Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA)
Full-Time | Year-round, school-based program | Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM
Willow Academy is looking for a School-Based Speech Language Pathologist Assistant (SLPA) to support our students' communication needs while working under a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Sessions follow each student's IEP goals and fit into the Academy's trauma-informed, ABA-based day. Willow Academy is a new, ground-up program that merges the best qualities of ABA services with the collaborative atmosphere of a school environment designed for students with complex learning and behavioral needs. You’ll serve students with diverse communication profiles in a year-round, specialized school setting and receive enhanced training to ensure you are fully equipped and supported in this role. You’ll collaborate closely with your SLP supervisor and our interdisciplinary team, to help students build meaningful communication skills that promote learning, connection, and independence.
About Willow Academy
The Willow Academy is an out of district placement school designed for neurodiverse students to thrive. Our goal is for every student to feel safe, respected, and empowered to grow. Willow has built a highly collaborative team, receive enhanced safety care training, and be continuously supported by our experienced BCBAs, Clinical Director, and Chief Clinical Quality Officer (BCBA). We embrace your differences and strengths. And we don’t want this to feel like “just a job.” We want to help you grow, find your purpose, and do work you’re proud of. At Willow, you can expect...
Trauma-informed behavioral support. 1:1 support built on ABA principles that put student consent, emotional safety and empowerment first.
Personalized learning. Students learn at their own pace in a hands-on setting built around their IEP goals.
Family partnership. Caregivers get daily updates, progress tracking and a say in setting goals.
About the Role:
As a Speech Language Pathologist Assistant at Willow Academy, you’ll provide 1:1 speech and language therapy to neurodivergent students, working under a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist. Sessions follow each student's IEP goals and fit into the Academy's trauma-informed, ABA-based day. You’ll play a key role in helping clients find their voices, literally and figuratively , while supporting their social-emotional growth.
Responsibilities:
All duties are performed under the direction of the supervising SLP, who remains responsible for every student's services.
Direct service minutes
Deliver 1:1 speech and language sessions that carry out the supervising SLP's lesson plans and each student's IEP goals.
Follow the weekly schedule the SLP sets. Keep a running count of direct minutes delivered against each student's required IEP minutes.
Report any missed or shortened session to the SLP the same day, with the reason (absence, behavior, school event). Schedule make-ups as the SLP directs so no student falls behind on minutes.
Use trauma-informed, assent-based practices: read each student's cues, offer choices, and pause or adapt when a student shows distress.
Use each student's AAC system during therapy. Model language on the device, prompt at the levels the team sets, and keep the device in use throughout every session.
Carry speech and language targets into classroom routines and ABA programming, through push-in or pull-out as the SLP directs. Use ABA formats such as discrete trial teaching and natural environment teaching where the SLP and BCBA agree they fit the goal.
Indirect service minutes The supervising SLP plans each student's indirect services. The SLP-A supports them by:
Preparing and adapting materials the SLP designs, such as visual schedules, core vocabulary boards, social narratives and AAC page sets.
Programming and maintaining AAC devices: adding vocabulary, updating and backing up, charging and troubleshooting. Keep low-tech backup boards current.
Coaching RBTs, teachers…