Educational Interpreter

Newport News Public Schools•Newport News, VA

About The Position

Position is responsible for use of American Sign Language to facilitate communication between students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their hearing peers, teachers, school staff and other personnel in the school system. The Educational Interpreter works in a variety of settings including (but not limited to) academic classes, field trips, meetings, assemblies, extracurricular or other related activities. The employee applies specialized knowledge and skills to facilitate effective cross-cultural communication accurately and impartially. Employee’s performance is evaluated collaboratively by the Lead Educational Interpreter, designated Special Education Supervisor and Principal(s).

Requirements

Personnel providing educational interpreting services for children using sign language shall have a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III, or Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) 3.5 or higher along with a passing score on the EIPA written test, or possess a current National Certification from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) (excluding Certificate of Deaf Interpretation) as recognized by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing(VDDHH).
Personnel who provide interpreting services for children who use sign language and who do not hold the required qualifications shall have a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level II, EIPA 3.0 – 3.4, or its equivalent, as determined by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, upon hiring date in any local educational agency in Virginia. Personnel will have two years from the date of hire to reach the required qualifications.
Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.
Personnel providing educational interpreting services for children using Cued Speech must have a valid Virginia Quality Assurance Screening Level III for Cued Speech or hold a national Transliteration Skills Certificate from the Testing, Evaluation and Certification Unit (TEC Unit) or equivalent recognized by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Personnel who provide interpreting services for children who use Cued Speech and who do not hold the required qualifications shall have a VQAS level I or the equivalent from another state upon hiring date in any local educational agency in Virginia. Personnel to provide Cued Speech hired with a VQAS Level I or the equivalent have three years from the date of hire to reach the required qualification.
Must possess the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public

Responsibilities

Acts as the facilitator of communication between the student with deafness/hearing impairment, school staff, fellow students, and others as appropriate.
Interprets/transliterates the teacher’s/speaker’s message, conveying the content and spirit of the speaker.
Interprets/transliterates all classroom discussions, conversations, and school assemblies.
Respects confidentiality in all areas of interpreting/transliterating assignments.
Learns signs and/or cues for special vocabulary prior to need.
Conferences with students to discuss new signs and/or cues for special class related vocabulary.
Fosters independence in students by directing the student to the teacher when the student has questions, and by encouraging the student to get class notes and assignments without the interpreter’s assistance.
Avoids advising, counseling, or interjecting personal opinions into the interpreted instruction or within the educational assignment.
Strives to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf or National Cued Speech Association.
Strives to further their knowledge and skills through participation in workshops, professional meetings, interaction with professional colleagues, and a reading of current literature in the field.
Maintains prompt and regular attendance at work.
Models nondiscriminatory practices in all activities.