Language Access Coordinator - Interpretation Services (ASL) (SY24-25)

Location: Office of Language Access Services - Division of Family and Community Advancement
Reports To: Director of Language Access Services

BPS Overview:

The Boston Public Schools (BPS) Office of Language Access Services (OLAS), formerly the Translation and Interpretation Unit, under the Division of Family and Community Advancement, was established in 2015 to centralize and standardize language access across the District. The mission of the OLAS is:

To ensure families have meaningful access to all aspects, programs, opportunities, and services pertaining to their children’s education by providing a multitude of language access services via internal and external resources to safeguard communications.

BPS has committed to strengthening language access district-wide and, as such, a major focus for OLAS is to ensure all families receive essential information in a timely, accurate, and accessible manner while increasing opportunities for parent involvement and voice in the District and school-based policies and initiatives.

General Position Overview:

The Office of Language Access Services (OLAS) seeks a highly skilled and motivated professional to coordinate and enhance language access services, with a specific focus on American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation and accessibility services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community. The Language Access Coordinator (ASL) will play a critical role in ensuring equitable communication access across Boston Public Schools (BPS) by managing ASL interpretation requests, collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring compliance with ADA and other relevant accessibility regulations.

Reporting to the Director of Language Access Services, this position will oversee the scheduling, coordination, and quality assurance of ASL and Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART) services while providing in-person and virtual ASL interpretation when necessary. Additionally, the Coordinator will support language access initiatives, professional development, and policy implementation to promote inclusive and effective communication for all BPS students, families, and staff.

The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, a deep understanding of language access policies, and expertise in ASL interpretation, including experience working in educational settings. To effectively perform this role, the candidate must possess cultural competence, understanding, and respect for the Deaf community's diverse values and norms. This position requires proactive problem-solving, stakeholder engagement, and compliance monitoring to uphold BPS’s commitment to language accessibility and educational equity.

Responsibilities:

Language Access Services Coordination:

• Coordinate and process ASL, CART, and spoken language interpretation requests received from the District's scheduling system.
• Monitor and maintain scheduling systems to ensure the timely and accurate submission and completion of all ASL  interpretation requests.
• Manage communication related to interpretation services, including responding to emails and phone inquiries from staff, parents, and external vendors.
• Collaborate with other departments and schools to plan and problem-solve language access concerns.
• Ensure compliance with ADA and other relevant accessibility regulations regarding ASL services.
• Coordinate and implement quality assurance evaluations to guarantee equitable service delivery.
• Provide in-person and remote ASL interpreting to staff, families, or students when needed, which might involve travel to assignments, including night and weekend assignments.

Customer Service & Stakeholder Engagement:

• Maintain and develop relationships with stakeholders such as the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) Interpreter Referral Services, contracted providers of Interpreting and CART services, City of Boston Disability Services, BPS staff, employers, vendors, and others to ensure effective provision of communication access.
• Act as a liaison between BPS schools, families, and external interpretation service providers.
• Develop and provide resources for language access services and professional development to improve the implementation and delivery of interpreter (ASL) services.
• Actively engage in reflective practice with colleagues to ensure best practices in ethical, linguistic, and cultural competencies.

Administrative & Compliance Support:

• Ensure all interpretation-related processes align with BPS policies and legal requirements, including state and federal mandates.
• Prepare and submit reports, including usage metrics and feedback summaries for ASL and spoken language interpretation services.
• Stay informed about common ASL compliance and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and resolve compliance issues, advising management on potential risks and recommendations. 
• Perform other related duties and responsibilities as requested by the Director/Assistant Director of OLAS.

Qualifications - Required:

• A bachelor's degree in a relevant field or a minimum of three years of experience in language access coordination, interpretation or as a project coordinator in a comparable role.
• Certification is required__Either RID or reciprocal certification. OR MCDHH screening and working toward national certification.   
• EIPA certification is required by DESE for educational interpreters (MA minimum score is 3.5).  Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment.
• Strong understanding of the Code of Professional Conduct established by the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc.
• Ability to perform simultaneous and consecutive interpretation, with knowledge of both formal and informal registers in English and ASL.
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Google Suite, as well as remote conferencing platforms commonly used by BPS, including Teams, Zoom, Hangouts, and WebEx.
• Strong problem-solving and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, accompanied by excellent communication skills both orally and in writing.
• The capacity to build rapport with individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds while engaging with others in an effective and tactful manner.

Qualifications - Preferred:

• Master’s Degree in a related field.
• Additional language proficiency in Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, Somali, or Vietnamese.
• Experience in educational and public service settings
• Familiarity with desktop publishing software (InDesign, QuarkXPress, Framemaker, or Canva.
• Familiarity and/or working knowledge of local, state, and federal laws pertaining to language access and ASL services.

Terms: Managerial, B21.

The Boston Public Schools, in accordance with its nondiscrimination policies, does not discriminate in its programs, facilities, or employment or educational opportunities based on race, color, age, criminal record (inquiries only), disability, homelessness, sex/gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, genetics, or military status, and does not tolerate any form of retaliation, bias-based intimidation, threat, or harassment that demeans individuals’ dignity or interferes with their ability to learn or work.

Salary : $74,353