Education Specialist - Substitute - Day Treatment Program

University of Utah Health•South Salt Lake, UT

About The Position

This is a substitute, PRN position in the Day Treatment Program. Under the supervision of an Education Specialist - Licensed Teacher or the Education Specialist Administrator, the Education Specialist assesses patients’ current academic and behavioral performance using informal curriculum-based assessments, provides instruction and appropriate curriculum, reports academic progress, advocates for academic supports, and conducts academic assessments when clinically warranted. The role works with children with a range of academic, emotional, and behavioral needs and collaborates with a multidisciplinary health team to support their educational and behavioral care. The Education Specialist communicates with patients’ families and schools, documents educational activities and progress in the electronic medical record, and supports transitions between the hospital and patients’ boundary schools. The position follows Utah Core Standards and participates in relevant clinical rounds, patient care conferences, and school-related meetings, with mentorship and oversight as specified. University of Utah Health describes itself as a patient-focused organization committed to improving health and well-being through patient care, research, and education. Its stated values include compassion, collaboration, innovation, responsibility, integrity, quality, and trust.

Requirements

Bachelor's or master's degree in Education or Special Education.
Current RQI Healthcare Provider eCredential through the University of Utah Health RQI system; must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Additional license requirements as determined by the hiring department.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job.
Strong executive functioning skills to balance classroom instruction, case management, and advocacy duties.
Effective communication skills with patients, parents, clinicians, guidance counselors, and school administrators.
Ability to work with children with a wide range of academic, emotional, and behavioral needs.
Strong behavioral management techniques and skills in a classroom or group setting.
Ability to differentiate and modify curriculum as needed, with appropriate supervisory sign-off.
Ability to help patients and parents understand curriculum and school expectations.
Ability to explain to parents how academic services are delivered.
Ability to coach parents on accessing academic support services for their child.
Ability to advocate effectively for children with academic, emotional, and behavioral issues.
Experience and competence with Microsoft Teams, Outlook, electronic medical record systems, video conferencing technology, and Microsoft Word.
Ability to meet the stated physical requirements with or without an accommodation; work may exert up to 50 pounds and may consistently require lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects while providing care to patients requiring psychiatric care.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with a multidisciplinary health team to promote the best educational and behavioral care.
Attend and participate in weekly clinical rounds and relevant patient care conferences.
Obtain information from a patient's school to help assess the patient's current academic and behavioral performance.
Maintain communication with the patient's family regarding academic progress.
Document the patient's educational activities and progress in the electronic medical record.
Use Utah Core Standards as the framework for advancing the educational growth and enrichment of patients enrolled in University Academy.
Participate in IEP/504 meetings and transition meetings, or provide psychoeducational training to school personnel about mental health diagnoses via video conferencing, with mentorship and oversight from an Education Specialist - Licensed Teacher or the Education Specialist Administrator.
When relevant, coordinate the patient's transition from the hospital back to their boundary school; this may include assigning grades and credit, with oversight.
Conduct academic assessments and testing when clinically appropriate, with supervision.
Provide instruction and curriculum appropriate to patients' academic needs, and report their academic progress.
Advocate for academic supports for patients.