Translator

KCK•Kansas City, KS

11d

About The Position

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 22,000 students and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated High School in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings. With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers. JOB GOAL: To support the educational opportunities for children and families by facilitating cross-cultural communication between language minority persons and school district staff through the interpretation of conversations and translation of documents and other materials from one language to another.

Requirements

One year of experience working in an educational setting and/or service-oriented agency that works with language minority families
Ability to interact and develop working relationships with professionals, staff, children, and their families using positive interpersonal, oral, and written communication in English and a second language
Ability to maintain cultural sensitivity when relaying concepts and ideas between languages
Ability to work flexible hours
Must be self-motivated and reliable
Must have basic computer skills
Ability to maintain confidentiality
High School Diploma or GED
Ability to speak, read, and write fluently in English and a second language.
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Ability to read and analyze and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
Ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.

Responsibilities

Must demonstrate fluency (speaking, comprehension, reading and writing) in one of the target student languages (Spanish, Burmese, Karen, Chin, Nepali,) and English.
Facilitate oral communication between language minority persons and district staff by interpreting telephone conversations, conference calls, in-person conversations, etc., during school hours, for parent/teacher conferences, after-school activities, and other school functions
Translates school-home communications and system-wide documents from English to the target language
Uses technology in English and the target language appropriately to format, translate, save and retrieve work
Clarifies content and terminology
Reviews and evaluates documents
Edits the work of other translators and responds to the editing suggestions of others
Assumes responsibility for the quality of translation work submitted by reviewing, editing, and revising own work and the quality of interpretation by clarifying ideas and messages to assist with understanding
Learns new translations
Performs all other job-related duties as assigned by immediate supervisor
Maintains communication with school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action, which will meet the educational needs of students.
Utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties.
Performs other related work as required.