Job Details

Educational Sign Language Interpreter

Responsible for providing communication access through sign language in a wide range of instructional and extra-curricular activities within an educational program. Works cooperatively with school personnel to provide coordinated interpreting services to students. An Educational Sign Language Interpreter is a qualified interpreter who is able to provide communication access to students, teachers, and staff in settings requiring sign language, both receptively and expressively in a pre-K through 12 public school setting.

An employee working for Kanawha County Schools is expected to comply with all the Kanawha County Schools Policies and Procedures, including maintaining regular attendance and completing all required training. Employees are required to follow all safety rules to maintain a safe workplace.

Essential Job Duties:

• Work under the direction and supervision of the teacher to whom assigned
• Interpret for students utilizing the student's preferred mode of communications
• Provide interpreting during the school day in academic and non-academic settings with staff, peers, and other hearing impaired and deaf students
• Confer with educators to plan for interpreting services
• Demonstrate self-improvement in signing ability, interpreting skills, communications with school personnel, and understanding the educational process by attending staff meetings
• To assist students and perform other related duties as indicated by teachers and administrators
• To provide an appropriate role model for students
• To maintain positive work habits, to perform duties efficiently and productively and to maintain and upgrade skills
• To fulfill duties as described in IEP
• To provide interpreting in other capacities to include communication with deaf parents, committee meetings, PTA, conferences, and other situations as needed
• To act as liaison between educators
• To assist teachers and bus drivers in monitoring student's activities
• To perform basic clerical assistance
• Attends meeting/training as requested by supervisor
• To participate in other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the principal or building supervisor

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. However, accommodations as provided below may be provided to help you perform essential job duties.

Qualifications:

• A high school diploma or general education development (GED), pursuant to WV Code 18A-2-5
• Criminal background check conducted pursuant to WV Code 18-5-15c
• Meet the definition of "Qualifications" in WV Code 18A-4-8b and WV Board of Education Policy 5202; demonstrated competency, pursuant to WV Code 18A-4-8e (state-approved competency test) as required.
• Certificate and meet the requirements for a WVDE Paraprofessional Certificate: Educational Sign Language Interpreter I or II.
• This includes the ability to qualify for the West Virginia Paraprofessional Certificate, a score of at least 3.0 on the Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment (EIPA) for Interpreter I certification or 3.5 and pass the EIPA Written Performance Assessment for Interpreter II certification.
• Applicant must be registered with the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
• Applicant must be able to interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary and must have knowledge of deafness and Deaf culture.
• The interpreter must have knowledge of hearing loss and other conditions and their effect on early development of language.
• An interpreter should have knowledge of speech, motor, adaptive skills, and social-emotional development of the student who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Principal Accountability:

Interpreters shall accept the same responsibility and authority as other members of the educational staff. They will abide by and enforce federal, state, school district, and individual school laws and rules. Interpreters shall provide communication access in the wide range of instructional activities within the educational program. Interpreters shall interpret effectively, accurately, and impartially both receptively and expressively using any necessary specialized vocabulary. Interpreters shall have the ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, or scheduled form.

The physical demands described are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.