POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE:  Deaf and Hard of Hearing Interpreter

TYPE OF POSITION:  Professional

REPORTS TO:  Director of Exceptional Learners and Building Principal

Primary Function:

Facilitates communication between students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and individuals who use spoken English, ensuring full access to educational content, classroom discourse, and social interaction. The Interpreter serves as a vital member of the educational team, promoting inclusion and equal participation in all aspects of the school environment.

Persons in this position may perform any of the essential duties defined below.  However, this position description does not define all potential duties related to this position, and persons may be asked to perform other duties in support of the Corporation’s mission.

Essential Duties: 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily.

• Provide sign language interpretation (e.g., ASL, PSE, SEE, or other modes as required by the student’s IEP) to facilitate communication between the student and teachers, peers, and staff members.
• Interpret classroom instruction, discussions, announcements, assemblies, extracurricular activities, and other school-related communications.
• Convey the content, intent, and tone of spoken messages accurately and impartially, maintaining professional ethics and confidentiality.
• Adapt signing methods and expressive communication to match the linguistic needs and preferences of each student.
• Support students’ understanding by interpreting directions, assignments, and assessments as approved by the IEP team.
• Collaborate with teachers and service providers to ensure appropriate seating, lighting, and acoustical conditions that support visual access and comprehension.
• Serve as a linguistic and cultural bridge between Deaf/Hard of Hearing students and the school community while maintaining neutrality and professionalism.
• Participate in IEP meetings and provide input related to the student’s communication access and interpreter effectiveness.
• Maintain accurate service logs and documentation in accordance with district and Article 7 requirements.
• Pursue professional development to maintain current interpreting standards and licensure/certification as required by the State of Indiana.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Exceptional Learners or building administration.
• This position is a salaried role and will require work to be performed outside of the hourly constraints that define the school day for students.

Qualifications:

     Required:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
• Demonstrated competency in interpreting skills through evaluation or certification.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and comply with ethical standards of interpreting (RID or EIPA Code of Ethics).
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

    Preferred:

• Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) score of 3.5 or higher.
• RID/NIC or comparable certification.
• Previous experience working in K–12 educational settings.
• Knowledge of child development and classroom instructional strategies.

Physical Demands: 

The physical demands described here 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.

• Ability to move about school buildings and occasionally lift up to 20 pounds.
• Sufficient vision, hearing, and speech to conduct assessments and communicate effectively.
• Frequent use of hands for typing, writing, and test administration.
• Work is primarily in a school setting with moderate noise; some travel between schools may be required.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work environment:  

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.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• There are no environmental hazards indicated for this position.

TERMS:  Length of year and salary to be determined by the School Board.

EVALUATION:  Evaluation of performance on this job will be in accordance with the provisions in the policy handbook.

Concord Community Schools is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and it makes reasonable accommodations in accordance with federal and state laws.