Advanced Interpreter for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

About the Role

Under the general supervision of the classroom teacher and school administrator, the interpreter interprets spoken information to Deaf and Hard of Hearing students in the educational environment, including classrooms, field trips, assemblies, extracurricular activities, and other educational sites. The interpreter also voices for students when necessary.

Responsibilities

• Acts as the facilitator of communication between Deaf and Hard of Hearing students, school staff, fellow students, and others, as appropriate.
• Accurately voice interprets for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
• Interprets the message faithfully, conveying the content and spirit of the speaker using the student’s primary mode of communication within the educational setting (e.g., lectures, classroom discussions, conversations, PA announcements, school assemblies).
• Respects confidentiality in all interpreting assignments and maintains an appropriate interpreter–student relationship.
• Avoids advising, counseling, or interjecting personal opinions into interpreted instruction or educational assignments.
• Participates as an integral part of the educational team, monitoring the student’s comprehension of interpreted material and clarifying the message by adjusting the interpretation to match the child’s language level if needed.
• Learns signs for special vocabulary prior to need and confers with students to discuss new class-related signs.
• Strives to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf.
• Pursues professional development through workshops, classes, meetings, and collaboration with colleagues.
• Demonstrates knowledge of employment rules and regulations.

Requirements

• Experience as an educational interpreter.
• Valid Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III or Level IV, or a passing score on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Written Test with a minimum Level 3.5 on the EIPA Performance Test, or any other state qualification or national certification (excluding Certificate of Deaf Interpretation) recognized by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) as equivalent to or exceeding VQAS Level III.
• VQAS Level II or EIPA 3.5 or above may be considered with the provision that VQAS III or EIPA 3.5 be achieved within two years of hire.

Skills

• Ability to relate to children, teachers, and other school staff and work collaboratively to support students.
• Normal cognitive abilities, including the ability to learn, recall, and apply practices and policies.

Physical Requirements

• Regularly talking, expressing, or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word, including conveying detailed or important instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Frequently sitting or remaining in a stationary position for long periods.
• Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally or negligible force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or move objects.

Pay

Salary range: $41.05 - $75.84 per hour (Universal/Scale B.1 - Level 13). View full salary scale.

Schedule

10 months / 187 days / 7 hours per day.