Sign Language Interpreter

Culpeper County School District•Culpeper, VA

About The Position

The sign language interpreter is responsible for providing educational interpreting services to deaf/hard of hearing student(s), for accommodating the communication needs of students who are deaf/hard of hearing as determined by the IEP team, and for providing other forms of educational assistance to the student(s) as necessary based on the specific needs of the student(s). Serve as the conduit between the student(s) and those they interact with throughout their day. Also, provide after-school services should they need it.

Requirements

High school graduate or equivalent
Minimum of a Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III, RID certified interpreter, a TECUnit certified translator, or a passing score on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) written test and a minimum score of Level 3.5 on the EIPA Performance test
Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience
Proficient in sign language interpreting
Demonstrate skills in language and vocabulary of academics, abstract thinking, and a working knowledge of the developmental changes that occur in students in kindergarten through grade 12
Comprehensive understanding of deaf culture
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with deaf/hard of hearing students and staff
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Ability to maintain professional boundaries with students, parents, and other staff members
Ability to attend professional development opportunities to improve skills

Responsibilities

Lead and participate in all communications tasks required to assist deaf/hard of hearing students
Provide interpreter services for students in general education and/or special education setting, including sign language interpreting, sign language transliterating, cued speech/language transliterating, oral transliterating, and transcription services
Provide voice interpreting as needed
Provide interpreting for school functions outside of the classroom during school hours
Interprets at the appropriate language level, which may mean modifying the teacher’s language to better scaffold the student’s learning. Any modifications should be discussed with the educational team, including the regular education classroom teacher and teacher of the hearing impaired
Ensure implementation of IEP accommodations
Provide information to teachers, deaf/hard of hearing students, and parents about interpreting services
Act as a liaison to promote positive relationships and full school participation between deaf/hard of hearing student(s), teachers, peers, and school staff as needed and appropriate
Interpret all auditory and visual information, including instructions, discussions, questions and answers, interruptions, and messages on public address system; interprets movies, slides, student presentations, and other audio-visual presentations
Consult with students’ case manager and classroom teacher(s) as needed to improve interpreting services to assignment student(s)
Assist with the collection and correlation of materials used in both the regular and special education classrooms
Assist in maintaining equipment used in the classroom
Work closely with the teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing and follows his/her recommendations and directions for enhancing the performance of the deaf/hard of hearing student(s)
Assist in assessing the classroom environment and developing strategies with the special education and general education teachers to enhance the performance of the deaf/hard of hearing student(s)
Attend and/or provide input for IEP team meetings as needed
Assist general education and special education teacher to the extent appropriate given the interpreting demands of the student(s) to whom assigned
Performs other related duties as assigned