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Job Title: Bilingual Program Assistant - Somali - ECSE - 2018-2019 School Year and Requisition ID number: 56406
Close Date: 11:59 PM on
Organizational Unit: Early Childhood Special Education (10000022)
Site: Wilder Complex (0272)
FTE: 0.25 or 10 hours/week; this is based on full-time equivalency with 1.0 being full time
Union: ESP(28)
Functional Area: Paraprofessional

Resume and Cover Letter are mandatory to apply for any position.

SUMMARY
Under general supervision, Bilingual Program Assistants support Minneapolis Public School (MPS) staff as interpreters to facilitate the provision of health, education, and other services to non-English speaking and bilingual community members. Incumbents also facilitate the integration of students and classes. Bilingual Program Assistants with Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) specifically serve students from birth to kindergarten identified as having a Developmental Delay (DD) or other disability. ECSE services are offered in the community, homes, child care sites, and schools throughout the District. This position requires the incumbent to be bilingual in English and Somali, and to be available to work at least 10 hours per week.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Principal responsibilites of Bilingual Program Assistants include:
Assisting MPS staff as an interpreter to facilitate educational functions and other services to non-English speaking, limited English speaking, and bilingual/bicultural community members, in compliance with Standards of Effective Instructional Support for Educational Assistants.
Providing interpreter services from English to at least one other designated foreign language--in this case, Somali.
Translating and interpreting English to designated foreign language, maintaining message content, context, and style, in order to convey information effectively.
Providing translation service in classrooms, special projects, homework, after-school programs, and open communication with teachers, counselors, social workers, and school administrators.
Assisting bilingual/bicultural and English as a Second Language (ESL)/ English Language Learning (ELL) families in accessing, obtaining and implementing educational activities, medical, and other community services.
Assisting bilingual students to read and write the English language, as well as assisting student learning process by interpreting English language terms into designated foreign language.
Assisting teachers in delivering educational service and providing interpreting service to ESL/ELL clients.
Collecting and recording observations on students, as well as maintaining students' data base and files.
Simultaneously and consecutively interpreting/translating questions and answers for ESL/ELL students and parents during school events, in a way that effectively presents information and concepts.
Interpreting and explaining the English language and American culture.
Assisting in the translation of information and documents to be used during classes and special events.
Providing culturally relevant information to staff to facilitate understanding of the ESL/ELL communities.
Facilitating conflict resolution and explaining school rules to ESL/ELL students and guardians, as well as coordinating communications between students, parents, and school services.
Demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with students, clients, visitors, and MPS staff.
Acting in a manner that promotes a harmonious and effective workplace environment.
Enthusiastically promoting the Superintendent's goals and priorities in compliance with all policies and procedures.
Maintaining absolute confidentiality of work-related issues, records and MPS information.
Other duties or tasks may be assigned on an as-needed basis. At times, the incumbent may be required to work outside normal business hours and work extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position.

CLASS DESIGNATIONS
This position has the desingated foreign language of Somali. The incumbent will assist licensed staff as an interpreter to facilitate the provision of health, education, or other services to non-English speaking, limited English speaking and/or bilingual/bicultural community members using both English and Somali language skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
Successful applicants will meet the five (6) criteria listed below:

Sixty (60) semester or Ninety (90) quarter college credits.
OR
A high school diploma/GED and a passing score of at least 460 on the ParaPro Assessessment. (For more information on the ParaPro Assessment, contact Educational Testing Service at 1-800-772-9476 or www.ets.org/parapro.)

Two (2) years of professional experience in translation and interpretation of verbal and written English and the designated foreign language of Somali. Additional education or training may substitute for experience, at the discretion of Human Resources. Related experience may also be considered, at the discretion of Human Resources.

Knowledge and skill in accurately interpreating/translating spoken and written language, including the use of correct grammar, vocabulary, spelling, phonology, composition, and dialects of English/Somali languages, as well as the ability to properly express specific meanings and cultural appropriateness.

Ability to pass the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) examination demonstrating proficiency in the Somali language.

Ability to operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.

Ability to secure personal transportation for travel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Associate's degree in a related field.
Experience in working with indivdiuals with disabilities.
Experience in working with children.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION
Bargaining Unit: Educational Support Specialists
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Job Group: Student Support
New: July 1, 2011

Final candidates may be invited to interview with a committee. Final appointment to this position will be contingent upon passing a criminal background check.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:
Diversity is one of Minneapolis Public Schools core values and is essential to our goal of putting children first and making them college-ready. Diversity of our workforce provides us with a competitive advantage and allows us to better understand, communicate with and educate our diverse student body. Minneapolis Public Schools will not deny anyone the opportunity for training or employment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender or gender identity, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, disability, sexual orientation, age, family care leave status, or veteran status.

Minneapolis Public Schools strongly encourages diverse candidates to apply.