Educational Interpreter

About the role

The Interpreter supports the education process for students who are deaf and hard of hearing by facilitating accurate communication between the students and their teachers, hearing peers, and other school personnel. They also serve as a member of the student's educational team.

Responsibilities

• Voice for the student as needed
• Interpret/transliterate lectures, discussions, tests, films, assemblies, and extracurricular activities for students who are deaf and hard of hearing using the student’s most beneficial communication mode and adjusting the language level to meet student needs
• Provide tutoring in the form of expanding background knowledge, language, and vocabulary (spoken or signed) used in a lesson
• Work closely with the Teacher of the Deaf (TOD) and collaborate with school staff
• Participate in educational team meetings, providing input on the student’s use of interpreting services and proficiency in communication, general functioning in the mainstream setting
• In collaboration with the TOD, provide staff orientations on hearing loss and the use of an interpreter
• Improve knowledge of and skill in interpreting through participation in workshops, seminars, and services to meet state requirements for professional development
• Promote self-advocacy by helping the student understand his/her needs related to interpreting, language, social opportunities, and rights

Requirements

Requires the ability to display knowledge of techniques for communicating nonverbally using body language, mime, facial expression, gestures, and cues. Requires the ability to display knowledge of methods used in reverse interpretation of the manual communication of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (sign to voice techniques). Requires the ability to display knowledge of broad sign language vocabulary. Requires the ability to display knowledge of modern office practices and procedures. Requires the ability to display knowledge of the English language, including grammar and spelling. Requires the ability to display knowledge of the impact and implications of hearing loss on the student's comprehension of English. Requires the ability to display knowledge and practice of the Code of Ethics for Educational Interpreters. Requires the ability to interpret and transliterate at a reasonable rate as determined by EIPA certification requirements. Requires the ability to understand and utilize a variety of communication modes used by hearing impaired students. Requires the ability to display knowledge of reverse interpreting (sign to voice) the signed communication of students. Requires the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Qualifications

• BA or Associate’s Degree in Educational Interpreting
• Minimum score of 3.5 on Educational Interpreter’s Proficiency Assessment (EIPA) OR Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) required

Skills

Knowledge of techniques for communicating nonverbally using body language, mime, facial expression, gestures, and cues. Knowledge of methods used in reverse interpretation of the manual communication of students who are deaf or hard of hearing (sign to voice techniques). Knowledge of broad sign language vocabulary. Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures. Knowledge of the English language, including grammar and spelling. Knowledge of the impact and implications of hearing loss on the student's comprehension of English. Knowledge and practice of the Code of Ethics for Educational Interpreters. Ability to interpret and transliterate at a reasonable rate as determined by EIPA certification requirements. Ability to understand and utilize a variety of communication modes used by hearing impaired students. Ability to display knowledge of reverse interpreting (sign to voice) the signed communication of students. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Benefits

N/A

Pay

N/A

Schedule

Full-time, 185-day calendar position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday. Hours of work are from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hours are dependent on the building assignment. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required as job duties demand.