Educational Interpreter for the Deaf

Bakersfield City School District; Alley (MO); On-site; USD 35,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

Bakersfield City School District is seeking an Educational Interpreter for the Deaf to provide interpreting, transliteration, and tutoring services across district sites. The role supports deaf students to access curriculum and life skills, requiring ASL/SEE proficiency and collaboration with teachers, staff, and families.

The position emphasizes safety, confidentiality, and adherence to district policies, with flexible duties across classrooms, special education, and related activities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Passage of Kern High School District proficiency test
• ESSE-I level 4+ or approved equivalence
• Experience interpreting/translating for hearing-impaired persons using ASL/SEE
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, students, and families
• Strong oral and written expression; follow directions
• Valid driver's license and own car for district use
• Bilingual abilities may be required depending on assignment
• Must pass required tests

Responsibilities

• Assist in effective communication between students, staff, and community through transliteration and interpretation
• Translate and interpret instructional materials and class discussions
• Tutor and interpret for individuals or small groups to reinforce concepts
• Assist in mainstreaming students and supporting IEP goals
• Support classroom management and behavior plans under supervision
• Prepare and arrange instructional materials and equipment
• Assist with transportation to buses and use of equipment; support independence
• Monitor student safety across school environments
• Maintain valid First Aid and CPR certification
• Ensure confidentiality of student records
• Model equity, integrity, and accountability
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Skills

ASL interpretation

Interpreting

Translation

Bilingual

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Kern High School District proficiency test

Education Signing Skills Evaluation for Interpreter (ESSE-I) level 4+

Experience with ASL or SEE

Tools

ESSE-I certification

First Aid/CPR certification

Job description

EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETER FOR THE DEAF

• Position Type: Support Staff/ Interpreter for the Deaf
• Date Posted: 10/22/2026
• Location: All sites

District Context and Commitment

Located in the heart of Kern County, the Bakersfield City School District ("BCSD") is committed to providing safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environments across the entire organization. We serve a diverse community of students and families and are guided by a deep commitment to equity, access, and excellence in education.

BCSD values and respects every member of its community. We are dedicated to upholding the law, honoring the dignity of all individuals, and fostering a culture where students, families, and staff feel safe, supported, and heard.

We seek employees who demonstrate a strong commitment to ethical decision-making, professionalism, and accountability, and who consistently act with integrity in service of our students and community. Employees in BCSD are expected to model high standards of conduct, ensure compliance with all legal requirements, and contribute to a culture of trust, respect, and continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 1. High school diploma or equivalent and passage of Kern High School District proficiency test
• 2. Demonstrated knowledge of and the ability to assist in instructing reading, writing and mathematics or reading readiness, writing readiness and mathematics readiness, as appropriate
• 3. Passage of Education Signing Skills Evaluation for Interpreter (ESSE-I) at level 4 or above or other equivalent certification approved by California State Board of Education
• 4. Experience interpreting and translating for hearing impaired persons, preferably students, utilizing ASL (American Sign Language) or SEE (Signing Exact English)
• 5. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, students, parents and community; ability to work collaboratively
• 6. Skill and accuracy in oral and written expression; ability to follow oral and written directions; desire to support students in educational environment
• 7. Valid driver's license and personal car for use on district business
• 8. Bilingual ability may be required, depending on assignment
• 9. Must pass required tests

REPORTS TO

Administrator as assigned

JOB GOAL

To provide support to students with severe hearing impairments in variety of classroom environments by performing interpreting, translating, and tutorial services so they can access the curriculum in academic areas, individualized life skills, social emotional supports and/or behavioral needs in order to benefit from their educational placement

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assists in effective communication between students, staff and community by providing transliteration and interpretation services as needed
• Translates, interprets and presents variety of instructional exercises and materials; translates instructional directions and class discussions to students
• Tutors and interprets for individuals or small groups of students to reinforce instructional concepts
• Accompanies and assists students in mainstreaming activities by performing interpreting and other duties to help ensure success in regular classroom
• Assist special education teacher in implementing student's Individual Educational Plan (IEP) goals and accommodations
• Reinforces, under supervision of special education teacher/staff, instruction introduced by student's general and/or special education teacher(s)
• Assists with checking, care, preparation and arrangement of instructional materials and equipment
• Assists in implementing classroom management procedures and Individualized Behavior Intervention Plans
• Assists with yard duty, first aid and physical education activities; assists in lifting, moving, and positioning students as necessary to render various forms of personal care, including but not limited to feeding, dressing, grooming, toileting, diapering, therapy and specialized health care procedures; assists students in use of wheelchairs, braces or orthopedic equipment; may be required to use mechanical equipment
• Assists classroom teacher with handicapped children to and from buses, and in use of special equipment; fosters and encourages independence of all students
• Monitors students to ensure safety and safety of others in all school environments, including but not limited to classroom, playground, cafeteria, bus, and parent pick up and drop off areas, any school related activities and locations
• Maintains valid first aid and CPR certification
• Maintains confidentiality of student records in accordance with District and legal requirements
• Models personal and professional values of equity, integrity, caring, collaboration, and personal and collective accountability
• Performs other related duties as assigned

REPORTS TO

Administrator as assigned

JOB GOAL

To provide desirable classroom environment by performing interpreting, translating and tutorial services for students with severe hearing impairments

SALARY

$25.71 - $41.84 per hour

EVALUATION

Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the district's "Improvement of Professional Services" handbook, Board Policies and Procedures and consistent with collective bargaining agreements when applicable.

NEW PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEES AND PERMANENT EMPLOYEES WHO BECOME PROBATIONARY UPON RECLASSIFICATION

A new employee, or a permanent employee that is changed to a new classification, shall serve a probationary period, which shall not exceed six (6) months of duty time exclusive of leaves of absence or other absences. During this probationary period the employee must meet the required standards of performance to be recommended for permanent status in the classification. A probationary classified service employee may be terminated from the probationary classification at any time without cause, without right of appeal or hearing before the Board of Education. Pursuant to Education Code section 45113, a permanent employee who accepts a promotion and fails to complete the probationary period for that promotional position, shall be employed in the classification from which he or she was promoted.

MINIMUM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Verification of one (1) of the following:
  • Two years (48 semester units) of study at an accredited college or university
  • Associate's or higher degree from an