ABOUT US

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is one of the leading school systems in Maryland and the nation. To learn more about us and our 2024 -2029 Strategic Plan, please visit our website and our careers page. Join our award-winning workforce and make a difference in the lives of our students!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS

Before you begin, please read the job posting below carefully including the Application Requirements specific to this position. Be sure your application reflects experience and education required to meet the minimum and any preferred qualifications listed. Our application guide includes detailed instructions to assist you. Once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes.

Please note that application submission will be available only through 11:59 PM on the date prior to the indicated end date. If no end date is indicated, the posting will remain open indefinitely.

Job Posting End Date:

Reminder: Current permanent and temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday, not the external career site.

DESCRIPTION

Under the direction of the Coordinator of Countywide Services, the Instructional Facilitator, Occupational Therapy leverages clinical expertise in early childhood and school-based practice to ensure the effective, compliant implementation of the HCPSS Occupational Therapy program. The Instructional Facilitator manages all departmental operations, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy services and contributing to the dynamic work and strategic goals of the Department of Special Education.

This position has an anticipated start date during the current school year. Applicants currently employed with another Maryland public school system are responsible for verifying eligibility for release for this supervisory position if selected.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants must meet all qualifications below to be considered for the vacancy.

Education:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Occupational Therapy.

Certification/Licensure:

• Current State of Maryland Occupational Therapist (OT-L) license.

• Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) professional certificate or license in one of the following:

  • Administrator I

  • Administrator II

  • Supervisors of Instruction, Assistant Principals and Principals

• National Provider Identifier (NPI) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration Services (NPPES) with active enrollment in Maryland Medicaid.

If the selected candidate does not already hold NPI or Maryland Medicaid enrollment upon hire, you must apply for NPI within 10 days of employment and Maryland Medicaid immediately upon receipt of NPI and must maintain active NPI and Maryland Medicaid enrollment as a condition of employment.

Experience:

• Five (5) years of professional experience providing Occupational Therapy services in a PreK-12 or pediatric setting.

• Three (3) years of experience in leadership roles or leading programs or projects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this role will also possess a combination of the additional qualifications below. If you don’t meet every one of the preferred qualifications, we still encourage you to apply, as we welcome applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds and experiences.

• Leadership experience with broad oversight over projects, processes, or people across schools and offices and decision-making with a district-wide lens. 

• Experience mentoring, coaching, or training new and experienced occupational therapists.

• Experience developing and conducting professional learning for occupational therapists to support students receiving occupational therapy services. 

• Experience serving students birth-21 in a PreK-12 public school setting. 

• Previous supervisory experience.

ESSENTIAL POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

The below list is a summary of the functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

• Ensures compliance and quality of OT services to students by recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding OT staff in collaboration with the HCPSS Human Resources department and temporary agencies.

• Monitors workloads within the OT services department to promote manageability and manages staffing assignments and transfer requests to ensure that schools are appropriately staffed based on student caseloads.

• Calculates missed services for schools with an OT vacancy so that make-up services can be provided or compensatory services can be arranged (in collaboration with the Department of Special Education Compliance team).

• Assists school-based teams in completing OT assessments, writing IEPs, and attending meetings (as able) when there is an OT vacancy at their school.

• Develops and facilitates training for full OT staff and non-tenured OTs throughout the year on laws, policies, procedures, HCPSS initiatives, and clinical OT topics.

• Conducts observations and collects data for yearly evaluations of OTs based upon the OT/PT/SLP version of the Danielson Framework for teacher evaluation and two other yearly goals.

• Stays informed about current research, best practices, trends, HCPSS initiatives, and OT clinical topics in school-based OT through participation in Division of Academics and Department of Special Education Meetings, Countywide Leadership meetings, Instructional Team Leader meetings, and OT continuing education.

• Participates in the MSDE State Steering Committee for OT/PT School-Based Practice and provides updates from MSDE and opportunities for learning and collaboration with leaders of other Maryland school systems.

• Mentors individual OTs, as needed, to solve specific problems related to their caseloads or their positions and trains/retrains on clinical topics or policies and procedures to promote quality services and legal compliance.

• Prepares and participates in yearly audits.

• Arranges for supervisors for university students doing their Level II fieldwork in HCPSS.

• Maintains inventory of and orders equipment and testing materials.

• Collaborates with the Coordinator on budgetary needs and other duties as indicated, etc.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

The below list is a summary of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for success in this position, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list.

• Deep understanding of IDEA, Section 504, and MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education) regulations to ensure legally defensible IEPs and service delivery.

• Mastery of current research, clinical trends, and evidence-based interventions specifically tailored to the educational environment.

• Comprehensive knowledge of local school system initiatives, budgetary constraints, and human resources protocols.

• Skill in guiding both tenured and non-tenured staff through complex caseload management and professional development.

• Proficiency in analyzing staff workloads and calculating missed service hours to maintain compliance and equity across school sites.

• Ability to plan, prepare, and deliver engaging professional development training on clinical and administrative topics.

• Ability to work cross-functionally with the Department of Special Education, Compliance team, and building-level leadership to resolve service gaps.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Working Hours

This position may require occasional evening hours.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Complete applications must be submitted, and once your application has been submitted, you will not be able to add documentation or make any changes. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
 
Supplemental Application Questions

This position requires applicants to provide responses to the below supplemental application questions to determine whether you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications. Please upload your responses in a separate file to the supplemental application questions section of the application.

1) Please outline in table format the positions you have held in occupational therapy services. For each, please identify the position title, employer, school/location, student ages/grade levels served, and supervisory responsibilities if any.

2) Please identify your experiences holding leadership roles or leading programs or projects. Describe the scope of your leadership, oversight, and decision-making and the impact of your leadership on student achievement.

3) Please describe up to two examples of experience you possess mentoring, coaching, or training new and experienced occupational therapists. For each, identify the strategies you utilized, the impact or outcomes achieved by your work, and the position(s) you held in which you gained this experience.

4) Please describe up to two examples of experience you possess developing and conducting professional learning for occupational therapists to support students receiving occupational therapy services. For each, identify the method of delivering the professional learning, audience size, and impact or outcomes achieved.

5) Do you currently hold National Provider Identifier (NPI) issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) National Plan and Provider Enumeration Services (NPPES) with active enrollment in Maryland Medicaid? If yes, please upload documentation.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications will be included in further evaluation. Interviews will be limited to those applicants who, in addition to meeting the basic requirements, have experience and education which most closely match the position qualifications and the needs of the school system.

EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

Compensation

This is a 12-month per year position in the Howard County Association of Supervisors and Administrators (HCASA) employee unit. The current salary range for this position is in the Grade II lane on the Central Office Administrators salary scale. Actual placement will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCASA Master Agreement which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is exempt from overtime. 

Telework Program

This position is eligible to participate after the first 60 working days of employment. The Department of Special Education currently offers the option for one day of telework per week for this position. Telework schedules will be subject to approval and determined by the department and/or supervisor. 

Retirement

Membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). A qualifying employee cannot reject membership, nor can an ineligible employee elect membership. The annual contribution to the pension plan will be 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit.

Pre-Employment Requirements

Professional references will be contacted prior to any offer of employment. Recommended candidates will be required to provide references from current and recent supervisors.

All employees, regular and temporary, must be fingerprinted, have a criminal background investigation completed, and successfully complete the Maryland Employment History Review, pursuant to Section 6-113.2 of the Education Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. In addition, some positions will require completion of a physical examination and/or drug testing.

Anyone offered employment is required to provide proper identification and documentation of eligibility for employment in the United States. HCPSS participates in E-Verify and does not offer employee sponsorship.

For questions regarding this posting, please contact Sandy Saval at sandy_saval@hcpss.org.           

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

To request an accommodation during the application or interview process due to a documented disability, please email humanresources@hcpss.org.

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability,  sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.