K-8 American Sign Language (ASL World Language Teacher

About the Role

The K-8 ASL Teacher designs and delivers foundational world language instruction aligned with the NYS Learning Standards for World Languages (Anchor Standards: Communication and Cultures). The teacher guides elementary and middle school students through target language acquisition, focusing on the three modes of communication (Interpretive, Interpersonal, and Presentational in visual-gestural modalities) and age-appropriate Deaf cultural exploration. The ASL teacher fosters an inclusive, culturally responsive environment that supports all learners, equipping students with the communication skills necessary to pass NYS Checkpoint A requirements and transition successfully into high school language study.

Responsibilities

• Standards-Aligned Instruction: Plan and deliver engaging, age-appropriate ASL lessons aligned with the NYS Learning Standards for World Languages (Checkpoint A focus).
• Visual Language Immersion: Deliver comprehensible, immersive instruction using visual-gestural techniques, TPR (Total Physical Response), visual aids, facial expressions/non-manual signals (NMS), storytelling, and interactive spatial activities to build receptive and expressive skills in young learners.
• Deaf Cultural Integration: Introduce students to the rich history, traditions, art (Deaf View/Image Art - De'VIA), literature, folklore, and values of Deaf Culture and the Deaf Community to build early global and cultural awareness.
• Assessment & Growth: Use formative visual assessments, expressive performance tasks, and progress monitoring to track ASL acquisition and prepare 8th-grade students for NYS Checkpoint A proficiency exams or local equivalencies.
• Family Engagement: Communicate regularly with parents and guardians regarding student growth, language benchmarks, and Deaf cultural projects.
• Vertical Alignment: Collaborate with elementary classroom teachers, middle school teams, and high school language staff to ensure a seamless K-12 language sequence.
• School & Community Culture: Participate in school-wide events, grade-level meetings, and cultural celebrations (e.g., Deaf Awareness Month showcases, language fairs, and community guest speaker events).

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in American Sign Language (ASL), ASL Education, Deaf Studies, World Language Education, or a related field.
• Certification: Valid state teaching credential with an endorsement or certification in American Sign Language / World Languages (K-12 or Grades 7-12).
• Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of successful classroom teaching experience in Middle/High School ASL, with a proven track record of advancing language acquisition, expressive/receptive fluency, and student learning outcomes.

Skills & Competencies

• Language Proficiency: Native or near-native fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and English (expressive, receptive, and structural knowledge).
• Instructional Practice: Strong grasp of ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) ASL proficiency guidelines, comprehensible input strategies, visual spatiality, non-manual markers, and communicative language teaching methodologies.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent interpersonal skills to foster active student engagement, build strong relationships with families, and collaborate with multidisciplinary departments (e.g., Deaf Educators, Educational Interpreters, Speech-Language Pathologists).
• Data-Driven Instruction: Skilled in utilizing formative and summative visual language assessments to adapt instruction, differentiate learning, and target key skill areas (receptive comprehension, expressive signing, spatial grammar, and NMS).
• Equity & Cultural Competency: Strong commitment to promoting Deaf culture, disability rights history, inclusive practices, and equity for all learners, including Deaf/Hard of Hearing students and neurodivergent learners.
• Classroom & Time Management: Highly organized with a proven ability to maintain a visually centered classroom environment, balance curriculum mapping, manage video-based grading, and collaborate independently or within a language department team.

Technical & Instructional Tools

• Data & Assessment Systems: Experienced in tracking student proficiency levels and benchmark growth using student information systems (SIS) and data platforms (e.g., PowerSchool, Infinite Campus, NWEA MAP, or ASL proficiency rubrics/SLPI).
• Learning Management Systems (LMS): Skilled in managing instructional workflows, video assignment submissions, digital immersion resources, and interactive language tasks via Google Classroom, Canvas, or Schoology.
• Collaboration & Reporting Tools: Proficient in productivity suites (Google Workspace, Microsoft Office) and digital video annotation tools (e.g., Flip/Flipgrid, Edpuzzle, Quizlet, Formative) for tracking receptive performance, managing grading workflows, and evaluating video-based student work.

Pay

Salary range: $36,000 – $42,000 (competitive).