Bilingual Program Assistant (Somali) - (2026-2027) Bryn Mawr

About the role

Bilingual Program Assistant (Somali)

Job Title: Bilingual Program Assistant (Somali)

Requisition ID: 104926

Organizational Unit: Bryn Mawr Elementary (10000013)

Site: Bryn Mawr (0249)

FTE: .85 FTE @ 34 Hours/Week

Union: ESP(28)

Functional Area: Paraprofessional

Responsibilities

• Assists MPS staff as an interpreter to facilitate educational functions and other services to non-English speaking, limited English speaking and bilingual/bicultural community members, in compliance with Standards of Effective Instructional Support for Educational Assistants.
• Provides interpreter services from English to at least one other designated foreign language, including Somali, Spanish, Hmong and other Southeast Asian languages.
• Maintains message content, context, and style while translating and interpreting English to designated foreign language to convey information effectively.
• Provides translation service in classrooms, special projects, homework, after-school programs, and open communication with teachers, counselors, social workers, and school administrators.
• Assists bilingual/bicultural and ESL/ELL families in accessing, obtaining and implementing educational activities, medical and other community services.
• Assists bilingual students to read and write the English language; assists student learning process by interpreting English language terms into designated foreign language.
• Assists teachers in delivering educational service and providing interpreting service to ESL/ELL clients; collects and records observations on students; maintains students’ data base and files.
• Simultaneously and consecutively interprets and translates questions and answers for ESL/ELL students and parents during school events; effectively presents information and concepts.
• Interprets and explains the English language and American culture.
• Provides culturally relevant information to staff to facilitate understanding of the ESL/ELL communities.
• Facilitates conflict resolution and explains school rules to ESL/ELL students and guardians; coordinates communications between students, parents and school services.
• Demonstrates courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with students, clients, visitors, and MPS staff; acts in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.
• Enthusiastically promotes the Superintendent’s goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
• Maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, records and MPS information.

Qualifications

• Education, Training and Experience Guidelines: AA degree or completion of 90 quarter or 60 semester college credits (required) in Education, Child Development, Behavioral Sciences, or educational area related to position assignment; OR a passing score of 460 (or higher) on the ParaPro Assessment AND a high school diploma/GED certificate (For more information on the ParaPro Assessment, contact Educational Testing Service at 1-800-772-9476 or www.ets.org/parapro); AND two (2) years of professional experience in translation and interpretation of verbal and written English and a designated foreign language; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience as determined by Human Resources.
• Knowledge: Methods and techniques required to translate written English and at least one other language, including Somali, Spanish, Hmong and other Southeast Asian Languages. Methods and techniques used in simultaneous and consecutive interpreting and translation of spoken language. Correct English grammar, composition, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary. Vocabulary, grammar, phonology and dialects of designated foreign language. Ethics and standards for professional interpreting and translating. Techniques for improving communications with persons using English as a second language. Applicable policies, procedures and regulations covering specific areas of assignment. Local community resources and regional community services programs. Principles of record keeping and records management.
• Skills: Translating English language documents into designated foreign language. Communicating effectively in verbal and written forms with non-English speaking persons. Listening to speakers’ statements to determine precise meanings, and properly translating to and from designated foreign language. Translating and interpreting foreign language words and phrases to properly express specific meanings and cultural appropriateness. Identifying cultural differences which affect non-English speaking students and their parents, and the barriers and opportunities to enhance the process of acculturation to American society. Operating a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software. Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with co-workers. Effective verbal and written communication.