SESSION

Bringing Out the Best … ¡En español!

As the third-largest district in Texas, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD has a high percentage (46%) of Spanish-speaking families. The district strives to provide the same quality translation services at all 96 campuses, providing resources and training to bilingual staff at all campuses and district facilities. Learn how the Spanish population in one of the largest suburban school districts benefits from translation and interpretation services.

SESSION

Establishing Impactful Partnerships with Agencies & Outside Linguists

Partnerships between organizations, language service agencies and freelance translators and interpreters can help communities optimize engagement with families and constituents. In this session, learn how to effectively collaborate with outside resources, including how to:

• Scale to meet periods of peak demand;
• Support newcomer families that speak languages not spoken by staff;
• Quickly and affordably update existing or annual materials; and
• Choose the right partners to both meet needs and stay within budget.

SESSION

IEPs and Ethics

This workshop prepares interpreters for the legal complexities of IEP meetings, where educational and judicial contexts often overlap. Participants will explore role clarity, ethical decision-making, and strategies to maintain register and neutrality in high-stakes discussions. Practical exercises and case studies will help interpreters navigate disciplinary hearings and compliance-focused meetings with confidence and professionalism.

SESSION 1

Speak. Connect. Empower: AAITE Best Practices in Action

Clear communication is key to student and family success. This session introduces the AAITE Best Practices for Successful Interpreted Sessions, offering essential guidance for interpreters, school staff and parents. Attendees will learn key protocols before, during and after interpreted meetings to ensure equity, professionalism and confidentiality. Join us to explore practical strategies developed by AAITE to strengthen collaboration, honor language access rights and create truly inclusive educational environments.

SESSION 2

Beyond Words: The Ethical Compass of the AAITE National Codes of Ethics as a Guiding Star Across T&I Specializations

A code of ethics defines the values guiding professional conduct. In education, the AAITE National Codes of Ethics for Interpreters and Translators prioritize critical thinking and ethical decision-making over prescriptive rules. This framework invites reflection on how ethical behavior shapes our profession across all fields, centering cultural awareness and communicative autonomy as ethical framework concepts, and advocacy as an advanced intervention strategy. Join us for an engaging session to explore the National Codes of Ethics in action and how they empower us to navigate complex situations with integrity.

SESSION 1

Unlocking Simultaneous Interpretation: Foundational Skills and Practical Techniques

This introductory session provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental skills and techniques necessary for effective simultaneous interpreting. Participants will gain an understanding of the cognitive processes involved, explore essential strategies for listening and processing information under pressure, and learn practical exercises to begin developing their simultaneous interpreting abilities. This session is ideal for individuals new to simultaneous interpreting or those seeking to solidify their foundational knowledge.

SESSION 2

Deliberate Practice for Simultaneous Interpreters: Practical Tools for Improving Performance

Simultaneous interpreters provide a service that is mentally taxing and requires constant upkeep. Aside from assignment-specific research and preparation, interpreters must regularly practice their simultaneous interpreting techniques to maintain and improve the quality of their renditions. Reflexive practice is a common technique used to enhance any interpreting skills; however, a rubric to evaluate our own performance and a path towards improving deficiencies is essential to level-up one's interpreting. This session will apply deliberate practice principles to enhancing simultaneous interpreting skills and provide a rubric and skill enhancement exercise suggestions.