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 and paraprofessionals on the SLP's communication strategies, such as modeling on AAC, wait time and communication temptations.
- Taking communication data in classrooms and during ABA sessions so the SLP can check whether skills carry over outside therapy.
- Logging indirect minutes by student so each IEP's monthly indirect or consult minutes are met.
- Attending team meetings with BCBAs and special education staff to keep speech goals, behavior plans and instruction in step.
Documentation and instructional notes
- Record accurate data in the student learning trees for SLP/IEP goals worked on and skills mastered
- Write clear session notes the same day: targets worked on, prompt levels, trial data, how the student responded, and minutes delivered (direct or indirect).
- Write instructional notes for staff that turn the SLP's plan into simple steps. For example: how to model "more" on a student's device during snack, and which prompt to use next.
- Keep student files, minute logs and billing organized and up to date. Prepare data summaries for the SLP to interpret.
- Keep therapy spaces, materials and AAC equipment organized and ready for each session.
- Help with school-wide speech and language screenings by giving the screening only; the SLP interprets the results.
Collaboration with the SLP, BCBAs and special education staff
- Meet regularly with the supervising SLP for supervision and feedback. Bring questions about student progress to the SLP for decisions.
- Work with BCBAs and RBTs so communication goals and behavior intervention plans support each other. For example, teach the replacement communication in a student's functional communication training plan using the same AAC vocabulary and prompting levels.
- Coordinate with special education teachers and case managers on session times, classroom carryover and IEP minute tracking.
- Contribute speech session notes to the Academy's daily caregiver updates.
- Attend IEP and parent meetings as an observer when the SLP asks.
- Join team trainings and Willow Way cross-training.
Qualifications
Required
- A bachelor's degree or higher in speech-language pathology, communication disorders, speech sciences or a related field. The degree must include at least 24 semester hours in speech-language-hearing sciences. Colorado law does not accept an associate degree for SLPAs.
- A completed speech-language pathology assistant program.
- At least 100 direct hours of supervised clinical practicum under an SLP.
- Must meet Colorado's SLPA qualifications under C.R.S. 12-305-104(4.5), added by HB25-1075. Proof is verified before hire (see Credential verification below).
- A background check and fingerprint clearance for school employment.
Required skills
- AAC proficiency. Hands-on skill with high-tech speech-generating devices (such as TD Snap, LAMP Words for Life or Proloquo2Go) and low-tech picture systems. That includes programming vocabulary, modeling language on the device and troubleshooting.
- Organization. Manage a full schedule of 1:1 sessions, track direct and indirect minutes for each student, and meet same-day documentation deadlines.
- Instructional writing. Write clear, accurate session notes, and instructional notes that staff can follow without extra explanation.
- Comfort with ABA. Working knowledge of prompting hierarchies, reinforcement, discrete trial teaching, natural environment teaching and functional communication training, plus comfort working inside an ABA program.
- Teamwork. Collaborate daily with the supervising SLP, BCBAs, RBTs, special education teachers and case managers, within SLP-A scope.
Preferred
- ASHA Certified SLPA (C-SLPA).
- Experience with autistic and neurodivergent students, especially in an ABA or behavior-intensive setting.
- Experience on a team with SLPs, BCBAs and special education staff.
- Familiarity with trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming and assent-based practice.
- CPR/First Aid certification, or willingness to earn it.
Our ideal candidate...
- Is calm and flexible when rapport with students who have complex communication and behavior needs.
- Has clear communication with the SLP, BCBAs, teachers and families, within SLP-A scope.
- Is comfortable learning new data-collection and documentation software.
- Welcomes feedback and supervision.
Supervision Willow Academy's SLP-A will be supervised by a nationally certified SLP, following Colorado Department of Education recommendations: Period Direct supervision Indirect supervision Total
First 90 days 20% 10% 30%
After 90 days 10% 10% 20%
Emergency authorization or SLPA student 50% (not set) 50% minimum
Direct supervision can happen in person or by live video. One SLP supervises no more than three SLPAs.
Colorado law also requires:
- A written supervisory plan from the SLP;
- Direct supervision documented for each student at least every 30–60 days;
- 100% direct supervision for medically fragile students.
The SLPA may not provide services when the supervising SLP cannot be reached in person, by phone or electronically. Work environment and physical demands
- Year-round school program, with students in small therapy spaces and classrooms.
- Students may show escalated behavior. The SLP-A follows each student's behavior plan and the team's safety procedures, and gets training before working with students.
- The job requires sitting on the floor or at child-height tables, moving between rooms, and lifting up to 25 lb (therapy materials or AAC devices).
Benefits:
- Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
- Short & long-term disability
- AD&D Life insurance
- 401(k) with employer matching
- Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts
- 2 weeks of Paid Time Off
- Parental Leave through state-funded program
- Ongoing professional development and growth opportunities
Pay Rate: $25-$32 hourly depending on education, experience, and certification status Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:00 PM Job Type: Full-time, on-site Location: 3128 E. Maplewood Ave. Littleton, CO 80121
At Willow ABA, we are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels seen, supported, and able to thrive. A background and OIG check will be required for this position. Must be a U.S. authorized employer. Unfortunately, we are not able to sponsor individuals with a work visa at this time.