American Sign Language Interpreter
American Sign Language (ASL) InterpreterJob Description
Position Title: American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter Reports To: Director of Special Services and Building Principal
Position Summary
The American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreter facilitates effective communication between students who are deaf or hard of hearing and their hearing peers, teachers, staff, and other members of the school community. The interpreter provides accurate and impartial interpretation and transliteration services in educational settings to ensure students have equitable access to instruction, extracurricular activities, school events, and all educational opportunities in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable New Jersey statutes and regulations.
The ASL Interpreter serves as a communication facilitator and is an integral member of the educational team while maintaining the ethical standards of the interpreting profession.
Qualifications
· High school diploma required; Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred.
· Demonstrated proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL) and English.
· Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA) score meeting New Jersey requirements or nationally recognized interpreter certification preferred.
· Knowledge of Deaf culture and the educational needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
· Experience working with school-aged children preferred.
· Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
· Ability to maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA, IDEA, HIPAA, and district policies.
· Successful completion of all required New Jersey criminal history background checks.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Interpretation Services
· Provide accurate and complete interpretation between spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) during instructional and non-instructional activities.
· Interpret classroom instruction, discussions, presentations, assemblies, field trips, extracurricular activities, counseling sessions, IEP meetings (when appropriate), and other school-sponsored activities.
· Utilize a variety of communication modalities, including:
o American Sign Language (ASL)
o Conceptually Accurate Signed English (CASE), when appropriate
o Fingerspelling
o Oral interpreting
o Visual supports
· Adjust interpreting strategies to meet the individual communication needs identified in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Student Support
· Facilitate communication between the student and teachers, peers, administrators, and related service providers.
· Encourage student independence and self-advocacy while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
· Promote full participation in academic, social, and extracurricular activities.
· Support access to classroom discussions without altering instructional content.
Collaboration
· Collaborate with Teachers of the Deaf, Child Study Team members, classroom teachers, related service providers, and administrators.
· Participate in IEP meetings, planning meetings, and professional development as requested.
· Assist staff in understanding communication strategies that support students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Professional Responsibilities
· Adhere to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) Code of Professional Conduct and all district policies.
· Maintain confidentiality regarding all student information.
· Participate in ongoing professional development to maintain and enhance interpreting skills.
· Maintain required certifications and professional credentials.
· Demonstrate professionalism, cultural competence, and ethical decision-making.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Successful candidates will demonstrate:
· Fluency in American Sign Language and spoken English.
· Knowledge of educational interpreting practices.
· Understanding of Deaf culture and language acquisition.
· Ability to interpret complex academic content accurately.
· Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills.
· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
· Ability to adapt communication methods based on individual student needs.
· Ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary educational teams.
Physical Requirements
· Ability to communicate continuously using ASL throughout the instructional day.
· Ability to sit, stand, and move throughout classrooms and school facilities.
· Sufficient visual and auditory acuity to effectively interpret classroom instruction and student interactions.
· Ability to accompany students during community-based instruction, field trips, and extracurricular activities.
Work Environment
The ASL Interpreter works in general education classrooms, special education classrooms, related service settings, assemblies, extracurricular activities, field trips, and other educational environments where interpreting services are required.
Evaluation
Performance shall be evaluated annually by the Director of Special Services and Building Principal in accordance with Board policy, district procedures, and applicable New Jersey regulations.
Terms of Employment
Salary, work year, hours, and benefits shall be in accordance with the negotiated agreement between the Board of Education and the applicable employee association.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Board of Education is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected classification under federal and New Jersey law.
Salary: Commensurate with education, certification and experience, following 2024-2028 MEA Salary Guide ranging from $20.11/hour to $88,200/annually.
Please submit letter of interest, resume and copy of certification/s to:
Mrs. Bridget Antonucci; Interim Director of Special Services
Parkview School
80 Violet Terrace
Milltown, NJ 08850