Introduction
by Megan Haderer, Red River College
This webquest will describe the roles of the principal and the classroom teachers, and their relationships with Educational Assistants in the school setting.
Introduction
Educational Assistants work with a variety of members of the education team, including classroom teachers and school principals. The roles of these proffessionals and their relationships with the Educational Assistant are important for fostering a postive and inclusive environment for all students. Their teamwork is also important for employing effective education practices and providing support to students with special needs.
Classroom teachers work closely with the EAs assigned to their classroom and are given the authority to utilize the EAs as needed. The teacher and the EA will communicate about the needs of the students and the success of strategies being employed to educate them. The teacher is the main collaborator that an EA will have in the school and ideally the relationship they share will be one of mutual respect, trust, and strong communication.
The school principal is the leader of the school as a whole. They are responsible for managing the education staff and enforcing the curriculum laid out by the province. The principal determines the needs of the school and communicates with the school board. EAs and principals do not work together at the classroom level but it is still important that they have a functioning professional relationship.
Task
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Process
Body
The classroom teacher is the education professional primarily responsible for developing lesson plans and leading students in the learning process. The teacher is also responsible for communicating with parents and the rest of the education team on student's progress. The teacher relies on the educational assistants in their classroom to aid in the management and supervision of the classroom as needed. The relationship between EAs and teachers should be one that is respectful and professional. The teacher should be able to dicuss students progress, strengths and weaknesses, and practical goals for students with special needs in their classroom with the educational assistant confidentially. The EA should relay any concerns or observations about students to the teacher and feel comfortable discussing any issues with them. The EA should understand the parameters of their position and respect the teacher's leadership position, and provide the assistance that the teacher requires without overstepping their bounds.
The impact of the teacher on the EAs job depends on the relationship between them. The teacher utilizes the educational assistant as needed within the classroom. The teacher is the primary educational professional that the EA will report to with any questions, concerns or suggestions. The teacher is responsible for all of the goings-on in the classroom and therefore will expect professionalism and compliance in the mission of the class.
The principal is responible for a wide range of duties within the school. It is their job to provide student discipline, teacher evaluation, and manage staff and school resources. Principals are required to act in accordance with the legislative and regulatory requirements of the province. The principal is often responsible for determining the responsibilities and the job outline for the EAs coming into the school. They will usually be consulted by the school board in regards to the need for EAs within their school. The principal's relationship with the educational assistants working within the school are less involved than the relationship between EAs and teachers. The prinicipal will sometimes collaborate with EAs, along with the rest of the education team, on the developing of an IEP for a student with special needs. The principal will also provide performance feedback and evaluations to the EAs and resolve issues that are unable to be resolved between the teacher and EA respectively. The EA should feel comfortable approaching the principal with any concerns regarding duties or tasks that they are uncomfortable performing. The relationship between the EA and the principal should be respectful and professional, and the EA should feel safe approaching the principal with concerns, after exhausting the primary methods of resolving discordences.
The impact of the principal on an EAs job they will provide feedback and information on the EAs performance to the school board, which will affect the EAs success in holding a position with the school district in the future. The principal also impacts the day-to-day activities of EAs within the school by outlining the responsibilities and expectations at the time the EA is hired.
Evaluation
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Conclusion
Conclusion
As a result of my research, I am able to conclude that Educational Assistants are an imperative part of the education team. It is important that they feel valued and have a clear understanding of their role in the school so that they can meet the expectations set for them. Through collaboration with the classroom teacher, EAs are able to provide students with special needs the extra support they need in the most inclusive way possible. The communicative relationship between EAs and teachers ensures that student's progress is being monitored and they are receiving the modifications that are most effective for them. The relationship shared between the principal and the EA ensures that the EA knows their role within the school and the responsibilities that are being assigned to them. This relationship provides feedback and performance review to the EA and provides them with an opportunity to discuss tasks they are uncomfortable with.
Educational Assistants learn to communicate and empathize with the students they are working with and provide much needed support that teachers are unable to. Through their training and experience they may help bridge the gap between students with disabilities and the rest of the school community.
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Credits
http://www.edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/docs/support/ed_assistants/educational_assistants.pdf
http://teaching.about.com/od/admin/tp/Role-Of-The-Principal.htm
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