Episode 173: Advocating for School-Based OTP Leadership

In this episode, Jayson has a compelling conversation with guests Jaime Spencer, Kim Wiggins, and Serena Zeidler as they discuss their research into the barriers and opportunities for OTPs aspiring to leadership positions within the educational system. 

Discover the historical and legislative challenges OTPs face, the vast impact on school communities, and the innovative ways states are beginning to address these issues. With engaging insights and passionate advocacy, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in transforming the role of OTs in schools and ensuring their potential is fully realized for the benefit of students and educators.

Listen now to learn the following objectives:

• Learners will be able to explain how historical perceptions of OTs influence their current exclusion from leadership roles in education.
• Learners will identify legislative and credentialing differences that affect OT administrative eligibility across the U.S.
• Learners will identify the barriers that prevent OTs from being recognized as instructional staff in various states.

Episode 88: Changing the Face of School OT Feat. Jaime Spencer, MS, OTR/L

School-based Occupational therapists have been a part of public education since legislation was initially enacted in the 1970’s. Contrary to this, school-based OT practitioners often do not have pathways to educational leadership. OT practitioners are unable to serve as administrators within a school system in 46 states in the United States. 

In this special episode of the OTSH Podcast, we will explore the unique qualities that OT practitioners possess that support leadership roles within a school system.  Barriers to advancing into leadership positions (e.g., policy) OT practitioners’ face will be identified, and solutions will be discussed.

Episode 55: Back to School – Part 2 – Feat: Jaime Spencer and Billy Hatridge

On this special event episode of the OT School House Podcast, Jayson welcomes to the show occupational therapists, Jaime Spencer, OTR/L, and Billy Hatridge, OTR/L

In this episode, Jayson, Jaime, and Billy discuss what the looming return to the 2020-21 school may look like in our districts and how we are planning for them. We discuss how evaluations, treatments and IEP meetings will all be very different, even from how they were at the end of the 2020 school year. We also spend some time advocating for our profession and a workload model in schools.

Episode 19: Exploring the Idea of a School-based OT Credential, Feat. Jaime Spencer

Jaime Spencer joins Jayson Davies of OT School House for Episode 19: Exploring the Idea of a School-based OT Credential.

School-based Occupational Therapists have been a part of public education since legislation was initially enacted in the 1970s, but often do not have pathways to educational leadership. OT practitioners are unable to serve as administrators within a school system in 46 states in the United States.

In this special episode of the OT School House Podcast, we will explore the unique qualities that OT practitioners possess that support leadership roles within a school system. Barriers to advancing into leadership positions (e.g., policy) OT practitioners face are identified and solutions are discussed.

The audio in this episode comes from a presentation prepared for the Occupational Therapy Association of California 2021 Annual Conference. It is presented by Jayson Davies, MA, OTR/L, & Jaime Spencer, MS, OTR/L.

You can listen to the audio version above or on your preferred podcast player. You may watch the presentation below.

Link to show notes: otschoolhouse.com/episode19

OTs Gone Rogue Podcast

Meet Jaime Spencer, a school aged occupational therapist, advocate, author, AOTA approved educator, blogger, YouTuber, and founder of missjaimeot.com. 

Jaime has been a Long Island pediatric OT for twenty years. She currently works in a public school in Nassau County with students from Kindergarten to 12th grade. She also has ten years of experience working in a sensory gym part-time with preschool-age children. 

She co-authored The Handwriting Book, The Scissors Skills book and The Toilet Training Book and wrote her own book, FUNctional Visual Perception workbook for kids and Teaching Handwriting in Groups.

During today’s episode, we talk about:

• The importance of time management and task delegation as it relates to getting into a state of flow
• Jaime’s support team and the significance of building trust in a working relationship
• How the book, “E-Myth” helped Jaime become a better CEO
• Entrepreneurship as a continuous learning process
• The story behind how Jaime started writing blogs
• Jaime’s ascension model and an overview of her free and paid resources
• The barriers Jaime ran into on her quest to become a school administrator
• How Jaime uses her voice and social media presence to educate the public and advocate for change in schools
• The revenue generating activities that Jaime does to support all her advocacy efforts
• The importance of work life balance for mental health, emotional health and your relationships 
• Jaime’s 10 year goal and vision for the future