Educational Interpreter (American Sign Language) Candidate Pool

Howard County Public School System; Columbia (MD); On-site; USD 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Retirement membership in Maryland State Retirement Agency

Job summary

The Howard County Public School System is seeking an Educational Interpreter to provide interpreting services for deaf/hard of hearing students. This role requires facilitating communication in various academic settings and collaborating with educational teams.

Qualified candidates will hold a high school diploma and relevant certifications. The position involves diverse responsibilities and opportunities to support students in their learning environment.

Qualifications

• Must hold one or more of the required certifications.
• Experience as an American Sign Language interpreter within the past two years.

Responsibilities

• Make language accessible to deaf/hard of hearing students.
• Work with teachers to facilitate communication.
• Review coursework materials to convey activities clearly.
• Collaborate with education teams for interpreting needs.

Skills

Interpreter skills translating signing/cueing to and from spoken English

Proficiency in English and American Sign Language

Interpersonal skills

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

EIPA Written Test

NIC Knowledge Exam

CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam

Job description

Description

Under the direction of the Coordinator of Countywide Services, the Educational Interpreter provides interpreting and other support services for deaf/hard of hearing children in the school district. The primary function is to serve as a communication facilitator between children who are deaf/hard of hearing and their hearing peers, the classroom teacher, and other school staff. Other duties that may be performed when not required to provide interpreting services include providing educational support and participating in meetings as a member of the education team. The function of an Educational Interpreter is to provide access to communication using American Sign Language, Cued Speech, and/or Oral Transliteration to and from spoken English through a complex process that requires a high degree of linguistic, cognitive, and technical skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or GED (equivalency).
• Certification/Licensure: Must hold one or more of the following and upload documentation to your application: passing score on the EIPA Written Test, NIC Knowledge Exam, or CASLI Generalist Knowledge Exam; Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment (EIPA) Performance Test score of at least 3.7; National Interpreter Certification (NIC) Board for Evaluation of Interpreters (BEI) certification; Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf (RID) certification (including any National Association of the Deaf (NAD) certification).
• Experience: Experience as an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter within the past two years.

Responsibilities

• Make the language of the classroom accessible to students who are deaf/hard of hearing through interpretation in the child’s language level and communication mode as stated in the Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Work with classroom teachers of multiple disciplines to facilitate academic and personal communication for deaf/hard of hearing students with adults and student peers, by providing interpreting services during scheduled classroom lessons, tutoring sessions, parent conferences, meetings, and other school activities.
• Review coursework materials in advance so that classroom activities and assignments can be conveyed clearly and accurately.
• Follow guidelines and procedures of the Department of Special Education (DSE) to provide support and interpretation assistance to deaf/hard of hearing students.
• Provide input and follow recommendations made by IEP teams related to students’ interpreting needs (e.g., communication strategies, student progress with services, recommend resource materials related to student interpreting needs, etc.).
• Collaborate and serve as a liaison to DSE staff, classroom teachers, related service providers, parents, advocates, and other school staff.
• Perform other duties assigned by the school principal or designee when this does not conflict with the primary responsibility of interpreting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Interpreter skills translating signing/cueing to and from spoken English.
• Proficiency in English and American Sign Language, Cued Speech, or other modes of communication.
• Ability to exercise professionalism and patience in highly active learning environments or stressful situations.
• Interpersonal skills that will enable the candidate to communicate and work collaboratively with administrators, central office staff, teachers, families, and other HCPSS stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge and cultural awareness of the Deaf culture.
• Knowledge of current trends and best practices related to providing services to deaf/hard of hearing and/or special education students.
• Knowledge and understanding of the practices, procedures, and documentation in a public preK-12 school system.

Additional Requirements

• Working Hours: The duty day for this position is 7 hours including a thirty‑minute duty‑free, unpaid lunch period.

Employment Information

This is a 10-month per year position in the Howard County Education Association, Educational Support Professionals (HCEA-ESP) employee unit.

Compensation

Current hourly salary grades and rates for this position may be viewed on the Interpreter salary scale. Step placement within the applicable grade will be in accordance with the salary procedures of the Howard County Public School System and the HCEA-ESP Master Agreement, which considers relevant prior experience. Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, this position is not exempt from overtime.

Benefits

HCPSS offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees. Information about additional benefits such as paid time off can be found in the negotiated agreement for employees in this bargaining unit. Retirement membership in the Maryland State Retirement Agency (MSRA) pension plan is a mandatory condition of employment for all employees who meet the eligibility and membership criteria defined in the State Personnel and Pensions Article and the Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR). The annual contribution to the pension plan is 7% of an employee’s annual salary.

Equal Opportunity Employer

HCPSS celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any kind. HCPSS is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees in providing them with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at HCPSS are based on organizational needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, national, social or ethnic origin, sex (including pregnancy), age, physical, mental or sensory disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital, civil union or domestic partnership status, veteran status or present military service, family medical history or genetic information, family or parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Contact Information

For questions regarding this posting, please contact [e-mail].