Educational Sign Language Interpreter

Reports To

Director of Special Education

To facilitate communication, and make cultural adjustments when necessary, between students who are deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH) and their hearing peers, teachers, and other personnel involved in the students’ education, using American Sign Language (ASL) or Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE) to convey spoken communication and intent, and to serve as a resource to other school personnel requiring assistance with the D/HH student.

• High school diploma or GED required
• Prefer BA degree or AA in interpreting, or completion of an interpreter training program, or equivalent experience
• Preferred certification:
  Level 3 or above on the EIPA or RID
• Competency in understanding and expressing ASL and/or Manually Coded English systems

• Interprets lectures, discussions, announcements, conversations, meetings, events, and other spoken word situations, using a manual sign language or system appropriate for the language and the cultural background of D/HH student and staff.
• Accurately interprets D/HH students’ signs into voiced fluent English for other students and staff.
• If needed, provides some tutoring and instructional support to the D/HH students to assist them in their classes to support the goals and objectives of the educational program.
• Assists in providing clarification of the interpreter’s role to all students and staff/faculty.
• Participates in IEP meetings as a team member providing insight on the student’s use of communication strategies, or as the interpreter for the meeting, but not both roles at the same time.
• Interprets at meetings attended by parents who are deaf/hard-of-hearing.
• Provides information and orientation to the D/HH students in emergency situations.
• Works effectively as a team with other sign language interpreters.
• Provides interpreting for situations that are part of the educational program that occur outside of the school environment (i.e. field trips).
• May interpret for extracurricular school activities in which the D/HH student is involved (sports, drama, etc.).
• Completes continuing education to maintain or work toward interpreter certification (EIPA or RID).