Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
Timeline
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Vanessa Lara

Pharr

Summary

Dynamic Sign Language Interpreter with a proven track record at South Texas College, enhancing communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through expert ASL and Spanish interpretation. Skilled in simultaneous interpreting and relationship building, I've significantly improved accessibility and inclusion in educational settings. My dedication to continuous professional development and cultural sensitivity has fostered positive client relationships and collaborative work environments.

Overview

12
12
years of professional experience

Work History

Sign Language Interpreter

South Texas College
09.2024 - Current
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Facilitated communication between deaf or hard of hearing individuals and professors.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve deaf or hard of hearing in educational settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
  • Bridged communication gaps between deaf individuals and their hearing peers through expert ASL interpretation during social events and recreational activities.
  • Established positive working relationships with clients through clear communication and professional demeanor during sign language interpretation sessions.
  • Supported classroom learning by interpreting lectures, discussions, and group activities for deaf students.
  • Provided ongoing support to colleagues seeking expertise in ASL interpretation best practices, fostering a collaborative work environment that prioritized continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Interpreted conversations between foreign language-speaking clients and others.
  • Translated other language books into English.
  • Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.

Sign Language Interpreter

Gloria Flores Interpreting Services
10.2022 - Current
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve hard of hearing in community settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
  • Bridged communication gaps between deaf individuals and their hearing peers through expert ASL interpretation during social events and recreational activities.
  • Streamlined communication processes by providing real-time sign language translation during video conferences and remote meetings.
  • Promoted inclusion within the community by offering sign language interpretation at local gatherings, religious services, and cultural events.
  • Assisted foreign language-speaking clients with inquiries.
  • Translated website content from other languages to English.
  • Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.
  • Collaborated with team to translate series of documents from English to other languages.
  • Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.

Sign Language Interpreter

Davila &Associates, INC.
08.2022 - Current
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve hard of hearing incommunity settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Translated website content from other languages to English.
  • Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.
  • Collaborated with team to translate series of documents from English to other languages.
  • Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
  • Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.
  • Interpreted spoken and written languages other than English and vice versa.
  • Assisted foreign language-speaking clients with inquiries.
  • Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business, handle medical needs or manage personal concerns.
  • Interpreted conversations between foreign language-speaking clients and others.
  • Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
  • Enhanced communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services.
  • Provided ongoing support to colleagues seeking expertise in ASL interpretation best practices, fostering a collaborative work environment that prioritized continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Enabled collaboration between team members by facilitating sign language interpretation during business meetings and workplace trainings.

Sign Language Interpreter

South Texas Interpreters for the Deaf
06.2021 - Current
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve hard of hearing in community settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
  • Bridged communication gaps between deaf individuals and their hearing peers through expert ASL interpretation during social events and recreational activities.
  • Streamlined communication processes by providing real-time sign language translation during video conferences and remote meetings.
  • Promoted inclusion within the community by offering sign language interpretation at local gatherings, religious services, and cultural events.
  • Increased client satisfaction by delivering professional and culturally sensitive sign language interpretation services in various settings.
  • Established positive working relationships with clients through clear communication and professional demeanor during sign language interpretation sessions.
  • Contributed to increased accessibility by interpreting public events, workshops, and conferences for diverse audiences.
  • Elevated the quality of educational experiences for deaf students with customized lesson adaptations utilizing sign language techniques tailored to individual needs.
  • Assisted clients in achieving their goals by providing one-on-one sign language interpretation during counseling sessions and medical appointments.
  • Maximized efficiency of service delivery by coordinating with other interpreters on scheduling assignments and managing workload distribution.
  • Supported classroom learning by interpreting lectures, discussions, and group activities for deaf students.
  • Enabled deaf individuals to access essential resources and services by interpreting complex technical language in a variety of fields, such as healthcare, legal services, and financial management.
  • Enabled collaboration between team members by facilitating sign language interpretation during business meetings and workplace trainings.
  • Provided ongoing support to colleagues seeking expertise in ASL interpretation best practices, fostering a collaborative work environment that prioritized continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Enhanced communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services.
  • Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
  • Interpreted conversations between foreign language-speaking clients and others.
  • Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business, handle medical needs or manage personal concerns.
  • Interpreted spoken and written languages other than English and vice versa.
  • Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.
  • Stayed current on new expressions and cultural changes impacting language translation.
  • Translated website content from other languages to English.

Sign Language Interpreter

a Sign Language Company
08.2014 - Current
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve hard of hearing in community settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
  • Bridged communication gaps between deaf individuals and their hearing peers through expert ASL interpretation during social events and recreational activities.
  • Streamlined communication processes by providing real-time sign language translation during video conferences and remote meetings.
  • Promoted inclusion within the community by offering sign language interpretation at local gatherings, religious services, and cultural events.
  • Increased client satisfaction by delivering professional and culturally sensitive sign language interpretation services in various settings.
  • Established positive working relationships with clients through clear communication and professional demeanor during sign language interpretation sessions.
  • Enabled collaboration between team members by facilitating sign language interpretation during business meetings and workplace trainings.
  • Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
  • Interpreted conversations simultaneously to help both parties conduct business, handle medical needs or manage personal concerns.
  • Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.

Sign Language Interpreter/Paraprofessional

McAllen Independent School District
08.2013 - 03.2022
  • Provided interpretation services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.
  • Facilitated communication between deaf or hard of hearing individuals and administrators.
  • Collaborated in planning meetings to better serve hard of hearing in educational settings.
  • Attended training programs to improve professional knowledge and interpretation skills.
  • Supported classroom learning by interpreting lectures, discussions, and group activities for deaf students.
  • Promoted inclusion within the community by offering sign language interpretation at local gatherings, religious services, and cultural events.
  • Increased client satisfaction by delivering professional and culturally sensitive sign language interpretation services in various settings.
  • Established positive working relationships with clients through clear communication and professional demeanor during sign language interpretation sessions.
  • Enhanced communication for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals by providing accurate and timely sign language interpretation services.
  • Elevated the quality of educational experiences for deaf students with customized lesson adaptations utilizing sign language techniques tailored to individual needs.
  • Enabled collaboration between team members by facilitating sign language interpretation during business meetings and workplace trainings.
  • Streamlined communication processes by providing real-time sign language translation during video conferences and remote meetings.
  • Collaborated with educational institutions to develop appropriate accommodations for deaf students through tailored sign language interpretation strategies.
  • Bridged communication gaps between deaf individuals and their hearing peers through expert ASL interpretation during social events and recreational activities.
  • Provided ongoing support to colleagues seeking expertise in ASL interpretation best practices, fostering a collaborative work environment that prioritized continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Aided in effective emergency response efforts by providing clear ASL interpretations during crisis situations or natural disasters.
  • Contributed to increased accessibility by interpreting public events, workshops, and conferences for diverse audiences.
  • Developed strategies to perform accurate and consistent translations.
  • Interpreted conversations between foreign language-speaking clients and others.
  • Assisted foreign language-speaking clients with inquiries.
  • Interpreted spoken and written languages other than English and vice versa.
  • Reviewed, edited and proofread translated documents for accuracy.
  • Maintained message content, tone, and emotion as closely as possible.
  • Provided cultural input to speakers to help parties who did not speak similar languages communicate with and understand one another.
  • Collaborated with team to translate series of documents from English to other languages.
  • Proofread, edited and improved documents of different sizes.
  • Developed and maintained glossary of technical terms.
  • Created detailed reports on accuracy of translated documents.
  • Translated website content from other languages to English.
  • Monitored progress of translation projects and reported issues to appropriate personnel.
  • Translated other language books into English.
  • Assisted with translation of foreign language television and radio programs.
  • Oversaw students in classroom and common areas to monitor, enforce rules, and support lead teacher.
  • Improved classroom management by assisting teachers with behavioral interventions and monitoring student progress.
  • Supervised students during non-instructional periods such as lunch, recess, or field trips, ensuring safety at all times.
  • Enhanced student support by delivering one-on-one and small group assistance in various subjects.
  • Fostered a positive learning environment by establishing strong rapport with students, parents, and faculty members.
  • Supported special education teachers in implementing accommodations and modifications for students with diverse learning needs.
  • Delivered personalized educational, behavioral, and emotional support to individual students to enable positive learning outcomes.
  • Implemented behavior management techniques effectively to maintain a structured learning environment conducive to student success.
  • Promoted a respectful classroom culture by modeling appropriate behavior and reinforcing positive interactions among peers.
  • Kept classrooms clean, neat, and properly sanitized for student health and classroom efficiency.
  • Enhanced classroom efficiency through organizing instructional materials, managing daily schedules, and preparing resources for lessons as needed.
  • Prepared instruction materials, constructed bulletin boards, and set up work areas.
  • Assisted in the collection and analysis of data on student performance, contributing to ongoing progress monitoring efforts.
  • Collaborated with teachers to develop and implement individualized education plans for students with special needs.
  • Supported school initiatives by participating in professional development opportunities and collaborating with colleagues on best practices for student growth and achievement.
  • Assisted teachers in the development of engaging lesson materials aligned with curriculum standards for various subject areas.
  • Assisted classroom teacher in supervising snack time and indoor and outdoor play.
  • Facilitated communication between general education and special education staff, promoting effective collaboration on behalf of students'' best interests.
  • Coordinated with multidisciplinary teams to evaluate student progress and adjust instructional strategies as needed.
  • Tailored lesson plans for students with emotional and cognitive disabilities.
  • Reported on student progress, behavior, and social skills to parents.
  • Monitored students on field trips, handling roll call, and group movement to keep youths safe in public settings.
  • Assisted in the administration of standardized testing, ensuring accurate assessment of student performance levels.
  • Strengthened student literacy skills through targeted reading intervention programs tailored to individual needs.
  • Ensured compliance with state regulations by maintaining thorough documentation of services provided to students with disabilities.
  • Administered tests and assessments to evaluate student progress and performance.
  • Provided feedback to teachers on student progress, aiding in adjustment of teaching strategies.
  • Utilized technology in classroom to enhance learning experiences.
  • Developed and maintained positive relationships with students, parents, and staff, enhancing school community.
  • Collaborated with school librarian to organize literacy events, encouraging love of reading.
  • Participated in professional development workshops, continuously improving teaching skills.
  • Facilitated small group tutoring sessions for students struggling in math and reading.
  • Coordinated with teachers to monitor student progress, identifying areas for improvement.
  • Enhanced student engagement by implementing interactive learning activities.
  • Assisted in administration of standardized tests, facilitating smooth testing process.
  • Contributed to development of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), tailoring education to student needs.
  • Supported teachers in grading assignments, ensuring timely feedback for students.
  • Monitored student safety during school outings, ensuring secure learning environment.
  • Adapted teaching materials for special education students, meeting diverse learning needs.
  • Supported bilingual students by providing language assistance, promoting language proficiency.
  • Assisted in organization of school events, contributing to vibrant school culture.
  • Engaged with students during extracurricular activities, supporting their interests beyond classroom.
  • Improved classroom management with development of behavior modification plans.
  • Provided one-on-one support to students with special needs, fostering supportive learning environment.
  • Fostered positive learning environment, managing classroom behavior effectively.
  • Helped teacher prepare instructional material and displays.
  • Assisted students in developing deeper understanding of course concepts by providing one-on-one support.
  • Enforced rules and instructions to maintain discipline.
  • Took part in professional development workshops to boost skills.
  • Developed and implemented strategies to improve student engagement.
  • Demonstrated specific skills and activities for students to improve understanding and take excess workload off teachers.
  • Cleaned, organized and restocked classrooms for upcoming classes.
  • Helped teachers manage bus loading and unloading.
  • Collaborated with instructors to develop engaging lesson plans.
  • Prepared reports and maintained administrative records.
  • Graded and provided feedback on assignments.
  • Stepped into non-classroom environments such as libraries to help staff manage demand.
  • Maintained and operated classroom equipment to maximize use and lifespan.
  • Monitored students in computer lab to enforce proper use of resources.
  • Assisted with school field trips and special events by collecting permission slips and payments.
  • Conducted weekly review sessions to help students prepare for exams.
  • Planned and prepared bibliographies, charts and graphs.
  • Developed and delivered presentations on course topics.
  • Utilized answer sheets and electronic marking devices to grade homework and tests, accurately computing and recording results.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Organizational Leadership

South Texas College
McAllen, TX
12-2025

Associate of Applied Science - American Sign Language Interpreeter

South Texas College
McAllen, TX
05-2013

Skills

  • Relationship building
  • Simultaneous interpreting
  • Consecutive interpreting
  • Memory retention
  • Client confidentiality
  • Interpersonal communication
  • Continuous professional development
  • Cross-cultural communication
  • Feedback receptivity
  • Continuing education
  • american sign language, spanish, english fluency
  • Sight translation
  • Idiomatic expressions
  • Deaf culture awareness
  • Fingerspelling proficiency
  • ASL linguistics
  • Non-manual signals
  • Interpreting ethics
  • Interpretation
  • Live interpretations
  • Advanced sign language
  • Teamwork
  • Teamwork and collaboration
  • Time management
  • Problem-solving abilities
  • Multitasking Abilities
  • Reliability
  • Excellent communication
  • Critical thinking
  • Organizational skills
  • Active listening
  • Effective communication
  • Adaptability and flexibility
  • Decision-making
  • Cultural understanding
  • Professional ethics
  • Team building
  • Public relations
  • Confidentiality understanding
  • Self motivation
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Client service
  • Goal setting
  • Professionalism
  • Public speaking
  • Time management abilities
  • Continuous improvement
  • Adaptability
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Professional demeanor
  • Reading comprehension
  • Personnel supervision
  • Speech clarity

Languages

Spanish
Native or Bilingual
English
Native or Bilingual
American Sign Language
Full Professional

Timeline

Sign Language Interpreter

South Texas College
09.2024 - Current

Sign Language Interpreter

Gloria Flores Interpreting Services
10.2022 - Current

Sign Language Interpreter

Davila &Associates, INC.
08.2022 - Current

Sign Language Interpreter

South Texas Interpreters for the Deaf
06.2021 - Current

Sign Language Interpreter

a Sign Language Company
08.2014 - Current

Sign Language Interpreter/Paraprofessional

McAllen Independent School District
08.2013 - 03.2022

Bachelor of Science - Organizational Leadership

South Texas College

Associate of Applied Science - American Sign Language Interpreeter

South Texas College

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Vanessa Lara