Workshops & Presentations

Jake smiles, giving a presentation, wearing a black button up shirt and khakis. Two TVs on the wall behind him show presentation slides. The back of participants' heads can be seen in the foreground.

As the Sole Member of ScissorTail Interpreting, Jacob Alexander not only interprets but professionally presents on topics related to interpreting and education for Deaf students. 

Presentations can be hosted on-location, or remotely, and may be developed by special request. 

"I loved this workshop! After 17 years in the profession it can be difficult to find workshops that teach me something new or challenge me. Great info, great presenter!"

"Here I was just thinking this would be a nice chill easy CEU opportunity, and it's actually turned out to be one of the most informational, applicable and growth-inducing workshops that I've attended! Thank you!"

Current Presentations

Deliberately Practicing English to ASL

In this workshop interpreters will build schema of common ASL linguistic features and techniques used by Deaf interpreters in English to ASL translation, use this schema to analyze English to ASL interpretations, and synthesize their analysis into a deliberately practiced interpretation from ASL to English.

Mid-Del School District, August 2022 | Louisville Public Schools, February 2023 | Eastern Kentucky University Interpreter Outreach Program, February 2024 | Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference, June 2024

Riding 1st Class on the IEP Team (Co-Presented)

Under federal and state laws and regulations, Educational Interpreters are fully participating members of the IEP team. However, many Educational interpreters may not feel prepared to navigate an IEP document, or contribute to its development, and are often considered second class members if they are included as part of the team at all. Using lecture, discussion, simulated examples, and structured exercises we will explore team roles, IEP components, and how Educational Interpreters can inform the document’s development alongside their non-interpreter colleagues. 

Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference, June 2024


*Coming Soon*

Meta Interpreting: Roles in Educational Settings
Meta Interpreting: Processing Ethical Decisions

Areas of Interest

Special Education for Deaf Students (Policy and Laws)

Individualized Education Plans for Deaf Students

Educational Interpreter Roles

Ethical Decision Making Processes

Hard Skills Development (Interpreting)

Role Space

Educational Psychology for Interpreters

Atypical Language Consumers in K-12

Recent Presentations

Meta Interpreting: Roles and Ethics *Under Revision*

Olathe Public Schools, Kansas, August 2021 | Louisville Public Schools, February, 2023 | Sign Language Studios, March 2023 | Oklahoma Deaf Education Conference, June 2023 | Special School District of St. Louis County, August 2023 | Eastern Kentucky University Interpreter Outreach Program, February 2024, May 2024

(Succeeded by "Meta Interpreting: Roles in Educational Settings" and "Meta Interpreting: Processing Ethical Decisions")


BEI-The New Kid in Town…

Oklahoma Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference, June 2022

Behind the Curtain: The Changing Market and Agencies (Co-Presented)

Oklahoma Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference, June 2022

Archived Presentations

The Educational Interpreter: Para? Professional? Team Member

Deaf Education Alliance Summit, Louisiana , June 2021

(Succeeded by "Meta Interpreting: Roles and Ethics")


Going Meta with Ethics

Sign Language Resource Services- Metro Lecture Series, May 2021

(Succeeded by "Meta Interpreting: Roles and Ethics")


Serve and Return: ASL and English

Oklahoma School for the Deaf, April 2021


Growing Language Through Literacy

Oklahoma School for the Deaf, April 2020


Ethics and Education

Be Amazing Interpreting, May 2020

(Succeeded by "Going Meta With Ethics")


Manual Language In Deaf Education

University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health, Spring 2020


Deafness and Education

Oklahoma City Public Schools Staff In-Service; Monroe Elementary, 2018-2020


ASL to English- Not so Difficult After All

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City; Interpreter Training Program, Spring 2019


Methodologies in Deaf Education

University of Oklahoma College of Allied Health, spring 2017, '18, '19


EdPlan and IEPs: All the Fun!

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma; Deaf Education Program, Fall 2017-19


...I Said Get Out of the Car... (with TSHA Inc.)

Oklahoma City Police Department, Sept 2018-2020

Edmond Police Department, Sept 2018


Interpreters, IEPs and Education Law

Oklahoma State University- Oklahoma City; Interpreter Training Program, October 2017


Education Law and Interpreters: Who Knew?

Oklahoma Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf Conference, June 2017


What’s an Interpreter Doing in My Classroom?

Oklahoma City Public Schools Staff In-Service; Northwest Classen, September 2016


Team Interpreting (Co-Presented)

Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City; Interpreter Training Program, November 2015, '16


I’m a Sign Language Interpreter

Oklahoma City Public Schools- Elementary Career Expo Unit, January 2016


Interpreting, Education, and Certification

HB 1512 Interim Study-Oklahoma House of Representatives Education Appropriations & Budget Sub-Committee, November 2015