Educational Interpreter (ASL)

Part-Time - 25 hours/week

Summary

An employee in this class is responsible for transliterating/interpreting in the classroom or at school-related activities for students who are deaf or hard of hearing. Daily directions are provided by the general education teacher and/or the teacher of the deaf. The employee consults with the teachers when problems arise.

REPORTS TO:  Director of Exceptional Children
FSLA STATUS: Non-Exempt

Required education, training, and experience

A minimum of Level 3 on the Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment or a passing score on a state-level interpreting evaluation and a minimum of a high school diploma. For persons serving as an educational interpreter, I must annually complete 15 hours of training related to interpreting that has been approved by the local education agency. 

Essential duties and responsibilities

• Facilitates communication between the student and his peers and the student and adults in the school environment. 
• Studies the content of the lessons prior to class to ensure accurate representation of the lesson.
• Tutors students who are deaf or hard of hearing under the direction of the teacher. Provides feedback to the teachers upon request.
• Serves as a liaison to promote positive and cooperative relationships within the school environment.
• Competence in the communication modality used by the student who is deaf or hard of hearing.
• Competence in English grammar, including syntax, spelling, and punctuation.
• Working knowledge of typical language development.
• Strong interpersonal skills in relating to students and adults.
• Working knowledge of subjects being interpreted.
• Understanding of deafness and its impact on language development.
• Skill in expressive transliterating/interpreting at a rate commensurate with conversational speech and class lectures.
• Adequate reverse interpreting/transliterating skills while maintaining the integrity of the message.
• Ability to work as part of an Individualized Education Program team.

Physical Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be physically able to operate a variety of equipment, including computers, copiers, etc. 
• Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. 

Work environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.  There may be changing priorities and interruptions during the workday.
• Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristics of data, people, or things.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information.  Includes giving instructions, assignments, or directions to subordinates or assistants.
• Requires the ability to read a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, articles, proposals, contracts, etc.  Requires the ability to prepare correspondence, reports, forms, evaluations, policies, etc., using prescribed formats.
• Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form.
• Requires the ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.  Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages, including medical, legal, and counseling terminology.

DISCLAIMER: The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position. They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills that may be required of the employees assigned to this position. This description may be revised by the supervisor, with HR review and approval, at any time.