Educational Support-ASL Interpreter

The Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School District is seeking to add an Educational Sign Language Interpreter to their staff beginning with the 2026-27 school year. A Wisconsin educational interpreter facilitates communication between deaf/hard-of-hearing (D/HH) students and their hearing peers, teachers, and staff, ensuring equitable access to the curriculum. Licensed by the DPI, they provide sign language or oral interpreting in classrooms, field trips, and extracurriculars, and may also tutor or assist with note-taking under teacher supervision.

Core Responsibilities

• Interpretive Services: Provide expressive and voice interpretation (American Sign Language, Manually Coded English, or oral) to ensure accurate communication access.
• Academic Support: Tutor or review content with students, under the direction of the classroom teacher, provided it does not interfere with primary interpreting tasks.
• Communication Access: Facilitate social interactions and bridge communication gaps with hearing peers, staff, and faculty.
• Environmental Support: Set up note-taking services and ensure the student has access to incidental information, such as auditory cues or classroom dialogue.
• IEP Team Participation: Act as a member of the IEP team to provide insights on communication access, language development, and student progress.
• Professional Development: Maintain DPI licensure by updating skills through training, mentoring, and staying current with educational practices.

Roles & Expectations

• Beyond the Classroom: Interpreting services are provided throughout the entire school day, including assemblies, sports, transportation training, and community-based vocational training.
• Professional Boundaries: Educational interpreters are not special education aides; their primary function is to interpret and facilitate communication, not to manage classroom discipline or behave as a one-on-one paraprofessional.
• Collaboration: Work closely with Teachers of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing (TODHH) to support Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals and adapt to the student''s communication needs.
• Cultural Liaison: Act as a bridge between Deaf culture and hearing culture, promoting self-advocacy and social interaction skills for the student.
• Ethical Practice: Adhere to confidentiality and professional ethics in accordance with state guidelines.

Qualified applicants must either complete an interpreter training program or meet alternative eligibility requirements described below.

Completion of an Educational Interpreter Training Program

• Hold an interpreter training program certificate from an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university. The program shall include the following coursework:

• English to American Sign Language interpretation

• American Sign Language to English interpretation

• Transliterating and oral interpreting

• Current practices for interpreters in educational settings

• Ethical practices as it relates to interpreters

• Completed one of the following options:

• A practicum of at least 150 hours in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with a licensed educational interpreter assigned as a mentor. Completion shall be verified by a representative from a higher education interpreter training program or the school district administrator where the practicum took place.

• Verified work experience totaling 150 hours as an educational interpreter in a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 setting.

• Has a passing score on the written and educational interpreter performance assessment (EIPA), set by the state superintendent in consultation with the state superintendent's advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing programs. The current passing score on the EIPA performance is 3.3 for the initial license.

Alternative Eligibility

• Holds one of the following licenses or certifications:

• A sign language interpreter license issued by the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services as approved by the State Superintendent

• One of the following certifications from the National Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf:

• National Interpreter Certification

• Registry for Interpreters of the Deaf K-12

• Certificate of interpretation and certificate of transliteration

• Comprehensive skills certificate

• Master comprehensive skills certificate

• Certified deaf interpreter or deaf interpreter

• A basic, advanced, or master certification from the Board for Evaluation of Interpreters

• Certification from an organization approved by the state superintendent in consultation with the state superintendent's advisory council on deaf and hard of hearing programs

• Completed one of the following options:

• A practicum of at least 150 hours in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 12 with a licensed educational interpreter assigned as a mentor. Completion shall be verified by a representative from a higher education interpreter training program or the school district administrator where the practicum took place.

• Verified work experience totaling 150 hours as an educational interpreter in a pre-kindergarten through grade 12 setting.

Qualifications

• Associate''s Degree
• Valid Wisconsin Educational Intrepretor License (or willing to apply for license)
• Motivated, outgoing, and collaborative.
• Experience working with children in an educational setting
• Ability to provide oral interpreting

Position Details

Full-time position for the 2026-2027 School Year

Comprehensive Benefits Package Available

Salary is negotiable based on experience