Educational Sign Language Interpreter

William S. Hart Union High School District; Santa Clarita (CA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

The William S. Hart Union High School District seeks an Educational Sign Language Interpreter in Santa Clarita, CA to facilitate communication for deaf or hard-of-hearing students across classrooms and activities, using American Sign Language and other signed systems with high proficiency.

Responsibilities include interpreting for diverse curriculum, attending events, collaborating with teachers and staff, and maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in sign language interpreter training program, deaf studies or related area.
• RID certification or equivalent; EIPA/NAD/ACCI options accepted in lieu of RID.
• One year of sign-to-English and English-to-sign interpreting experience.
• Valid California driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Interprets for deaf or hard-of-hearing students in classrooms, groups, and events using sign language and voice interpretation.
• Interprets a range of curriculum, confers with teachers to develop signs for technical topics.
• Attends meetings and events to provide interpretation services, including field trips and ceremonies.
• Reviews lesson plans and instructional materials to prepare interpretation.
• Maintains confidentiality and observes professional conduct; communicates with staff and parents as needed.

Skills

Sign language fluency

Voice interpretation

Interpersonal communication

Education

Associate's degree in sign language interpreter training program

Tools

Assistive listening devices

Job description

Salary: Range 300 Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, facilitates communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing students, or students with a cochlear implant, and teachers, staff members, and peers within an educational environment, using any of a variety of manual and verbal communication systems in a highly proficient manner reflecting the affect of the speaker and/or signer.Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, facilitates communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing students, or students with a cochlear implant, and teachers, staff members, and peers within an educational environment, using any of a variety of manual and verbal communication systems in a highly proficient manner reflecting the affect of the speaker and/or signer.

Summary

Salary: Range 300

Refer to salary schedule

Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, facilitates communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing students, or students with a cochlear implant, and teachers, staff members, and peers within an educational environment, using any of a variety of manual and verbal communication systems in a highly proficient manner reflecting the affect of the speaker and/or signer.Under the direction of the Director of Special Education, facilitates communication between deaf or hard-of-hearing students, or students with a cochlear implant, and teachers, staff members, and peers within an educational environment, using any of a variety of manual and verbal communication systems in a highly proficient manner reflecting the affect of the speaker and/or signer.

The Educational Sign Language Interpreter provides communication through the use of sign-to-English and English-to-sign skills. Advancement to Educational Sign Language Interpreter requires coursework and certification, and competency using manual sign systems such as American Sign Language, Conceptually Accurate Signed English, Signed Exact English, Manually Coded English, and Pidgin Signed English in a highly proficient manner for simultaneous translation.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Interprets for deaf or hard-of-hearing students in a variety of educational settings, including, but not limited to, classroom lectures and activities, group discussions, assemblies, and counseling sessions, using various sign language systems and voice interpretation at a normal conversational rate.
• Interprets a wide range of curriculum, including scientific and advanced placement topics, lectures, educational information and all directives presented by the teacher. Confers with students, teachers and staff to develop new signs for technical subject matter.
• Attends and provides interpretation services for various events and activities such as classroom activities, meetings, conferences, phone calls, workshops, award ceremonies, counseling functions, field trips, assemblies, sports events, student clubs, staff presentations, back to school night and graduation ceremonies.
• Reviews and evaluates lesson plans and instructional materials in preparation for classroom activities and interpretation services.
• Communicates and confers with staff, parents and various outside agencies to exchange information and resolve issues or concerns, as needed.
• Participates in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned.
• Provides voice interpretation for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals as needed.
• Confers, as needed, with teachers concerning student needs. Alerts teacher, resource staff or case manager to any special problems or information concerning students' may assist appropriate staff to develop individual and group educational goals and objectives.
• Participates in meetings and in-service training programs as assigned.
• Assists the instructional staff in observing and controlling the behavior of students in the classroom according to approved procedures; monitors students during outdoor activities and lunch periods as required; reports progress regarding student performance and behavior.
• Assists and guides students by providing appropriate role modeling, emotional support, patience, and a friendly and engaging attitude. Must observe confidentiality. Must be discrete in responding to student behaviors and educational needs whenever possible.
• Assists and supervises deaf and hard-of-hearing students in moving from place-to-place in a safe, orderly manner.
• Operates a variety of office and classroom equipment such as copiers, audio-visual devices, computers and assigned software; utilizes specialized equipment for deaf and hard of hearing students such as assistive listening devices; drives a vehicle to conduct work.
• Attends and participates in various in-services, mentoring activities, workshops and other training activities as required.
• Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Knowledge and Skills

• Specialized knowledge of expressive and receptive forms of sign language systems which may include American Sign Language, Conceptually Accurate Signed English, Signed Exact English, Manually Coded English, and Pidgin Signed English.
• Interpreting strategies and techniques necessary to accommodate individual needs of students in a variety of educational settings.
• Current developments, trends and techniques in the field of interpreting for the deaf.
• Foundational concepts of deaf culture.
• Basic subjects taught in District schools, including arithmetic, grammar, spelling, language and reading.
• Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.
• Student guidance principles and practices related to deaf and hard of hearing children.
• National Associate of the Deaf (NAD) and the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct.
• Operation of standard office and classroom equipment including a computer.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy.
• Safe practices in classroom and school campus activities.

Abilities

• Requires the ability to carry out all aspects of the position.
• Interpret and communicate fluently and with high proficiency (over 80% of content) in the sign language system appropriate to the individual needs of the student.
• Assess and adjust to students' language abilities and their preferred sign language system.
• Convey information promoting the awareness of the unique needs of, and issues pertinent to, deaf or hearing-impaired persons.
• Express common technical and vernacular expressions used in the classroom in a clear manner.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to the communication process between deaf or hearing-impaired persons and the needs of the persons involved in that process.
• Speak and write English clearly and with proper structure.
• Assist teaching staff with implementation of instructional goals and activities in a classroom, small group or individual learning environment. Interact with teachers, specialists and colleagues in order to carry out assigned duties.
• Assist in maintaining order among students in their assigned learning environment.
• Relate positively to students in a teaching/learning environment in a way that builds confidence, recognizes and works on learning disabilities and barriers.
• Exercise patience when conveying information, and demonstrate sensitivity to the special needs of students.
• Maintain confidentiality of student and school information.
• Learn district and state regulations, policies and objectives applicable to assigned program.
• Prepare and maintain documentation and reports as needed.
• Operate instructional and office equipment.

Physical Abilities

• Perform work of an active nature.
• Well-developed arm, hand, and finger dexterity in order to perform advanced sign language interpretation.
• Stand for extended periods of time.
• Visual acuity to recognize numbers and words, and detect speech patterns.
• Hearing acuity sufficient to understand information to be interpreted in a variety of educational environments.
• Facial dexterity to produce readable mouth movements for specific sign language expressions.
• Manual dexterity to produce readable sign language through movement of fingers and arms.
• Visual acuity to see information to be voiced (such as sign language and facial expressions).

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience

Associate's degree in a sign language interpreter training program, deaf studies or a related area. One year of experience providing sign-to-English (expressive skills) and English-to-sign (receptive skills) interpreting in one or more sign systems/languages. Additional related experience in an academic or similar environment may be substituted for some higher education based on two years of experience for one year of college.

Licenses and Certificates

Candidates must be certified by the national Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID), or equivalent; in lieu of RID certification or equivalent, an educational interpreter must have achieved a score of 4.0 or above on the EIPA, the ESSE-I/R, or the NAD/ACCI assessment. If providing Cued Language transliteration, a transliterator shall possess TEC Unit certification or have achieved a score of 4.0 or above on the EIPA- Cued Speech.

Valid California dirver's license.

Work Environment

Work is performed in a classroom, office, and intermittent outdoor environments where minimal health and safety considerations exist.