Sign Language Interpreter

Essential Performance Responsibilities

• Provides interpreting and other support services to deaf and hard of hearing students in the school district.
• The SLI’s primary function is to facilitate communication with peers, the classroom teacher, and other personnel in the school.
• Interpreting may include tutoring and participation in meetings as a member of the educational team.
• Maintain professional development requirements as defined in Nebraska State Statute, Rule 51.
• Facilitate communication between hearing individuals and deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
• Reinforce skills presented by the teacher.
• Provide tutoring for deaf and hard of hearing students when necessary and interpreting is not required, and not during plan time.
• Provide interpreting/transliterating for parent meetings during the duty day.
• Aid in providing orientations about deafness and the use of sign language to hearing students and staff in collaboration with the Deaf Hard of Hearing Teacher, if needed (i.e.: beginning of the school year, new staff to building).
• Aid in implementing classroom adaptations when appropriate, as determined by the IEP, educational team, or in consultation with special education personnel.
• Provide general classroom assistance in general education or special education classrooms or occasional sign language instruction in mainstream classrooms when not scheduled to interpret not during plan time.
• Work with audiologists and special educators to ensure functional status and use of devices for deaf/hard of hearing.
• Accept other responsibilities and duties as assigned by teacher, administrator, supervisor, or Lead EI/T when not engaged in interpreting.
• Dedication to providing competent interpreting services.
• Willingness to adhere to the Omaha Public Schools' EI/T Code of Ethics.
• Maintain confidentiality of information regarding students.
• Establish and maintain professional relationships with students, staff and parents.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Minimum of an Associate’s degree in Sign Language Interpreting.
• Candidate must receive a passing score on the EIPA written exam, and attain and maintain one or more of the following competency levels as defined in Nebraska State Statute, Rule 51:
• E.I.P.A. - 4.0 or above
• Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf Certification (RID)
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD) - Competency level 4.0 or above
• National Interpreter Certification (NIC)
• Quality Assurance Screening Test (QAST) - Competency level 4.0
• Advanced knowledge and proficiency with American Sign Language, Signed Exact English, and/or other sign language systems, preferred.
• Excellent attendance record.
• This individual will exhibit skills pertinent to foster positive human relationships and the ability to work effectively with students, staff, parents and the community.
• Skill in organization, time management, communication, and positive interpersonal skills.
• Excellent skills in verbal and written communication.
• Displays a significant degree of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Ability to conform to proper standards of professional dress and appearance.
• Knowledge of OPS’s mission, purpose, goals and the role of every employee in achieving each of them.

Additional Duties

• Performs other related tasks as assigned by supervisor.

Equipment

• This position may require the ability to use basic office equipment such as computers, copiers, scanners, and fax machine.
• Must always comply with OPS’s guidelines for equipment use.

Travel

• Limited travel between schools as appropriate.

Physical and Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Must be able to respond rapidly in emergency situations.
• Must have organization, time management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Exemplary attendance.
• Ability to work the required number of hours. Hours will include evening and weekend.
• Reliable transportation.
• Ability to work within the local community/neighborhood as appropriate.
• Work in standard office and school building environment.
• Exemplary communication skills, verbal and written.

Interrelations

• Contact with personnel within the district and with customers and vendors.
• Will be working under the direct supervision of the department supervisor in order to complete day to day tasks.
• Will be working with a diverse population requiring the ability to handle all situations with tact and diplomacy.
• Must understand and respond appropriately to customer needs and maintain a positive attitude with all customers and colleagues.
• Expected to interact with all internal and external customers in a friendly, professional manner and provide quick, responsive customer service.

Employee Punctuality and Appearance

• In order for schools to operate effectively, employees are expected to perform all assigned duties and work all scheduled hours during each designated workday, unless the employee has received approved leave.
• Any deviation from assigned hours must have prior approval from the employee’s supervisor or building administrator.
• All employees are required to report to work dressed in a manner that reflects a positive image of Omaha Public Schools and is appropriate for their position.
• Regular attendance is important.

Terms of Employment

• This position is treated as a full-time non-exempt classified position.
• The terms of your employment will be governed by applicable state laws regulating employment or teaching in a Nebraska public school and Board of Education policies, as those laws and policies may change from time to time, and the Teacher Contract.
• If your position is represented by a collective bargaining representative, then your employment will also be governed by a negotiated agreement between OPS and that collective bargaining representative.