3 Roles and Responsibilities in Education

Teaching is a multifaceted profession that involves various roles and responsibilities. This chapter explores critical aspects of a teacher’s duties, including communication with families, understanding confidentiality, supervision, and the implementation of developmentally appropriate practices.

Who’s in Charge?

After-School Director

An after-school director is responsible for overseeing the planning, implementation, and management of after-school programs that provide a safe, engaging, and enriching environment for students outside regular school hours. They develop and coordinate activities that promote academic support, physical activity, creativity, and social-emotional growth. The director supervises staff, manages budgets, and ensures compliance with safety regulations and organizational policies. They also build strong relationships with students, parents, school administrators, and community partners to align the program with the needs of participants. By fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere, the after-school director helps support students’ development, working families, and the broader school community.

After-School Teacher

An after school teacher plays a vital role in supporting students’ development and well-being outside regular school hours. They design and implement engaging activities that enrich students’ learning, such as homework assistance, creative projects, STEM activities, and recreational games. After School teachers foster a safe, inclusive, and nurturing environment where students can build social skills, explore new interests, and develop confidence. They also monitor and guide behavior, ensure safety, and often collaborate with parents and school staff to address students’ individual needs. Their role requires patience, creativity, organization, and a passion for helping children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

Para-Educator

A para-educator, also known as a paraprofessional or teaching assistant, supports teachers and students in the classroom by providing instructional assistance and ensuring a positive learning environment. They work closely with teachers to implement lesson plans, assist with classroom management, and provide individualized or small-group support to students who may need extra help. Para-educators often support students with special needs by adapting materials, offering one-on-one guidance, or helping with personal care tasks. They also monitor student behavior, assist during transitions, and help maintain classroom organization. Their role is essential in fostering an inclusive, supportive, and effective educational environment.

General Education Teacher

A teacher plays a vital role in shaping the intellectual, emotional, and social development of students while ensuring alignment with educational standards and assessments. Beyond delivering subject knowledge, they foster critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity, tailoring their teaching to diverse learning needs and curricular benchmarks. Teachers serve as mentors and role models, instilling values, discipline, and a love for lifelong learning. They design and implement lessons that meet academic standards, assess student progress through formative and summative evaluations, and use the results to adapt their teaching strategies. By creating a safe and supportive environment, they encourage students to ask questions, make mistakes, and grow. Additionally, teachers facilitate the application of knowledge to real-world situations and collaborate with parents, administrators, and communities to promote holistic development and ensure accountability to educational goals.

Resource Teacher

A resource teacher or special education teacher plays a crucial role in supporting students with diverse learning needs, disabilities, or developmental challenges, ensuring they have access to a quality and inclusive education. They develop and implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) tailored to each student’s unique goals, strengths, and challenges while aligning with educational standards. These teachers provide specialized instruction, accommodations, and modifications to help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate closely with general education teachers, parents, therapists, and other professionals to create a supportive and integrated learning environment. Additionally, they monitor student progress through assessments, adjust strategies as needed, and advocate for equitable resources and opportunities, empowering students to reach their full potential.

Speech and Language Pathologist (SLP)

A speech teacher in an elementary school, often referred to as a speech-language pathologist (SLP), plays a vital role in supporting students with communication challenges. They assess and address a range of speech and language issues, including articulation, fluency, voice disorders, and language comprehension or expression. Speech teachers develop and implement individualized therapy plans to help students improve their communication skills, which are essential for academic success and social interactions. They work closely with teachers, parents, and other specialists to integrate strategies into the classroom and home environments, ensuring consistency and progress. Additionally, they monitor student development, provide support in areas such as vocabulary and sentence structure, and advocate for tools or accommodations to help students thrive in both academic and social settings.

School Psychologist

A school psychologist plays a crucial role in supporting the academic, emotional, and social well-being of students. They assess and address learning challenges, behavioral issues, and mental health concerns through evaluations, counseling, and intervention strategies. School psychologists collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to create individualized plans, such as Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans, to support student success. They also provide crisis intervention, promote positive behavior, and develop programs to enhance school climate and student resilience. By serving as a bridge between the school and community resources, school psychologists help ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

School Principal

An elementary school principal serves as the instructional leader and administrative head of the school, ensuring a safe, inclusive, and productive environment for students and staff. They oversee all aspects of school operations, including curriculum implementation, teacher evaluations, student discipline, budget management, and compliance with educational policies. Principals set the vision and goals for the school, fostering academic excellence and social-emotional growth for all students. They play a crucial role in supporting students with special needs by ensuring the development, implementation, and monitoring of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) in collaboration with teachers, parents, and special education staff. Additionally, principals are responsible for hiring and mentoring staff, leading professional development, and fostering a positive and equitable school culture where every student is empowered to reach their full potential.

Primary Responsibilities

Communication with Families

Communication with families refers to the ways in which teachers interact and share information with students’ families to foster a supportive educational environment. Effective communication is essential for building strong partnerships between teachers and families. It involves regular updates about student progress, sharing resources for home support, and soliciting family input on school policies and practices. This two-way communication not only keeps families informed but also encourages their involvement in their child’s education.

Examples:

• Parent-Teacher Conferences: Teachers hold scheduled meetings to discuss student progress and areas for improvement. This provides an opportunity for families to ask questions and engage in their child’s learning.
• Student-led conferences are meetings where students take the lead in presenting their academic progress, achievements, and areas for growth to their parents or guardians, often with guidance from their teacher. Students often present portfolios of their work and explain what they did well.  Unlike traditional parent-teacher conferences, these sessions empower students to reflect on their learning, set goals, and demonstrate responsibility for their education. Students typically prepare by organizing work samples, creating portfolios, or rehearsing presentations, showcasing their skills and self-awareness. Teachers act as facilitators, supporting students in preparing and ensuring meaningful discussions. This approach fosters communication, accountability, and collaboration between students, parents, and educators.
• Newsletters: Sending home regular newsletters helps keep families informed about classroom activities, important dates, and ways they can support learning at home. Online programs, like Canva, can help teachers make visually appealing weekly newsletters.
• Digital Communication: Utilizing platforms like ClassDojo, Remind, or Google Classroom allows for timely updates and instant communication, making it easier for families to stay engaged.

Understanding Confidentiality

Confidentiality in education refers to the ethical and legal obligation of teachers to protect the privacy of student information. Teachers often have access to sensitive information about their students, including academic records, health information, and personal backgrounds. Understanding and maintaining confidentiality is crucial to building trust and ensuring compliance with legal standards, such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Examples:

1. Student Records: Teachers must secure all student records and only share information with authorized personnel or with parental consent.
2. Discussions: Teachers should avoid discussing specific student issues in public forums or with individuals not directly involved in the student’s education.
3. Online Safety: In the age of digital communication, teachers must be cautious about sharing information online and ensure that any online platforms used comply with confidentiality standards.

Supervision

Supervision involves overseeing students’ activities and ensuring their safety and well-being within the educational setting. Effective supervision is crucial for creating a safe and conducive learning environment. It includes monitoring student behavior, providing guidance, and intervening when necessary to prevent conflicts or unsafe situations. Teachers also play a role in supervising transitions between classes and during recess or lunch periods.

Examples:

1. Classroom Management: Teachers implement strategies to maintain order during lessons, such as setting clear expectations for behavior and using positive reinforcement.
2. Outdoor Supervision: During recess, teachers actively monitor students to ensure they are engaging in safe play and resolving conflicts appropriately.
3. Field Trips: Teachers are responsible for supervising students during excursions, ensuring that safety protocols are followed and that students remain engaged and accounted for.

Developmentally Appropriate Practices

Developmentally appropriate practices (DAP) refer to teaching strategies and activities that are suitable for the age, individual needs, and developmental level of students. DAP is grounded in research about child development and learning. It emphasizes creating learning experiences that are engaging and relevant to students, allowing them to explore concepts at their own pace. This approach fosters a positive learning environment that promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and social skills.

Examples:

1. Play-Based Learning: For younger students, teachers may incorporate play as a method of learning, allowing children to explore concepts through hands-on activities.
2. Differentiated Instruction: In mixed-ability classrooms, teachers may use varied instructional methods tailored to students’ learning preferences and readiness, such as group work, one-on-one instruction, and technology integration.
3. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy: Teachers consider students’ cultural backgrounds when designing lessons, ensuring that materials reflect their experiences and perspectives.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the roles and responsibilities of a teacher are diverse and vital to student success. By prioritizing communication with families, upholding confidentiality, providing effective supervision, and implementing developmentally appropriate practices, teachers can create an inclusive and supportive educational environment that fosters student growth and development.

References:

1. 1. Emmer, E. T., & Evertson, C. M. (2013). Classroom Management for Middle and High School Teachers. Pearson.
   2. Epstein, J. L. (2018). School, Family, and Community Partnerships: Preparing Educators and Improving Schools. Westview Press.
   3. NAEYC. (2020). Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8. National Association for the Education of Young Children.
   4. U.S. Department of Education. (2014). Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). www.ed.gov.