Bilingual Cultural Mentor - Fall Break Learning Academy

Memphis-Shelby County Schools; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 28,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Memphis-Shelby County Schools seeks an ESL paraprofessional to bridge communication between staff, students, and families whose primary language is not English. You will provide interpretation, tutoring, and translation services while supporting academic achievement for multilingual students.

The role includes chaperoning field trips, monitoring student behavior, handling inquiries, and performing routine clerical tasks.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or 2 years of college (minimum 48 semester hours) acceptable.
• Passing Parapro Assessment or equivalent combination of education/experience required.
• Experience translating/mentoring; bilingual setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide oral and written interpretation between school, teachers, parents and students.
• Provide academic tutoring and assistance to non-English-speaking students; help them learn fluent English.
• Translate district/school documents to other languages as qualified.
• Serve as chaperone on field trips to facilitate communication with ESL students.
• Assist in enforcing school rules by monitoring students on school grounds.
• Respond to inquiries and concerns about programs, policies, and procedures.
• Attend meetings with teachers, principals and administrators to discuss issues.
• Document all contact with and services provided to students.
• Attend trainings and workshops to enhance knowledge and skills.
• Perform routine clerical tasks such as reports, correspondence, filing, and data entry.

Skills

Oral interpretation

Written interpretation

Academic tutoring

Bilingual/Multilingual

Mentoring

Parent-teacher communication

Education

Associate’s degree or 2 years college

ParaPro Assessment

Education/experience equivalency

Tools

MS Office

Translation software

Job description

The essential function of the position within the organization is to serve as liaison between District staff and students and parents whose primary spoken language is one other than English. The position is responsible for providing academic assistance to students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program; interpreting for students, parents and teachers, and performing other duties as assigned. The position works under general supervision according to some procedures; decides how and when to complete tasks.

• Provides oral and written interpretation between the school, teachers, parents and students.
• Provides academic tutoring and other academic assistance for non-English-speaking students; assists them in understanding and speaking fluent English.
• Teaches customs of American society to those from other countries and cultures.
• Translates District/school documents to other languages as qualified.
• Serves as chaperone on field trips as needed to facilitate clear communication with ESL students.
• Assists in enforcing school rules and regulations by monitoring students on school grounds.
• Receives and responds to inquiries, concerns and complaints regarding issues, programs, policies and procedures in areas of responsibility.
• Participates in meetings with teachers, principals and administrators to discuss issues in areas of responsibility.
• Documents all contact with and services provided to students as assigned.
• Attends training, conferences, meetings and workshops as appropriate to enhance job knowledge and skills.
• Performs routine clerical tasks as required, including but not limited to preparing reports and correspondence, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, sending and receiving faxes and e-mails, entering and retrieving computer data.
• Performs other related duties as assigned or directed.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate’s degree, or two (2) years of college (minimum of 48 semester hours), a passing score on the ParaPro Assessment Test, or an equivalent combination of education, training, or experience may be acceptable. Relevant training and experience is defined as one (1) year or more of experience in translating and/or mentoring; experience and training in working with students in an instructional environment, preferably within a bilingual setting.

Degree Equivalency Formula

Bachelor’s Degree= 4 years plus required years of experience.

Master’s Degree= 2 years plus required years of experience. Where Master’s degrees are required, years for Bachelor’s Degrees must be included.