Sign Language Interpreter

Our outstanding teachers, support staff members and leaders are top-notch educators whom others seek to emulate, and quite simply – we would like for you to consider joining us. General Description Facilitates communication between students, staff and parents who are deaf or hard of hearing and others within the educational environment. Relays information to and from the consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing and others; interprets and transliterates both voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice communication. Employee works with little direct supervision regarding interpretations and transliterations.

Job Description Essential Job Functions:

• Interprets and transliterates information while conveying the thought, intent, and intended spirit of the message.
• Conveys the content of the message clearly and accurately according to the preferred language modality of the consumer (student, staff, parent and/or community member).
• Promotes appropriate use of interpreters in educational settings.
• Provides interpreting/transliterating services to consumers (student, staff, parent, and/or community members) in a wide variety of settings including but not limited to: classroom, parent-teacher meetings, IEP meetings, after school activities, graduations, concerts and theater performances, administrative meetings and/or trainings.
• Promotes appropriate use of interpreters in educational settings and other venues in which services are rendered.
• Coordinates and plans with school staff for appropriate setting (lighting, angle of viewing, distance, etc) and use of closed captions when possible.
• Plans and prepares for interpreting assignments by reviewing any and all material available related to assignments and acquiring specific vocabulary knowledge needed to interpret/transliterate the source material appropriately.
• Participates in skill development activities and professional growth opportunities to maintain or improve certification.
• Provides support/tutoring to the deaf or hard of hearing student for the purpose of facilitating communication and/or reinforcing classroom objectives.
• Responds to inquiries from administrators, teachers and other staff for the purpose of providing information or referring to appropriate personnel.
• Follows division, department and school policies and procedures and maintains confidentiality.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Budgetary Responsibility N/A

Report Preparation Provides periodic reports as requested by the supervisor.

Equipment Operation Utilizes personal computer and general office equipment.

Contacts Contact with all levels of CCPS personnel.

Work Direction N/A

Supervision N/A

Decision Making Employee functions independently regarding interpretations and transliterations.

Formal Policy-Setting Responsibilities N/A

Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, printed materials and/or controls; reach with hands and arms, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, climb, balance, stoop and kneel. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and distance vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Qualifications Considerable knowledge of deafness (language and culture); of interpretation and transliteration methodologies and practices, of related state and federal guidelines and the RID Code of Professional Conduct. Fluent in English and American Sign Language. Demonstrated ability to interpret or transliterate simultaneously voice-to-sign and sign-to-voice quickly, accurately and understandably; to quickly determine specific communicative needs of consumers (student, staff, parent, and/or community members). Demonstrated ability to communicate with others both orally and in writing.

Demonstrated ability to develop positive and effective working relationships with students, teachers, staff, parents and the public; to work independently and to prioritize work schedules.

Additional Job Requirements

• Valid Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level II; or
• Passing score on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Written Test along with a minimum of a Level 3.0 on the EIPA Performance Test or the equivalent from another state.

Interpreters hired with a VQAS Level II or an EIPA Level 3.0 will have two years from the date of hire to reach the required Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) qualifications of a VQAS score of III or a minimum EIPA Performance Test score of 3.5.

Preferred Qualifications

• a valid Virginia Quality Assurance Screening (VQAS) Level III; or
• a passing score on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) Written Test along with a minimum of a Level 3.5 on the EIPA Performance Test or any other state qualification or national certification (excluding Certificate of Deaf Interpretation) recognized by the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) as equivalent to or exceeding the VQAS Level III.

Applicants considered for employment must successfully complete the following background investigations/tests:

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal History Investigation
• State Police Criminal History Investigation
• Child Protective Services (CPS) Investigation
• Tuberculosis Screening/Test

Compensation $40,598.32 - $69,001.22

Hours Per Day 7.25

Days Per Year 183

Benefits Chesterfield County Public Schools offers a wide variety of benefits to employees. Benefit offerings may differ based upon full-time and part-time employee status.

Chesterfield County Public Schools assures Equal Employment Opportunities for employees as required by Federal and State Orders and Laws. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks. This job description is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements. However, administration reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position and does not imply an employment contract.