The People You Meet: Educational Professionals

Related: Education, School, Parents, More TagsChildren with Learning Disabilities, Fewer Tags

by Eileen Bailey
Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Media Specialist - Media specialists work inside the school and are responsible for the audio and video equipment. These professionals make sure equipment is available for teachers to use during the learning process and also are in charge of any extra equipment a student may need as learning aids.

Occupational Therapist - Occupational therapists work to improve basic motor skills, reasoning skills and coping skills for those that have mental, physical or emotional disabilities and those that are developmentally delayed. Occupational therapists may recommend modifications or equipment needs during the IEP process. They may also work with students to help them participate in school activities.

One-on-One Aide - A One-on-One aide works with one child in any number of ways throughout the school day. Some of the ways these aides provide help are: learning assistance, behavioral help, help in developing social skills, help in developing daily living skills, and help in transitioning from one class to another. When One-on-One assistance is needed, the IEP should spell out exactly what the aide should do, for example some students may need an aide throughout the entire day, while other students may only need an aide at certain times of the day.

Paraprofessional - A paraprofessional has had at least two years of college and received at least an associate's degree.  This professional can assist in instructing, reading, writing and mathematics under the supervision of a teacher.  Under federal law, a paraprofessional cannot provide one-on-one tutoring for a student if the teacher is available.

Parent Liaison - Parent liaisons work for and within the school. They provide a link to communication between parents and the school. They help in gathering information parents need to assist their child at home and can help in referring parents to the proper department, person or resources within the school district that can help the parents and meet the student's needs. 

Principal - The principal is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the school. Principals manage curriculum, set up training for teachers, set performance goals for the school, create and monitor annual budgets, set policy for the school and interact with students and parents on a regular basis. They routinely monitor the quality of education and visit the classrooms.

Reading Specialist - Reading specialists work to assess and evaluate reading skills and work with students to improve reading skills when they are reading below grade level. Reading specialists normally work closely with teachers to supplement the classroom curriculum. These professionals often provide written evaluations and recommendations or design a reading program for students with reading difficulties requiring an IEP.

Student Teacher - A student teacher is a college or graduate student that works within the classroom, creates lesson plans and teaches the class, under the supervision of a certified teacher. The student teacher is working toward becoming certified.