Educational Sign Language Interpreter

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Interprets for deaf or hard-of-hearing students in a variety of educational settings, including, but not limited to, classroom lectures and activities, group discussions, assemblies, and counseling sessions, using various sign language systems and voice interpretation at a normal conversational rate.
• Interprets a wide range of curriculum, including scientific and advanced placement topics, lectures, educational information and all directives presented by the teacher.
• Confers with students, teachers and staff to develop new signs for technical subject matter.
• Attends and provides interpretation services for various events and activities such as classroom activities, meetings, conferences, phone calls, workshops, award ceremonies, counseling functions, field trips, assemblies, sports events, student clubs, staff presentations, back to school night and graduation ceremonies.
• Reviews and evaluates lesson plans and instructional materials in preparation for classroom activities and interpretation services.
• Communicates and confers with staff, parents and various outside agencies to exchange information and resolve issues or concerns, as needed.
• Participates in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned.
• Provides voice interpretation for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals as needed.
• Confers, as needed, with teachers concerning student needs. Alerts teacher, resource staff or case manager to any special problems or information concerning students' may assist appropriate staff to develop individual and group educational goals and objectives.
• Participates in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned.
• Aids and supervises deaf and hard-of-hearing students in moving from place-to-place in a safe, orderly manner.
• Operates a variety of office and classroom equipment such as copiers, audio-visual devices, computers and assigned software; utilizes specialized equipment for deaf and hard of hearing students such as assistive listening devices; drives a vehicle to conduct work.
• Attends and participates in various in-services, mentoring activities, workshops and other training activities as required.

Knowledge and Skills

• Specialized knowledge of expressive and receptive forms of sign language systems which may include American Sign Language, Conceptually Accurate Signed English, Signed Exact English, Manually Coded English, and Pidgin Signed English.
• Interpreting strategies and techniques necessary to accommodate individual needs of students in a variety of educational settings.
• Current developments, trends and techniques in the field of interpreting for the deaf.
• Fundamental concepts of deaf culture.
• Basic subjects taught in District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Student guidance principles and practices related to deaf and hard of hearing children.
• National Associate of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct.
• Operation of standard office and classroom equipment including a computer.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Safe practices in classroom and school campus activities.

Abilities

• Requires the ability to carry out all aspects of the position.
• Interpret and communicate fluently and with high proficiency (over 80% of content) in the sign language system appropriate to the individual needs of the student.
• Assess and adjust to students' language abilities and their preferred sign language system.
• Convey information promoting the awareness of the unique needs of, and issues pertinent to, deaf or hearing-impaired persons.
• Express common technical and vernacular expressions used in the classroom in a clear manner.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the communication process between deaf or hearing-impaired persons and the needs of the persons involved in that process.
• Speak and write English clearly and with proper structure.
• Assist teaching staff with implementation of instructional goals and activities in a classroom, small group or individual learning environment.
• Interact with teachers, specialists and colleagues in order to carry out assigned duties.
• Aid and supervise teaching staff with implementation of instructional goals and activities in a classroom, small group or individual learning environment.
• Assist in maintaining order among students in their assigned learning environment.
• Relate positively to students in a teaching/learning environment in a way that builds confidence, recognizes and works on learning disabilities and barriers.
• Exercise patience when conveying information, and demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs of students.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and school information.
• Learn district and state regulations, policies and objectives applicable to assigned program.
• Prepare and maintain documentation and reports as needed.
• Operate instructional and office equipment.

Physical Abilities

• Perform work of an active nature.
• Well-developed arm, hand, and finger dexterity in order to perform advanced sign language interpretation.
• Stand for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity to recognize numbers and words, and detect speech patterns.
• Hearing acuity sufficient to understand information to be interpreted in a variety of educational environments.
• Facial dexterity to produce readable mouth movements for specific sign language expressions.
• Manual dexterity to produce readable sign language through movement of fingers and arms.
• Visual acuity to see information to be voiced (such as sign language and facial expressions).