Paraeducator - Hearing Impaired (Sign Language)

Oxnard School District•Oxnard, CA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Manager of Special Education, this role acts as an aide and interpreter for hearing-impaired students not in an oral speech program. The paraeducator assists students within their assigned educational environment, facilitates communication between deaf and/or hard of hearing students and hearing persons, and performs various duties related to their assigned responsibilities. This position involves providing sign-to-voice and voice-to-sign interpreting, instructional support, and assisting students in developing communication skills. The role also includes supporting teachers in communication needs, behavior management, and preparing instructional materials. Clerical duties, travel to multiple classrooms, and attendance at meetings like IEPs may also be required.

Requirements

Graduation from high school or equivalent.
Completion of at least two years of study (48 semester units or 60 quarter units) at an accredited institution of higher education; OR Attainment of an Associate of Arts degree or higher; OR Meeting a rigorous standard of quality by receiving a passing score on an examination administered by the Personnel Commission, demonstrating the knowledge and ability to assist in instructing reading, writing, and mathematics.
Six months of sign language interpreting experience working with students or school-age children in a school, health services, or other structured environment.
Possession of a valid CPR and First Aid certificate.
Must possess a valid certificate issued by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) or an equivalent certification as defined by the California Department of Education (e.g., NAD, ACCI, EIPA, ESSE-I/R with a score of 4.0 or higher).

Nice To Haves

Experience working with special education students is desirable.
A valid California Driver’s License may be required for some positions.

Responsibilities

Provides sign to voice and voice to sign interpreting of communications between students and teachers using American Sign Language (ASL), Pidgin Signed English (PSE), or Signed Exact English (SEE) and Oral Interpreting in a variety of classroom and recreational settings.
Interprets lessons, educational information, and all directives presented by the instructor.
Integrates the hearing impaired student into the educational program of the classroom through the use of sign language, finger spelling, speech, reading, writing, gestures, pictures, and other methods.
Provides instructional support to the hearing impaired students, as required.
Assists students in developing communication skills such as sign language, speech reading, and English.
Assists students by interpreting explanations of vocabulary and basic concepts from lessons and readings; takes notes as needed.
Reverse interprets by orally responding for the student as needed.
Assists the teacher in all communication needs, including the promotion of safety and the encouragement of acceptable behavior and maintenance of discipline.
Observes and reports progress of students as required.
Observes and controls behavior of students according to approved procedures.
Assists students by providing proper examples, emotional support, friendly attitude, and general guidance.
Confers, as needed, with teachers concerning programs and materials to meet the students’ needs.
Assists the teacher in providing parents with skills to aid in communicating with their hearing impaired children in support of the classroom instructions.
Provides support to the teacher by setting up work areas, displays and exhibits, operating various educational equipment as needed, and distributing and collecting papers and supplies.
Assists hearing impaired students become self-reliant.
Performs a variety of clerical duties such as preparation of instructional materials, scoring papers, recording grades, taking role and maintaining records and files.
May travel to multiple classrooms/schools to work with students.
May be required to attend meetings such as I.E.P. meetings and parent-teacher conferences regarding hearing impaired students in order to facilitate communication.