You would think that since most schools districts around the country are already in session that the requests for Special Ed Professionals would subside a bit. But.....noooooo, we still have 4 pages of school districts around the country still looking for school psychologists, occupational, physical and speech therapists. The pursestring holders have finally relented and given the Special Ed directors permission to use contract services to fill their still-open positions. So now they need us when so many of the therapists we had available in June and July have already accepted a placement for the 2011-2012 school year!
This, unfortunately, is the same dance we dance with school districts every year. The directors are either very relieved that they have their open positions filled or are in a panic because they don't! I have one director who has 4 maternity leaves coming up by mid October (she told me to count backwards to the ice storms in the Dallas, Texas area last winter...;-}.....) and I am scrambling to find SLP's who would be willing to work for only 8-12 weeks. She did add that she has a couple more maternity leaves after the winter holidays. (However, she didn't have any ice storm-type explanation for those.) So, having said that, some of the Fall semester openings may transition into the Spring semester and become a near full-year contract.
If you are still looking for work, looking to make a change or think you might like to try a travel-type position, know that there are still beaucoup of jobs out there all over the country and you are needed!
