Description
The Atlanta Speech School
Occupational Therapist – Stepping Stones Program
Start Date: July 2026
The Atlanta Speech School provides an unmatched opportunity to learn from both peers and experts in the field, and to contribute to the School’s growing body of knowledge. Beyond seeking proficiency, we work to construct a Deep Reading Brain for each child at the School and, through our Rollins Center for Language & Literacy, every child beyond the school. Deep reading requires learning to make connections between what we read to what we think, feel, and do. Through deep reading, children develop empathy, hone critical thinking, and go on to make the greatest possible difference in the lives of others.
We believe in connection over compliance. Rather than silencing children, we teach them to listen - and to think, to question, and to solve.
Our staff works together to know and serve each child from within an intentional learning ecosystem that is as joyful as it is rigorous.
Our practices are grounded in structured literacy and built on the sciences of healthy brain development, language acquisition, and the construction of the Deep Reading Brain. This work is intentionally centered around critical thinking, empathy, problem solving and the development of executive functions.
We are committed to providing a community through which all our students, families, and staff show up safely as themselves and for each other. As stewards of this environment, it is our responsibility to ensure safety extends to every person, inclusive of all races /ethnicities, religions, genders, family structures, sexual orientations, and any other aspect of their identity.
The School has never turned away a child in need of services based on their family’s financial circumstances.
PROGRAM SUMMARY:
The Stepping Stones program is currently seeking applicants for a full-time position of Occupational Therapist for the 2026-2027 school year. The Stepping Stones program provides therapeutic preschool services for children who are experiencing early communication delays and secondary sensory-motor difficulties.
POSITION SUMMARY:
The occupational therapist is responsible for the delivery of quality therapeutic and educational experience for each child within two classrooms. Along with the speech language pathologist/lead teacher, special education teacher, and assistant teacher, the occupational therapist will implement weekly lesson plans that support the Stepping Stones curriculum as well as individualized sensory, motor, and perceptual readiness goals to meet the developmental needs of four and five-year-old students.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES OF THE JOB:
Creatively plan and teach aspects of a high-quality therapeutic instructional program for a classroom of 10 to 12 preschool children with a variety of communication and sensory-motor/pre-writing. readiness delays; addressing sensory processing, fine motor, visual-motor, and visual perceptual areas of development.
Conduct ongoing review and periodic assessment of skill development and prepare written progress reports for each student.
Contribute to a minimum of three conferences per year with parents of each student.
Establish an effective system for communicating with parents, colleagues, and outside personnel regarding children's development.
Work collaboratively with speech language pathologists, special education teachers, and psychologists to ensure exemplary services are provided for each child.
Requirements
REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION:
Master’s degree in occupational therapy with specific experience serving preschool students with developmental delays
A current Georgia license, and certification with the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy
An understanding of the interaction between language, learning, sensory processing, and neuro-motor development
Minimum 3-5 years’ experience working in an early childhood setting or similar experience demonstrating knowledge of early childhood development and age-appropriate activities
Diligence in following policies and procedures regarding children’s supervision and safety
Excellent organizational skills, interpersonal skills, and the ability to work collaboratively as a member of a teaching team
Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to provide an appropriate speech and language model for children
A commitment to ongoing professional development is required
Physical stamina required to bend, stand, lift up to 40 pounds, work with children on the floor, work outdoors in a variety of temperatures, and mobility to ensure the supervision and safety of children
SALARY: Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience.
BENEFITS:
Salary is commensurate with experience and credentials. This 190-day, full-time school position offers a generous benefit package including health/dental/life/vision and long-term disability insurance; the School subsidizes health insurance premiums of staff and families. Other benefits include Flexible Spending Account; 403(b) Plan; cost reduction of some Atlanta Speech School services; complimentary meals during work hours; and accrued sick leave.
TO APPLY: Please submit all of the following documents to ensure that your information is considered: cover letter, resume, and written submission: Please describe how your particular skills, talents, and/or expertise could be beneficial to the Stepping Stones Program. (Please limit response to 500 words).
Email: hr@atlantaspeechschool.org
Subject line: Occupational Therapist – Stepping Stones Program
Atlanta Speech School
Founded over 89 years ago, the Atlanta Speech School has evolved into four school divisions, our Learning Hub providing academic and clinical support, the Rollins Center for Language & Literacy and Rollins’ free online Cox Campus professional development platform. Across all our programs we are driven to ensure that each child can find their voice. The School has never turned away a child in need of our specialized services based on their family’s financial circumstances.
We are the educational equivalent of a teaching hospital. With our vision of literacy and justice for all, we lead equity-based change by extending our work beyond our campus. What occurs in the classroom for each child at the Atlanta Speech School is made available to every teacher by way of our free online professional learning platform, Cox Campus. Cox Campus’ membership is composed of more than 400,000 educators, leaders, healthcare professionals and parents representing all fifty states and 130 countries.
The School, across all its programs, including Stepping Stones, attracts a staff of the most gifted and committed teaching professionals who apply the research of the nation’s leading experts on early healthy brain development, language acquisition and Deep Reading Brain.
