are part of a MET team who help to identify students from birth through age 26 who require OT services and
to provide school-based therapy to those who are identified, for both students in the pre-referral stage and identified for eligibility.
They provide school staff and families with strategies, modeling and information to reduce educational impact in accordance with a
multi-tiered system of support.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
(Essential functions in terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act)
- Ability to organize and manage the workload in the assigned schools in order to meet legal mandates and timelines
- Ability to positively and effectively communicate and work well with students, staff and parents, verbally and in writing
- Ability to develop and maintain a positive and productive working relationship with the above
- Strong understanding and competency in training, coaching and supporting a Multi-Tiered System of Support Model
- Ability to provide school-based occupational therapy services both directly and in a consultation/coaching format
- Familiarity with assistive devices to help students access the curriculum
- Familiarity with standardized and non-standardized assessments for children to assess school functioning abilities
- Ability to provide quality school-based/in home occupational therapy
- Experience working with students with behavioral needs including trauma and sensory processing needs and working with local districts to develop supportive plans to be implemented
- Consistent and reliable attendance
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.
Preferred Employment Qualifications
Education: Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, Occupational License
Experience: 1-3 Years Preferred, but not required
Supervisory Responsibilities: N/A
Certificates, Licenses, or Registrations: NBCOT and Registered with the State of Michigan
Other Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: 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.
Required:
- Ability to communicate in a clear, concise, professional manner in both oral and written communications.
- Ability to move equipment and supplies from one location to another.
- Ability to go from school building to school building and into homes within the community.
- Ability to supply own transportation.
- Demonstrates knowledge and competency in diagnostic testing.
- Demonstrates competency in writing goals and objectives related to individual student needs.
- Physical ability to demonstrate exercises and perform job related duties which may require sitting, lifting, standing, bending, stooping, stretching, walking, pushing, pulling.
- Actively participate in district and organizational meetings.
- Consistent attendance and ability to follow a schedule.
- Ability to effectively document services and maintain Medicaid billing responsibilities.
- Ability to meet required timelines for required paperwork (REEDs, IEP’s, and Progress Reports).
- Ability to maintain confidentiality with staff and sensitive information.
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 sit or stand for long periods of time and occasionally must manually move, lift, carry, pull or push heavy objects or materials. There is occasional stooping,
bending, stretching, walking and reaching.
Work Environment: Home, Preschool, and School Setting
The qualifications listed above are guidelines for selection purposes; alternative qualifications may be substituted if sufficient to perform the duties of the job.
Terms of Employment
Annual Work Days: 183 days/1281 Hours-Full time
Salary Scale: In accordance with the Professional Staff Contract Agreement (found on COP ESD website)
Application Deadline: June 24, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. (or until filled)
Application Procedure: Qualified Applicants may apply in hard copy with a Resume, Application (found on the COPESD website) and Credentials to:
Jessica Szymoniak
Special Education Supervisor
C.O.P.E.S.D.
6065 Learning Lane
Indian River, Michigan 49749
Fax: (231) 238-9394 ext. 1209
Email: szymoniakj@copesd.org
This job description is not an employment contract and should not be construed as such. Additionally, no other statement, verbal or written,
is to be interpreted to constitute an employment contract or an employment relationship. Employment in support staff positions with Cheboygan Otsego Presque Isle Educational Service District (COPESD) is not by annual contract but rather is covered by the current COP Support Staff collective bargaining agreement and board policy.
This current job description supersedes all prior descriptions and all previous versions of the job description are null and void. This job description may be amended or modified at any time by the employer. Any such modification will be timely communicated to all affected employees.