Director Deaf Studies Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Sign Language Interpreter
Evaluation: Annually    Reports To: Director of Exceptional Education
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary:
The Educational Sign Language Interpreter facilitates effective communication between students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their peers, teachers, and other school personnel in the educational environment. This role ensures that students with hearing impairments have equal access to instruction, social interactions, and extracurricular activities in accordance with their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and Indiana regulations (511 IAC 7-43-1(i)).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide accurate and clear sign language interpretation and transliteration services (e.g., American Sign Language, Signed Exact English) for students who are deaf or hard of hearing during classroom instruction, discussions, assemblies, and other school-related activities.
• Adapt communication methods to meet the specific needs of the student, as outlined in the IEP, ensuring the student's preferred mode of communication is honored (511 IAC 7-32-66).
• Interpret spoken language into sign language and sign language into spoken language, maintaining the integrity and intent of the message, including tone and context.
• Collaborate with special education teachers, general education teachers, and other staff to support the student's access to the general education curriculum and social environment.
• Assist in fostering an inclusive environment by facilitating communication between the student and nondisabled peers during group activities or social settings.
• Provide additional support services, such as oral transliteration or cued speech, if specified in the student's IEP (511 IAC 7-43-1(i)).
• Maintain confidentiality of student information in compliance with state and federal laws, including Indiana special education regulations (511 IAC 7-38-1).
• Attend Case Conference Committee (CCC) meetings or other relevant meetings as needed to provide input on communication needs and accommodations.
• Participate in professional development to maintain certification and stay updated on best practices in educational interpreting.

Qualifications:

• Must hold a valid certification to interpret in an educational setting as required by Indiana regulations (511 IAC 7-36-2(d)). Examples of acceptable certifications may include, but are not limited to, Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) with a minimum score of [district-specified level, if applicable], Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) certification, or equivalent state-recognized credential.
• Associate's degree or higher in interpreting, deaf studies, or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience as determined by the district).
• Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) and other signed systems as needed to meet student communication preferences.
• Strong understanding of deaf culture and the educational needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with educators, administrators, and families.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to adapt to various settings and situations within the school environment.
• Prior experience in an educational setting is preferred but not required.

Qualification Requirements:

1. Indiana Occupational Therapist license. 
2. Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organization skills.
3. General office skills (i.e., typing, filing, operation of duplicating equipment).
4. Entry-level computer skills (i.e., word processing, data entry).
5. Ability to maintain confidentiality.
6. Willingness to improve and/or develop job-related skills.
7. Excellent communication skills-oral, written, and interpersonal. Detail oriented.
8. Excellent work habits, attendance record, and completed and passed all criminal history and child abuse clearances.
9. Shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout his/her employment in the Corporation.

Physical Ability ~ Physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk, and hear. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 60 pounds.

Sensory Requirements ~ Most tasks require visual perception and discrimination. All tasks require oral communication ability.

Environmental Factors ~ The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job: 

• Tasks are regularly performed without potential exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as temperature and noise extremes, odors, humidity, vibrations, traffic hazards, or violence.  Some daily exposure to risk of injury and/or illness. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however the noise level can vary depending upon daily activity, but will still remain within the acceptable noise level range.

Mental Effort  ~ Normal concentration/intensity, which includes prolonged mental effort with limited opportunity for breaks. 

~ When duties and responsibilities change and develop the job description will be reviewed and subject to changes of business necessity ~

The Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to allow them to perform the essential functions of the job when such individuals request an accommodation.