Interpreter

School District Interpreter

Reports To: Federal Programs Director or Designee

Employment Status: Full-Time, 12-Month Position

Position Summary: The School District Interpreter provides accurate, confidential, and culturally responsive oral interpretation and written translation services to facilitate effective communication among students, parents/guardians, school staff, administrators, and community partners who have limited English proficiency or require language assistance.

The Interpreter supports the district's efforts to ensure that families have meaningful access to educational programs, services, meetings, activities, and information. The position may provide services across multiple schools and departments and must maintain neutrality, professionalism, and confidentiality in all interactions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Interpretation and Translation:

• Provide accurate, impartial, and timely oral interpretation between English and the designated target language.
• Interpret during parent conferences, eligibility meetings, enrollment appointments, disciplinary meetings, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, 504 meetings, school events, orientations, and other educational meetings as assigned.
• Provide interpretation during telephone calls, virtual meetings, and other forms of communication.
• Translate school and district documents, correspondence, forms, notices, handbooks, instructional materials, and family engagement materials as assigned.
• Ensure translated materials maintain the meaning, intent, tone, and essential information of the original document.
• Notify the appropriate supervisor when a requested translation requires specialized expertise or certification.

Student and Family Support:

• Assist families in understanding school procedures, educational programs, policies, schedules, and available resources.
• Support communication between families and school personnel while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Assist with enrollment, registration, family engagement, parent meetings, and other activities involving multilingual families.
• Help ensure families understand important information concerning student attendance, academic progress, school expectations, and available services.
• Support communication with families participating in Federal Programs, including Title I, English Learner services, Head Start, Pre-K, Migrant Education, and other programs as assigned.

School and District Support:

• Provide interpretation and translation services across schools and departments based on district needs.
• Assist administrators, teachers, counselors, family specialists, and other staff with language-access needs.
• Participate in parent and community engagement activities.
• Assist with district meetings, workshops, training sessions, and family events.
• Maintain calendars and documentation of interpretation and translation assignments as required.
• Assist in identifying recurring communication needs among multilingual families and recommend strategies to improve language access.

Confidentiality and Professional Standards:

• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding student, family, personnel, and school information.
• Interpret faithfully and completely without adding, omitting, changing, or editorializing information.
• Remain neutral and impartial during interpretation assignments.
• Avoid conflicts of interest and report potential conflicts to the supervisor.
• Follow district policies, procedures, and applicable federal and state requirements related to student and family rights, confidentiality, and language access.
• Demonstrate respect for cultural differences and maintain a professional, nonjudgmental approach when working with students and families.

Other Responsibilities:

• Participate in professional development related to interpretation, translation, cultural responsiveness, confidentiality, and educational programs.
• Maintain proficiency in English and the assigned target language.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Fluency in English and the assigned target language, both orally and in writing.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Knowledge of interpretation and translation practices and professional ethics.
• Ability to accurately convey information without changing its meaning or intent.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and community members.
• Cultural awareness and sensitivity when working with diverse families and communities.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and impartial in sensitive or difficult situations.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet established deadlines.
• Ability to use computers, email, virtual meeting platforms, document-management systems, and other technology commonly used in schools.
• Ability to travel between district schools and work locations as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Demonstrated fluency in English and the target language.
• Demonstrated ability to read and write effectively in English and the target language.
• Experience providing interpretation or translation services is preferred.
• Experience working in a school, educational, governmental, community, or human-services setting is preferred.
• Experience working with children and families from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of interpreter/translator training or certification.
• Associate's or bachelor's degree in education, language studies, human services, communications, or a related field.
• Experience interpreting in educational, medical, legal, or governmental settings.

Work Environment:

The Interpreter works primarily in school and office environments but may be required to travel between district schools and other locations. The position may require occasional evening or weekend work for parent meetings, family engagement events, orientations, or other district activities.

The employee must be able to work effectively in situations involving sensitive, confidential, or emotionally charged information.

Physical Requirements:

• Sit, stand, walk, and move throughout school buildings for extended periods.
• Use a computer and other office technology for extended periods.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in person, by telephone, and through virtual platforms.
• Occasionally lift or carry materials and equipment weighing up to approximately 25 pounds.
• Travel between district locations as required.

Evaluation:

Performance will be evaluated annually by the Federal Programs Director or designee in accordance with district policies and procedures. Evaluation will consider the employee's accuracy, professionalism, confidentiality, responsiveness, communication skills, reliability, and effectiveness in meeting the language-access needs of students, families, and staff.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

Duplin County Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or other legally protected status in its employment practices or educational programs.