Putting students’ needs first.
This is always the goal of the Educational Interpreter Immersion Conference for Iowa’s K-12 educational interpreters, hosted by Iowa School for the Deaf (ISD). The focus of this ninth annual event, held in Ames for 25 attendees, was no different this June.
All sessions are conducted in a voices-off, ASL-only environment, to immerse attendees in the language their students use. “This is especially helpful for interpreters who do not have other ASL-fluent adults with whom to converse throughout the year,” said Deb Cates, PhD, language resources coordinator for ISD. “Many interpreters only use ASL for interpreting and not conversationally.”
Tammy Silver, an educational interpreter for the Dubuque Community School District, noted she has already applied strategies she learned at the conference, such as working with Individual Education Plan teams more efficiently by understanding a student-centric learning environment.
Cates noted the conference stresses the collaboration between interpreters and other members of the educational team to create the best educational experience possible for students who are deaf or hard or hearing.
“Educational interpreting is often isolating work, and the conference gives interpreters a chance to collaborate, problem-solve and grow with other interpreters in the state,” said Cates. Interpreters are required to earn continuing education units (CEUS) to maintain their state licenses, and the conference was able to offer CEUs, lodging and meals for this year’s three-day event at a cost of $125.
Jeanne Moser Fenlong, an educational interpreter at Hoover Elementary in Bettendorf, suggests all Iowa educational interpreters make every effort possible to attend a future immersion conference. “Every topic was applicable and valuable,” she said, noting the exercises and games used during the experience reminded her to “never stop thinking of ways to get the point across” when working with students.
As part of the outreach department at ISD, Cates offers a number of services for Iowa’s educational interpreters, including intensive study and mentoring programs to support interpreters making the transition from temporary to permanent licenses. Cates also offers on-site professional development for school districts which employ interpreters. School interpreter skill assessments are also provided. For more information on the 2024 Educational Interpreter Immersion Conference or other services provided through ISD’s language resources program, refer to https://iowaschoolforthedeaf.org/language-resources/.
