ECSEC DHH Educational Interpreter - 40 hours

The following vacancy exists in Goshen Community Schools for the202425 school year:

ECSEC

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Educational Interpreter

The Elkhart County Special Education Cooperative (ECSEC) is made up of the Baugo Concord Fairfield Goshen Middlebury and WaNee Community Schools in North Central Indiana located 30 minutes from the University of Notre Dame. Administrative offices are located at 1216 S. Indiana Avenue Goshen IN 46526.

POSITION PURPOSE: An Educational Interpreter is an individual who facilitates communication among the deaf and hard of hearing persons in an educational environment through the use of techniques developed for communicating between educational team serving staff as well as deaf people by minimizing linguistic cultural and physical barriers.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. Interpreters shall strive to maintain high professional standards in compliance with the RID Code of Professional Conduct (see Appendix) and school policies/rules.

• Interpret everything. This includes but is not limited to: side conversations held by students or adults class lectures environmental noises alarms drills presentations field trips special classes (art music and gym assemblies phone calls and announcements. In sort if the hearing students have access by virtue of their ears then the DHH students have the right to this information as well. Therefore while not an exhaustive list some of the duties of an Interpreter are as follows:

• Interprets in regular or specialized classroom to individual students or groups of students by adapting language level to communication needs of the student for the purpose of ensuring optimum visual communication.
• Convey the content of the message clearly and accurately according to the language needs of the student.
• Interprets in all academic areas.

• Educate. Since in most school setting the Interpreter (and DHH student) is a novelty some explanation to role and function is necessary. This education can take the form of: inservices for teachers and staff and everyday interactions. Other examples of responsibilities include:
• The Interpreter may be responsible for conducting inservices with building staff on their roles and responsibilities within the school.
• The Interpreter should access the classroom environment and develop strategies with the educational team regarding: seating arrangements lighting use of media turntaking and other factors that may impact the interpreting process and access to the classroom content. The student should be involved in this process as well with the end goal being student selfadvocacy/knowledge of interpreting logistics.
• The Interpreter may be required to help the DHH and hearing students understand the role of the Interpreter versus that of tutor teacher or friend. Increased independence of the student will develop as student matures and is developmentally capable of such distinction. Students may need support from Interpreters and DHH consultant or teacher with how to deal with the social issues regarding the use of an Interpreter. As the student matures the Interpreter should encourage increased independence.
• The Interpreter works with the entire educational team/program and not just the deaf or hard of hearing student.

• Prepare for interpreting assignments. This includes reading over textbooks handouts and lesson plans getting copies of schedules or notes of speakers being aware of interpreting environment and corresponding logistics communicating with teaching team and even practicing with assigned homework (if the material is more complicated). This occurs in the educational environment through the duties of:
• Maintains daily notebook/log for the purpose of reporting student progress on objectives behavior social interaction abilities and daily work with regard to language interpreter use and cultural mediation.
• Interpreters shall strive to further knowledge and skills through participation in workshops professional meetings interaction with professional colleagues and reading of current literature in the field.
• Interpreters shall dress in appropriate attire that minimized eye strain and allows for optimal access to visual communication (ex: plaincolored no distracting patterns professional clothing that contrasts with skin tone). The face should be kept free of excessive hair (ex: bangs and/or facial hair) large earrings and/or makeup for the same reason.

• As stated in the Job Summary the Interpreters first function is to provide access to the learning environment. Other duties may include but are not limited to:
• The Interpreter may be present at IEP meetings as a member of the educational team not as an Interpreter. The Interpreter should share observations about how well the student understands the interpreted classroom content or any other issues related to interpreting. The Interpreter should not evaluate how well the student is doing academically or behaviorally except as they relate to interpreting.
• It is the responsibility of the Interpreter consult for the DHH and/or teacher of the DHH to inform the other members of the educational team about limitations associated with the interpreting process.
• May tutor students who are DHH in a variety of subjects for the purpose of supplementing their daily class activities and enhance learning. Tutoring is under the guidance of teachers and materials provided by teachers. Tutoring questions should be directed to the teacher.
• Assist Teacher of the Deaf in preparing teaching materials bulletin boards coping during assigned time which would not interfere with the student access to instructional needs.

• Additional Information Necessary to Clarify Job Duties:
• RID/NAD Code of Professional Conduct (view this link for the full version of the NADRID Code of Processional Conduct)
• Policies and procedures established by national organizations such as Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) do not supersede school district requirements.
• EIPA professional conduct guidelines for Educational Interpreters/Classroom interpreting.
• Educational Interpreters are required to review EIPA guidelines with regard to tutoring under the supervision of the teacher.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be in compliance with Indiana State regulations for Educational Interpreters. See Indianas Department of Education website.
• Holds a valid high school diploma or equivalent and:
  • Successfully passes the EIPA written test and successfully completes the EIPA Performance test with a minimum score of 3.5 or above; or
  • is certified through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID);

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Ability to communicate using sign language. Interpreters shall accept assignments using discretion with regard to skill setting and the consumers involved.
• Six months to one year related experience and/or training or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to prepare written reports and correspondence.
• Ability to plan and organize; good work habits.
• Other qualifications that the Governing Council may require.
• Policies and procedures established by national organizations such as Registry for Interpreters (RID) do not supersede school district requirements.

HOURS:School year 184 days per year; 40 hours per week;7:00am3:00pm

SALARY:Rate is dependent upon education and experience. (Schedule #253

BENEFITS:Eligibility is based upon hours worked and can be reviewed during your interview.Benefit information can be found online at PROCESS:In order to be considered all applicants must have completed their online application at CURRENT GCS EMPLOYEES CLICK HERE

Please attach the following to your application:

• Letter of interest
• Uptodate resume

For questions regarding this position please contact:

Theresa Eldridge

ECSEC

1216 S. Indiana Ave.; Door F

Goshen IN46526

teldridge@

The Goshen Community Schools Board of School Trustees is an equal opportunity employer. Selection of the applicant will be made without reference to race color creed sex age handicap or national origin.

THE CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS IS:Until Filled