ASL Staff Interpreter (Newton)

CAPS Collaborative is seeking a dynamic and enthusiastic ASL Interpreter to join our growing Deaf and Hard of Hearing Programs in the Newton Public Schools. The applicant will support students in general education inclusion classrooms and our Deaf staff as needed. We are seeking applicants for our Newton Public School middle/high school programs.

The ASL interpreter shall facilitate communication among students who are deaf or hard of hearing, their hearing peers, the classroom teachers and other personnel in the school system. The interpreter may perform this responsibility in a variety of settings, in and outside of the classroom. The interpreter may interpret for Deaf staff as needed for meetings and school-wide events.

Other duties that may be performed when they do not interfere with interpreting include tutoring, participation in meetings and being an active member of the school's educational team. School year position with additional summer hours available.

About us:

CAPS Collaborative will work in partnership with districts to provide programs and services of the highest quality. To provide these services, we adhere to the following values:

• To commit every aspect of the organization to providing exceptional educational opportunities for students.
• To demonstrate quality and responsiveness by becoming the first choice of districts for programs and services.
• To be a customer-focused organization that constantly evaluates district needs.
• To integrate quality, integrity, respect, and teamwork into every aspect of the organization.
• To demonstrate accountability through constantly evaluating results and progress toward goals.
• To implement programs and services in the most cost-effective manner and to exercise due diligence in financial decision making.
• We will work in partnership with districts to ensure that students transition to the least restrictive environment in their home school district.

About the role:

ASL interpreters facilitate communication among students/staff who are deaf or hard of hearing, their hearing peers, classroom teachers and various school personnel. The ASL interpreter is an active part of the educational team and often serves as a liaison between students, general educators, and the CAPS DHHP. A commitment to lifelong learning and a spirit of collegiality and teamwork are expected and critical to the success of the program.

Responsibilities:

• Facilitate communication within the educational setting ensuring language access to curricular material, successfully conveying voice-sign and sign-voice messages
• Assume other in-school interpreting responsibilities such as: parent conferences, IEP meetings, assemblies, disciplinary meetings, or special events
• With advanced notice, provide interpreting for school functions outside of school hours, including extracurricular activities, meetings and special events (Additional compensation for interpreting services outside of normal school hours)
• Maintain contact and collaborate with members of the educational team to ensure compliance with students' IEP goals
• As a related service provider, assist in data collection, share current performance levels and make recommendations related to interpreter use and communication access in the classroom.
• Orient the general education teacher and educate student consumers as to the role of the interpreter and the Educational Interpreter model.
• Continually develop knowledge, skills and professionalism to maintain qualification for all aspects of the interpreting role.
• Use scheduled preparation time to preview materials, consult with instructors, preview educational videos, review signs for content-area concepts, etc.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the National Association of Interpreters in Education's (NAIE) Professional Guidelines for Interpreting in Educational Settings, as well as the NAD-RID Code of Professional Conduct.
• Monitor students' need for a note-taker and assist with coordination as needed.
• Develop cooperative working relationships with professional colleagues (CAPS and host school); demonstrate the ability to problem-solve and engage in thoughtful conflict resolution.
• Maintain professional boundaries and ensure student/staff confidentiality as appropriate within the educational Team.
• Contribute to professional growth and collaboration by staying informed on current literature/resources in the field and actively participating in staff meetings and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other appropriate school-related tasks as assigned by the Program Director, including supervising/coordinating lunch duty, recess or other non-instructional activities as assigned or as needed by program

Candidate requirements:

• Must meet the minimum requirements as set forth by the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) such as MCDHH Screening (at a minimum) and a rating of 3.5 on the Educational Interpreter Performance Assessment (EIPA)
• Fluency in American Sign Language (ASL) and English
• Bachelor's Degree preferred
• Interpreter Training Program (ITP) completion preferred
• Experience and/or training in child development and education preferred
• Ability to communicate effectively with students and adjust interpretation according to the student's preferred language and communication needs