Professionally support the mission of San Joaquin County Office of Education, in providing high-quality delivery of educational services to all students. Under the direction of a Program Administrator, provides interpreting/transliteration services that effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary that facilitates communication between deaf and/or hard of hearing (D/HH), students, and others; teachers, administrator, parents, students, counselors. To assist a teacher in providing instruction to deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
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MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING
Meet current State of California Department of Education Standards to qualify as a sign language interpreter in public education. Until State Standards are implemented the following qualifications will be in effect: 1) Equivalent of the completion of the twelfth grade; 2) Demonstrated proficiency reading, writing, and math skills at a level required for high school seniors; 3) Interpreter certification from a statewide or nationally recognized organization or certifying body e.g. Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf; RID, or ACCI/NAD level IV.
DESIRABLE EXPERIENCE:
Successful experience interacting with youth, preferably handicapped youth. Interaction with the deaf community. Experience working in an instructional environment. Experience in the area of child development. Completion of a formal interpreter preparation program with a certificate of completion.
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Professionally support the mission of San Joaquin County Office of Education, in providing high-quality delivery of educational services to all students. Under the direction of a Program Administrator, provides interpreting/transliteration services that effectively, accurately, and impartially, both receptively and expressively, using any necessary specialized vocabulary that facilitates communication between deaf and/or hard of hearing (D/HH), students and others; teachers, administrator, parents, students, counselors. To assist a teacher in providing instruction to deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
- Interpret for D/HH students who are educated in a variety of educational environments, general education, and special education continuum including early childhood natural environments, community-based and vocational instruction.
- Recognize and adjust interpretive language to match the student’s preferred language and language mode to ensure that the student comprehends the interpretation.
- Interpret for parent conferences, IEP meetings and other school-sponsored activities as needed.
- Provide tutoring and instructional support to D/HH students to assist them in their classes to support the goals and objectives of the educational program.
- Participate in educational team meetings and providing information on students’ use of interpreting services and proficiency in communication.
- Provide staff orientations on the use of an interpreter and his/her own knowledge and skill in interpreting through workshops, training, classes and professional organization memberships.
- Maintain confidentiality about student information and communication content, as appropriate to the educational system.
- Participate in meetings, conferences and in-service training programs as assigned.
- Facilitate the on-going acquisition of sign language skills for students and staff.
- Assist in data collection, maintaining records, class assignments and provide signing to assist in achieving IEP/IFSP goals and benchmarks; report student progress to assigned teachers.
- Consult with classroom teachers to identify pupils in need of special assistance, identify unusual problems and report to teachers as appropriate.
- Assist with the social development of students through communication, implementation of behavior support plans and appropriate modeling of behavior.
- Work with teachers to develop ways of increasing interaction between deaf students and all peers.
- Support the use of assistive technology, hearing aids, auditory trainers etc.
- Maintain cultural awareness and sensitivity to different attitudes and life styles
- Plan a program of professional development for improving job-related skills.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Knowledge of:
- To be knowledgeable of a variety of sign languages and systems e.g. American Sign Language, Pidgin Sign English, Manually Coded English, Cued Speech.
- To draw on a broad spectrum of knowledge in the humanities, sciences, and the arts, often collectively called general studies.
- To utilize knowledge and good judgment on issues of ethics, culture and professionalism.
- To have knowledge of the educational implications, challenges and issues that face students with hearing impairment.
- Additional support services: Tutoring techniques and responsibilities; note-taking, use of visuals, specialized seating.
- Orientation to deafness: Information about teaching sign language and about deafness or hearing impairment for the lay person; referral sources on general topics relating to deafness; when, how, and to whom to make referrals, promoting an expanded communication environment for the deaf or hard of hearing student; fostering student participation in activities.
- Challenges and issues that face students with deafness and hearing impairment.
Abilities to:
- Utilize Visual English and American Sign Language and demonstrate ability to understand and to be understood by a variety of students at different age level.
- Facilitating communication between a student and the student’s teacher that reflects a “sense of the whole message” rather than just a technically correct translation of the words used.
- Convey the different “registers” of the speaker e.g. degree of formality, range of emotion, directiveness, and discourse markers which indicate the comment is an “aside” or a sidebar to the main conversation.
- Interpreter should recognize when communication provided by the interpreter is or is not clearly understood by the student.
- Utilize appropriate signs from already known signs, to promote the understanding of concepts and words found in an academic setting, and research signs that are needed for the academic area.
- Demonstrate interpersonal and professional skills with the ability to interact effectively with peers, supervisors, children and parents, utilizing tact, patience, and courtesy.
- Encourage student independence, including use of communication.
- Assist students in a positive, flexible, and understanding manner.
- Modify and prepare instructional materials for the student as directed by the teacher.
- Understand and follow oral, signed, and written directions.
- Speak, read, and write clearly and distinctly.
- Provide instructional assistance to students in a variety of activities.
- Ability to learn the functions, procedures and limitations of assigned duties, as well as maintain a professional relationship with all students and families.
- Ability to successfully supervise student.
- Demonstrate on-going proficiency development in the area of sign language systems.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Employees in this position must have the ability to:
- Sit for extended periods of time.
- Enter data into a computer terminal/typewriter, operate standard office equipment, and use a telephone.
- See and read a computer screen and printed matter with or without vision aids.
- Hear and understand speech at normal levels and on the telephone.
- Speak so that others may understand at normal levels and on the telephone.
- Drive to a variety of locations.
- Transport students to events when needed.
- Stand, walk, and bend over, reach overhead, grasp, push, pull and move, lift and/or carry up to 25 pounds to
waist height.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Employees in this position will be required to work both indoors in a standard office environment and come in direct
contact with SJCOE staff, district staff, and the public.