Job Description

Position Title: Sign Language Interpreter

Department: Student Services

Supervisor: Director of Special Education

Term of Employment: 9 months

Salary Classification: Classified Hourly Grade 15 or 18, depending on certification level

Job Summary: Provides educational, social, and informational interpreting services for the deaf and hearing impaired to facilitate communication between those who can hear and those who are deaf or hearing impaired.

Essential Functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include, but are not limited to, the following tasks, duties, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents in this class.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES generally include the following:

• Facilitates communications between teachers and student in a regular (mainstream) classroom, resource room and during leisure activities.
• Tutors hearing impaired students utilizing a variety of forms of non-verbal and voice communications.
• Reviews, prepares and becomes familiar with subject matter, vocabulary and terms to prepare for upcoming classes.
• Researches information to prepare for special assemblies, concerts, plays and/or field trips.
• Uses a variety of modalities and electronic devices such as closed captioning, hearing aids, and assistive listening devices and telecommunications equipment to enhance the understanding of the information being interpreted.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of applicable Federal, state, county and city statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances and PUSD policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of the principles of professional sign interpretation practices, methods and techniques.
• Knowledge of the principles of electronic audio-visual equipment to provide communication and support to the deaf community and its culture.
• Knowledge of the principles of educational/tutoring techniques, instruction and tutoring methods.
• Skill in reading, interpreting, understanding and applying relevant Federal, state and PUSD rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Skill in identifying, advocating and supporting the educational needs of the hearing impaired population served.
• Skill in developing, maintaining and updating a variety of confidential records and files.
• Skill in interpreting a wide variety of educational, instructional and social conversations.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with co-workers, vendors, students, parents, the general public and others having business with the school district.
• Skill in operating a personal computer utilizing a variety of software applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: High school diploma or GED. Completion of an Interpreter Training Program, AND one (1) year of providing instructional interpretation in a school environment; OR any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved, proficiency of interpreting skills through one of the following:

• Minimum passing score of 3.5 or better on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
• Valid Certificate of Interpretation (CI) and/or Certificate of Transliteration (CT) from the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
• Valid certificate from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) at Level 3 or higher.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Must hold or obtain an IVP fingeprint clearance card.
• Must be able to pass a background check.
• Must demonstrate fluency in sign language interpretation of a variety of educational materials and activities.
• May be required to work outside normal working hours.