Special Ed Interpreter SPANISH - Office of Specialized Services

General Information

Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) is looking to hire a full-time SPANISH Special Ed Interpreter - 10 mo for our Office of Specialized Services in St. Paul, MN. We are aiming to fill this role in 2 - 4 weeks. Employees could be eligible for Medical/Dental/Vision/Pension and accrue sick and vacation time.

Facilitate communication, both oral and written, between families, students and special education staff during special education evaluation and programming.

Report to the Supervisor, Special Education.

Bachelor's degree with a bilingual focus or two years of college coursework and two years of interpreting and/or translating experience. Must be fluent in oral and written communication skills in both English and a second language.

Must be able to work a flexible schedule as needed and have a reliable means of transportation in order to travel to multiple sites on a regular basis.

• Knowledge of special education and due process rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of special education terminology and of disability categories.
• Knowledge of special education programs and community resources available for special education children and their parents.
• Knowledge of the dominant, home, school and special education cultures.
• Skill in the operation of a computer and ability to utilize software programs to accomplish work objectives.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English and a second language (oral, written and listening) and within cultural mores.
• Ability to coordinate a complex schedule within deadlines and with minimal supervision.
• Ability to interact with parents in a respectful, culturally appropriate manner, often in emotional situations and to create trust and calm in meetings between parents and district staff.
• Ability to serve as a member of a team.

• Serve as part of the Special Education Team to assist licensed staff with making decisions relating to special education placement and establishing Individual Education Plans by providing information gathered from parents and children through the use of screening tools and interviews.
• Administer screening tools as appropriate; listen to and evaluate speech sounds in home language in conjunction with speech language pathologists; transcribe students' language samples from home language into the English equivalent.
• Advise special education staff whether evaluation and assessment tools and test items are culturally appropriate and/or fair; advise special education and/or school staff when parents or students need more information about special education or school policies and procedures.
• Conduct telephone interviews and occasional in-person interviews with parents of students referred for special education evaluation to gather information regarding their child's development, language skills and health.
• Respond to parent questions regarding special education, due process and disabling conditions; explain special education services and disabilities to parents in a culturally sensitive manner; ensure that parents are informed of their rights in a legally defensible manner.
• Act as an on-going contact with special education staff for parents who do not speak English.
• Facilitate oral and written communication between students, parents and all appropriate district and school staff;
• Advise district and school staff on culturally appropriate behavior during home visits and/or meetings.
• Coordinate meetings for ELL families and schedule student evaluations with the appropriate special education staff.
• Coordinate and participate in home visits with Early Childhood Special Education staff.
• Transcribe, translate and document…