Educational Interpreter

BASIC FUNCTION: Apply ASL interpreting, English transliterating and/or other communication modalities in the educational environment to ensure access to information and maximum learning between students who are deaf or hard of hearing and faculty, staff, and other students.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: The levels of interpreter are distinguished by both the level of comfort, skill, and knowledge in service delivery and encouraging effective communication and interaction in the educational setting. The interpreter serves in a supportive capacity in the classroom, clearly interprets all communication, and functions in stronger coordination and leadership with teachers and school staff to ensure achieved intent of instruction.

DUTIES: Attend and interpret the educational environment including but not limited to classrooms, laboratories, field trips, assemblies, sports practices/competitions, school-sponsored extra-curricular activities, meetings, conferences, graduation ceremonies, all other educational opportunities provided to students.

Allow deaf and hard of hearing students to communicate with faculty, staff, administrators, students and others.

Utilize planning time to meet with teachers and staff as deemed appropriate by the educational team and/or supervisors.

Prepare for demanding course material as necessary for successful interpreting and/or transliterating.

Serve as a professional member of the educational team in the Admission and Release Committee (ARC) process; and

Perform other duties as assigned that do not interfere with the communication accessibility of assigned students.

KNOWLEDGE OF: American Sign Language, Signed English, Signed Exact English and other recognized modes of communication within the deaf and hard of hearing community.

Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.

Kentucky Core Content and Program of Studies.

Applicable sections of the law, including Kentucky Administrative Regulations.

Special education, language development of, and effective strategies for educating students with hearing loss.

Values, behavior and language of the American Deaf culture; and

NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct.

ABILITY TO:

Interpret from spoken English to the IEP specified modality (ASL, Signed English, etc.) and from the IEP specified modality to spoken English.

Implement knowledge of the field of interpreting.

Relate well to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.

Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others.

Provide instructional staff with relevant information regarding student's functional abilities in the classroom.

Communicate effectively orally, in writing and across the signing continuum.

Work independently with little direction.

Maintain current knowledge of school rules, regulations, requirements and restrictions.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: High School Diploma, Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree, preferably from an Interpreter Training Program.

Some experience interpreting in an educational setting or working in the deaf community with supporting documentation preferred; or

Graduation from an Interpreter Training Program (ITP) may be accepted.

LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Temporary or full license from the Kentucky Board of Interpreters (KBI)