Professional Development for Educational Interpreters

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

Long Island Regional Site

 

 

DATE:             November 2, 2005

      TO:            Administrators

FROM:            Sallie M. Bruno, Long Island Regional Site Coordinator

      RE:            The Technical Assistance Center, Professional Development for Educational Interpreters

 

 We are very proud that the New York State Department of Education has determined, because of growth and progress, to change the Professional Development for Educational Interpreters status from grant to Technical Assistance Center (TAC).  It shows their recognition and commitment to provide continued training and support for the Educational Interpreters, Interpreter/Aides, Interpreter/Assistants and Para-signers on your staff while we await the proposed mandate for certification of Pre-K-12 Sign Language Interpreters.

 

The TAC can provide you and your district interpreters with on-site workshops and presentations for your districtıs Professional Development Day.  Please contact me at brunos@sunysuffolk.edu to schedule an event tailored to suit the requests of any and all of your districtıs employees who interpret in the classroom.  There is no charge for this service.

 

Please donıt hesitate to call or e-mail the TAC Long Island Regional Site during the year with questions or concerns.  We are here to meet the needs of your district.  We welcome the opportunity to travel to your locations for informational meetings or workshops with your interpreters, staff and/or administrators.

 

During the seven years that the grant has operated, over 150 educational interpreters in Nassau and Suffolk Counties have volunteered to have their knowledge and performance skills assessed.  We have been able to offer numerous workshops, many hours of individual and small-group mentoring, and other training activities.  We maintain an extensive lending library of videotapes and books.  All of these services are offered at no cost to the interpreters.

 

Please inform all staff who provide educational interpreting of the opportunities for professional development that the TAC offers.  You may share this letter with the interpreters to encourage them to contact the Site for registration materials and information through the web site, www.nyedinterp.net.  Once they register, they can receive the performance and knowledge assessments.  The diagnostic feedback they receive will help them plan professional development.  At that time, they can begin to take advantage of free workshops, mentoring, and training activities.  We will continue to offer assessments until May 30, 2006.

 

We have enclosed a district survey form.  Please return it by November 25, 2005.

 

Thank you for your continual support of this project.  We look forward to working with you again this coming year.  Together we will work to improve the education of Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind children on Long Island.

 

Sallie M. Bruno