ASL Interpreter/Educational 3665 - Phoenix

Location: Phoenix Metro/Maricopa – Limited-time appointment, 40 hours per week, 10-month work calendar. Travel required.

About the Role

Provides interpreting services in educational settings for deaf, hard-of-hearing, and deaf-blind students according to their IEPs. Matches the language use of students, peers, and instructors, ensuring access to communication in class, including incidental language and environmental auditory information. Facilitates communication between peers and others, clarifies interpreted information to aid understanding, and may participate as an IEP team member regarding language use or communication access. Communicates regularly with classroom teachers about student communication needs and subject matter.

Additional roles may include:

• Educational Interpreter/Transition Technician: Assists students individually in academic or vocational subjects as assigned by the IEP team. May include tutoring, providing transportation to internships or CTE jobs, and on-site interpreting.
• Lead Educational Interpreter: Oversees disciplinary processes, arranges and schedules interpreters, assists in hiring, collects interpreting data, processes personnel documentation, and maintains relations with district employees. Observes and provides feedback to staff, facilitates professional development, and implements improvement plans for underperforming staff. May also manage motor pool logistics.

Responsibilities

• Interpret daily classroom learning experiences, including incidental language and environmental auditory information.
• Facilitate communication between students, peers, and instructors.
• Clarify interpreted information to aid student understanding of lesson content.
• Participate as an IEP team member regarding language use and communication access.
• Communicate with educational personnel about student communication needs and subject matter.
• For Transition Technician roles: Tutor students in academic or vocational subjects, provide transportation, and offer on-site interpreting for internships or CTE jobs.
• For Lead Educational Interpreter roles:
  • Arrange and schedule interpreters, assist in hiring, and process personnel documentation.
  • Collect and summarize interpreting data for analysis.
  • Observe and provide feedback to staff, including evaluations and professional development.
  • Implement improvement plans for underperforming staff.
  • Manage motor pool logistics, including mileage tracking and maintenance coordination.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Previous experience working with children or adults in educational settings (paid or voluntary).
• Minimum proficiency in interpreting skills demonstrated by one of the following:
  • EIPA score of 3.5 or higher, or
  • Valid RID/NAD/BEI certification (e.g., CSC, CI, CT, CDI, SC:L, NIC, BEI, NAD level 3 or higher).
• If minimum proficiency is not met, candidates may be hired with a professional development plan to achieve qualifications within three years.
• Lead Educational Interpreter roles require an EIPA score of 4.0 or higher and/or valid RID/NAD/BEI certification.
• Pass FBI and State background checks.
• Complete Defensive Driver Training if driving on State business.
• Twelve hours of annual professional development (agency-provided or community-based).

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate degree or higher in Interpreting, American Sign Language, Deaf Studies, or related field.
• Prior experience as an Educational Interpreter.
• Experience in an educational setting.

Skills

• Organize, plan, and prepare for daily interpreting tasks.
• Work independently and take initiative in problem-solving.
• Demonstrate ethical decision-making and maintain confidentiality.
• Effectively communicate with educational team members.
• Understand the roles and responsibilities of the educational team.
• Incorporate feedback into work product.
• Maintain professional development in line with agency expectations.
• Work collaboratively with co-interpreters and the educational team.
• Utilize various communication modes and adjust interpretations as needed.
• Meet the physical and mental demands of interpreting work.
• Knowledge of:
  • Policies, procedures, and programs of the work unit.
  • Principles and practices of administration and management.
  • Agency rules, regulations, and operating procedures.
  • Classroom content to interpret concepts accurately.
  • Non-verbal communication techniques (body language, gestures, facial expressions).
  • Interpreting processing models, Deaf Culture, and cultural diversity.
  • Written and spoken English and American Sign Language (syntax, lexicon, prosody, pragmatics).
  • RID Code of Professional Conduct, NAIE Professional Guidelines, and EIPA Guidelines.
  • Educational resources (IDEA/ADA, assistive technology, IEP process).

Pay

$20.00/hr – $34.02/hr.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, supplemental, and dependent life insurance (31-day election period from hire date; coverage may start as early as 2 weeks after hire).
• Automatic coverage for basic life, non-smokers, accidental death and dismemberment, and seat belt insurance.
• Mandatory enrollment in State retirement plan and long-term disability (LTD) program (26-week waiting period).
• Optional deferred compensation program for tax-deferred retirement investments.
• Employee Self-Service, Wellness programs, Tuition Discount, Travel Reduction, Auto & Home Insurance, and Purchase Discount Programs.