2024-2025 Educational Interpreter, ASL - Special Education

Job Title:                        Educational Interpreter

Department:                  Special Education Services

Pay Grade:                     H251

FLSA Status:                  Non-Exempt

Reports to:                     Assistant Director III – Special Services

GENERAL PURPOSE

Responsible for providing support to the instructional program with specific responsibilities for assisting in the instruction of students who are identified as deaf and hard of hearing; providing voice to sign and sign to voice support; and serving as a resource to other school personnel requiring assistance with persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Adapt language to clarify classroom work under the direction of the teacher providing a method to support and/or reinforce lesson plans to assigned students.
• Assess classroom, assembly hall, and other room setups for students identified as deaf/hard of hearing ensuring proper setup to facilitate students' learning.
• Attend Education Program meetings with assigned student(s) providing necessary input into the evaluation of students' progress and/or implementing/modifying students' objectives through the conversion of conversation to sign.
• Conduct and participate in in-service meetings conveying information and upgrading classroom skills necessary for the successful educational process for students identified as deaf/hard of hearing.
• Interpret subject specific tests and skill assessments under the guidance of a classroom teacher or resource teacher evaluating students' language ability and subject.
• Interpret in meetings and activities with students and other individuals who are deaf/hard of hearing providing content understanding and communication between voice to sign and sign to voice.
• Interpret to students identified as deaf/hard of hearing, under the supervision of the teacher, in accordance with lesson plans supporting student comprehension and assisting the teacher in improving students' academic success through a defined course of study.
• Maintain a variety of confidential and non-confidential manual and electronic lists and records documenting activities and/or providing reliable information.
• Monitor student activities in the educational environment under the supervision of certified personnel providing a safe and positive learning environment.
• Provide teachers with input assisting in evaluating student progress and/or student objectives.
• Provide reinforcement of lesson objectives to students implementing goals for remediation of student deficiencies by the conversion of voice to sign.
• Use adapted classroom work/homework/assessment instruments under the direction of the teacher providing voice to sign and sign to voice support and/or supporting learning objectives.
• May be asked to collaborate with other interpreters on projects, such as music programs or extracurricular events; this includes discussing goals and interpreting decisions; creating standards for specific things like the Pledge of Allegiance; and other job related elements with the team.
• Perform other related duties as required/assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Education and Experience

• Targeted, job related education with study in job-related area.
• Job related experience is required.

Certificates, Licenses and Other Special Requirements

• Must have and maintain certification through Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
• Must have and maintain licensure through State of Missouri Division of Professional Registration as an Interpreter
• Must pass a Criminal Background Clearance, the results of which must be satisfactory to the District, required. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of basic math, including calculations using fractions, percentages, and/or ratios; read a variety of manuals, write documents following prescribed formats, and/or present information to others; and solve practical problems.
• Knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include student behavior management strategies/techniques; and ASL or other manual communication language.
• Skill to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to routinely upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions.
• Skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job, including: operating equipment used in instructional media machines and specialized equipment for the hearing impaired; operating standard office equipment using pertinent software applications; and preparing and maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to read technical information and compose a variety of documents.
• Ability to analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.
• Ability to work with others under a wide variety of circumstances; working with data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using defined methods.
• Ability to work with a significant diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of widely varied types and/or purposes; and utilize job-related equipment.
• Ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders to accomplish District objectives.
• Ability to apply critical thinking/problem solving to improve work processes.
• Ability to adhere to safety practices; meet deadlines and schedules; work under time constraints; and communicate with diverse groups.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements

• Work environment is primarily inside, where the noise and temperature levels are moderate.
• The work is sedentary work that requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.
• Must possess the physical ability to work primarily with fingers, perceive the nature of sounds, make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes, express or exchange ideas by the spoken word, substantial movements (motions) with the hands, wrists, and/or fingers, and discern letters or numbers at a given distance.
• Additionally, the following physical abilities are required: balancing, climbing, crawling, crouching, feeling, grasping, handling, hearing, kneeling, manual dexterity, mental acuity, reaching, repetitive motion, speaking, standing, stooping, talking, visual acuity and walking.