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ASL Bilingual Specialist

The Children’s Center for Communication / Beverly School for the Deaf (CCCBSD)
 

The Children’s Center for Communication / Beverly School for the Deaf (CCCBSD) is seeking an ASL Bilingual Specialist to support the development of American Sign Language (ASL), English literacy, oracy, and functional communication skills for Deaf and hard of hearing students and to provide ASL and Deaf culture support to families and staff.

This position plays an important role in supporting a bilingual, multimodal communication environment across early intervention and school-age programming. The ASL Bilingual Specialist collaborates closely with classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, related service providers, families, and other members of the educational team.

The ideal candidate brings strong ASL and English skills, knowledge of language acquisition in Deaf and hard of hearing children, and experience supporting children with developmental, physical, communication, and/or complex learning needs.

Your Impact

In this role, you will:

  • Support the development of ASL, English literacy, oracy, and functional communication skills for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • Provide professional consultation and support to teachers, therapists, and other school personnel regarding ASL and English language development.
  • Provide families with opportunities to learn ASL and develop an understanding of Deaf culture.
  • Collaborate with early intervention and educational teams to support communication access and language development.
  • Provide ASL assessment and evaluation services as appropriate.
  • Serve as a resource and mentor to staff regarding bilingual education practices for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • Support the development and implementation of ASL-related IEP goals and objectives.
  • Collaborate with teachers and speech-language pathologists on ongoing assessment of students' receptive and expressive ASL and English skills.
  • Help staff develop ASL and English literacy materials, including classroom vocabulary, thematic language, sign/word resources, and ASL literature.
  • Support teachers in aligning ASL instruction and vocabulary with classroom units of study.
  • Provide consultation regarding appropriate communication strategies, accommodations, and modifications to promote student access.
  • Collaborate with teachers and therapists on lesson planning, therapy planning, data collection, and progress monitoring related to ASL and English language development.
  • Assist with the development, organization, and cataloging of ASL and English literacy resources.
  • Collaborate with the Outreach Department, Reading/Literacy Specialist, and other staff to develop and facilitate ASL and English literacy opportunities for families.
  • Participate in professional development and support training for teachers and other school personnel based on identified needs.
  • Assist with research and evaluation of programs, resources, and practices related to ASL and English language development.

Early Intervention & Family Support

The ASL Bilingual Specialist will have opportunities to support CCCBSD's early intervention and family programming, including:

  • Participating weekly in the Parent Infant Program.
  • Providing ASL storytime and other ASL-rich language experiences.
  • Consulting with families regarding ASL and Deaf culture.
  • Participating in joint visits with early intervention providers when appropriate.
  • Collaborating with the early intervention team on the development of Deaf Mentor opportunities.
  • Collaborating with the ASL team on family ASL classes.
  • Supporting families as they develop communication strategies and language opportunities at home.

Evaluations & Student Support

  • Provide ASL evaluations for students transitioning from early intervention to school-age services.
  • Collaborate with classroom teachers, speech-language pathologists, and other team members during three-year comprehensive reevaluations.
  • Evaluate and document students' current ASL skills as appropriate.
  • Provide input regarding ASL-related goals and objectives.
  • Make recommendations regarding communication strategies, accommodations, and modifications that support student access.
  • Maintain current knowledge of practices and assessment tools used to evaluate ASL development in Deaf and hard of hearing children.

Collaboration

This position works closely with:

  • Classroom teachers
  • Speech-language pathologists
  • Related service providers
  • Reading/Literacy and Curriculum Specialists
  • Early intervention providers
  • Outreach staff
  • Families
  • Other members of the interdisciplinary team

The ASL Bilingual Specialist serves as a resource across the organization and helps strengthen consistent, effective ASL and English language practices across programs.

What We're Looking For

Required:

  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Massachusetts DESE licensure in Deaf Education or eligibility for appropriate DESE licensure.
  • Proficient ASL skills, demonstrated through a minimum Advanced Plus rating on the Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI); preference given to candidates with a Superior rating.
  • Strong English communication skills, including reading and writing.
  • Specialized knowledge of ASL assessment and language development.
  • Knowledge of language acquisition in Deaf and hard of hearing children.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in both ASL and English.
  • Ability to collaborate effectively with teachers, therapists, families, and interdisciplinary teams.

Preferred experience and knowledge:

  • Experience supporting Deaf and hard of hearing children with developmental, physical, communication, behavioral, sensory, and/or medical needs.
  • Knowledge of Deaf culture and issues affecting Deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • Knowledge of bilingual education approaches for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • Experience with multimodal communication and AAC, or willingness to learn and collaborate in these areas.
  • Experience developing or supporting ASL and English literacy.
  • Experience with ASL assessment and progress monitoring.
  • Experience providing staff consultation, mentoring, or professional development.

Why Join CCCBSD?

At CCCBSD, communication comes first. We believe students and staff thrive in an environment built on Humanity, Belonging, Inclusivity, Collaboration, Integrity, and Excellence.

We are a Certified Kindness Workplace committed to making kindness the norm and creating a workplace where people can learn, contribute, and grow.

This position offers opportunities to:

  • Support bilingual language development for Deaf and hard of hearing students.
  • Work collaboratively with teachers, SLPs, related service providers, early intervention providers, and families.
  • Contribute to ASL and English literacy development across programs.
  • Provide professional learning and mentorship to staff.
  • Help strengthen communication access and language-rich environments for students and families.
  • Participate in ongoing professional development and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Eligible employees may also have access to benefits and programs including:

  • 15+ days of PTO annually, in addition to scheduled school breaks
  • Medical and wellness benefits
  • Tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities
  • 401(k) plan with 5% employer match
  • Preschool discounts
  • Free ASL classes
  • Referral and longevity bonuses
  • Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) benefits

Conditions of Employment

  • Successful candidates must complete a sign language competency assessment.
  • Candidates must provide appropriate DESE licensure/certification or documentation of eligibility as required for the position.
  • Employment is contingent upon successful completion of required background and employment screening.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This is an active school-based position. The work environment may include exposure to student behavior, personal care and hygiene needs, and other elements associated with supporting children with complex developmental and communication needs.

The position may require:

  • Moderate physical activity throughout the school day.
  • Physically assisting or supporting students weighing up to and in excess of 50 pounds.
  • Supporting students with mobility, positioning, transfers, or other physical needs as appropriate.
  • Participation in community-based activities and transportation of students when applicable.

Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the position.

CCCBSD provides required training related to OSHA, DESE, EEC, and student and employee safety.

Apply

Apply directly through SchoolSpring.

For questions about the position, contact Jocelyn Clark at jocelynclark@cccbsd.org.

The Children’s Center for Communication / Beverly School for the Deaf is an equal opportunity employer. Deaf and hard of hearing candidates and candidates with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

Where Communication Comes First – Since 1876