District Interpreter for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (D/HH) Staff

About the role

Adams 12 Five Star Schools is deeply committed to a community of excellence, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. We commit to eliminating the predictability of who is included in excellence and who is not. Candidates who can contribute to our goal are encouraged to apply and to identify their strengths in this area.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate all communication, spoken and/or signed between Deaf/Hard of Hearing students, hearing staff and of hearing students, by using a manual code of communication appropriate for correct register of a Deaf adult.
• Provide information to hearing staff and students to assist in better understanding the needs of Deaf/Hard of Hearing staff.
• Provide interpreting services to deaf/hard of hearing employees.
• Interpret and/or transliterate all academic instruction, films, assemblies, conferences, staff meetings, individualized education plan meetings, field trips, extra-curricular activities and support services in and out of the classroom for Deaf/Hard of Hearing adult(s).
• When voicing for Deaf/Hard of Hearing adult(s) and/or Deaf/Hard of Hearing student(s), exhibit a good range of sophisticated vocabulary; native-like expression, and infrequent use of circumlocution.
• Use clear articulation with consistent pronunciation, intonation, and affect to sound like a native speaker.
• Have strong command of grammatical structure and evidence of command of complex instruction for complete comprehension.
• Speech is effortless and smooth; rate and production approach that of a native speaker comfortably.
• Interpret: the process of changing spoken English into the preferred manual mode of communication for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing adult, or vice versa.
• Transliterate: the process of changing spoken English into a manual communication mode that maintains the grammar and syntax of the English language, or vice versa.
• Translate: the process of interpreting the spoken English preferred manual mode of communication into spoken English, or vice versa.
• When voicing for a deaf adult include a high-level of equivalence between the source language and the target language.
• Produce signs accurately, both structurally and conceptually, with a wide range of well-chosen vocabulary.
• Convey a wide range of grammatical structures (conditionals, RHQs, etc.); ability to use complete and complex sentences with correct syntax.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule, to meet the demands at the determined school site.
• Maintain, as applicable, compliance with any national, state, or local licensure and/or certification requirements.
• Understand the importance of confidentiality and only share confidential information when authorized and/or on a need to know basis.
• Interpret standards and policies, regulations, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct.
• During times when a staff member does not need an interpreter, assist and support students who are deaf or hard of hearing, which may include the following:
• Interpret and/or transliterate all academic instruction, films, assemblies, conferences, staff meetings, field trips, extra-curricular activities and support services in and out of the classroom.
• Absorb and relay the interactions, jokes, word plays, or other students.
• Interpret and/or transliterate social interactions between Deaf/Hard of Hearing students, hearing staff, and students (e.g. field trips, extra-curricular activities and programs).

Qualifications

• Education and related work experience: Degree from an Interpreter Preparation Program (IPP) (Associates or Bachelors as required by IPP). Proficient in use of Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE)/Pidgin Signed English (PSE), and/or American Sign Language (ASL).
• One (1) year of experience preferred.
• Licenses, registrations or certifications: Criminal background check required for hire. Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) 3.5 or above, authorization may be considered. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Certificate of Interpretation, and/or National Interpreter Certification (NIC), and/or Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) required.

Skills

• Ability to quickly learn and implement new and changing academics and special education terminologies.
• Knowledge, diversity of culture, and skill required to prepare for each interpreting assignment, including knowledge needed to assist in setting up an environment that is conducive to meeting the communication needs of both the hearing and Deaf/Hard of Hearing participants.
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule, to meet the demands at the determined school site.
• Compliance with any national, state, or local licensure and/or certification requirements.
• Understanding of the importance of confidentiality and only sharing confidential information when authorized and/or on a need to know basis.
• Interpret standards and policies, regulations, and the RID Code of Professional Conduct.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision and life insurance as well as other programs for benefit eligible employees. The employee assistance program, voluntary life insurance through PERA, and 401(k), 403(b) & 457(b) plans are available to all employees regardless of hours worked and are available immediately (upon hire date).