Teacher Aides & School Aides:
Review of Roles and
Responsibilities
“Paraprofessionals play a critical role in a
school – they have the ability to impact
students’ lives every day and they are
essential to the successful operation of
the school. They are a key ingredient to
the teaching and learning that occurs
each and every day.”
You may be the first face a student or
parent sees – always be courteous,
welcoming, and professional – even
when it’s hard to do so
Roles & Responsibilities
Teacher Aides
School Aides
•Assisting students with
behavioral/management needs
•Helping students complete tasks that
have been assigned by the teacher
•Assisting in physical care tasks and
health-related activities as appropriate
•Assisting in the set up of laboratory
equipment, conducting experiments, and
performing limited reviews of student
laboratory reports
•Assisting in the technical preparation and
production of media programs
•Overseeing and monitoring student
behavior in hallways, libraries, locker
rooms, cafeterias, and on school grounds
•Directing students to classrooms and
assisting them in following their
schedules
•Helping maintain order in classrooms,
library, gymnasiums and on school
grounds by removing students in the
event of unruly behavior
•Guiding students safely through parking
lots and across streets and intersections
Continued…
Roles & Responsibilities
Continued…
Teacher Aides
School Aides
•Assisting in proctoring and other tasks
related to the administration of
examinations
•Assisting in the correction of test papers,
recording of grades, maintaining of files
and preparing statistical reports
•Managing records, materials and
equipment
•Operating audio-visual equipment
•Providing support in the supervision of
students
•Taking attendance and locating students
who are on campus but not in assigned
class
•Controlling traffic while school buses are
being boarded and un-boarded
•Providing supervision during recess and
lunch periods
•Rendering elementary first-aid treatment
•Performing miscellaneous clerical duties
as assigned, e.g., maintain attendance
records
•Functioning as a “guide” for members of
the community who wish to tour a school
district’s campus and/or classes
Attendance & Timeliness
Attendance: When an aide is absent, it impacts other
aides, teachers, and most importantly – students.
Consistent attendance is essential to being effective in
your role.
Timeliness: Arriving to work on time and adhering to
the schedule for the day are crucial. Teacher
and student schedules work minute-to-minute
and so do the schedules for aides.
Keep It Simple:
Firm, Fair, & Friendly
 Firm: We are assertive in holding students to high
expectations, without being aggressive.
 Fair: We are consistent in the way we reinforce
expectations for students, without showing
favoritism.
 Friendly: We treat students with friendly
respect, without being their “friend”.
Working with Students
 Get to know students by name & learning needs
 Take cues from the classroom teacher about how to
best meet students’ needs
 Communicate with the teacher about how to be
impactful when the student you are assigned to
does not need your direct attention
 Let the teacher be the primary communicator with
parents about student progress/issues
Scenario #1:
Turn & Talk
You are a 1:1 teacher aide in a classroom assigned
to a specific student. You see two students across
the room who are engaged in a disagreement, but
the teacher does not notice. What are the various
ways you could react?
Hallway Supervision: Escorting a Class
 Start by leading from the front of the line.
 Assign 2 students as line leaders. Don’t use the same
students all the time.
 Tell the line leaders to go ahead to a specific spot and stop.
As the children begin to walk let them pass you until you
are at the end of the line.
 Ask the line leaders to move ahead to the next stop
point. Continue to circulate to areas where you are needed
in the line.
 Review rules with students as needed
Remember: Firm, Fair, Friendly
Hallway Supervision
 At the secondary level, students should have a pass when
travelling in the halls during class periods.
 You can/should ask students to show you their pass.
 Give students firm but friendly reminders to get to class on
time and let the assistant principals know if students are
without a pass more than once.
 Avoid being drawn into an argument. Keep it professional.
 Expect students to show respect and be sure to show them
respect.
Remember: Firm, Fair, Friendly
Scenario #2:
Turn & Talk
You are escorting a class to another part of a
school. While in the hallway, you encounter an
unfamiliar adult who does not have a visitors pass.
What should you do?
Visitors to the School
 All visitors should sign in at the designated location and
wear a visitors pass.
 If you encounter an unfamiliar adult, greet them and ask
if they have signed in at the front door/main office.
 Escort the person to the front door/main office to sign in,
or ask another school employee to do so – Do not let a
visitor without a visitors pass wander in the school.
 Do not open doors to visitors – ask them instead to go to
the designated entrance for visitors.
Cafeteria Supervision
 There should be one aide on each shift who picks up a
walkie-talkie at the beginning of the shift and keeps it on in
order to have communication with the office.
 Position yourself so that each of you is in a different
section of the cafeteria. This will allow all student activity to
be supervised.
 Actively circulate and get to know students’ names.
Students are less likely to be disrespectful if
you know and address them by name.
Cafeteria Supervision
 Safety First: If you see it – correct it.
 Aides are not to have lunch when supervision is required.
 Before the students leave the cafeteria they should have
cleared their tables and chairs.
 Dismissal should be by class and/or table. Aides should
accompany the children to their next activity/location when
a teacher is not available to do so.
 Communicate with each other. Talk about adjustments that
need to be made to provide better supervision.
Remember: Firm, Fair, Friendly
Scenario #3:
Turn & Talk
A student in the cafeteria tells you that another
student pushed him while he was in line. You didn’t
see this occur. What should you do?
Playground/Recess Supervision
 There should be one aide on each shift who picks up a
walkie-talkie at the beginning of the shift and keeps it on in
order to have communication with the office.
 Station yourself where you can see the children. That means
you will need to have yourselves situated at different areas
of the playground or field. Do not “bunch up” as this allows
only one field of vision.
 Avoid distractions that interfere with active supervision.
Extended conversation among monitors affects
the safety and supervision of the children.
Playground/Recess Supervision
 When aides are absent we need to adjust coverage to ensure
that playgrounds and recess areas are adequately
supervised.
 Communicate with each other. Talk about adjustments that
need to be made to provide better supervision.
 Safety first – if you see something unsafe or potentially
unsafe intervene.
Remember: Firm, Fair, Friendly
Playground/Recess Injuries
 When minor injuries occur (scraped knees, bloody noses,
etc.) have another student accompany the injured student
to the nurse’s office.
 With potentially more serious injuries (head injuries,
inability to walk or significant limp, possible
dislocations/fractures, serious cuts) ask the student to
remain stationary and call for the nurse, or send a specific
student (by name) to go and get the nurse.
 Be sure that the main office is notified (as soon as possible)
of any injuries that occur.
Scenario #4:
Turn & Talk
A student at recess frequently organizes games for
other students and these games sometimes involve
excluding certain students or pitting students
against each other. At times these games become
unsafe or result in hurt feelings. What could you
do?
Unacceptable Play
 Name calling
 Improper/unsafe use of equipment
 Excluding children from games
 Games that are aggressive or have the potential to be unsafe
 Behavior that makes a classmate feel uncomfortable
 Uncontrolled physical contact (tagging vs. tackling)
 Venturing out of designated recess areas
You have the authority to stop any activity that
poses a risk to student safety
When Conflicts Do Occur
 Recognize the signs when a fight is about to occur:
- verbal argument or name calling
- pushing/shoving
- face-to-face posturing
 If it is safe for you, separate the students & engage the help
of other adults.
 If it appears unsafe, loudly tell the students that they must
stop and that the principal is on the way.
 Call the office for the principal. Clearly explain what is
happening. The supervisor needs to know what problem
is to be addressed.
“An Ounce of Prevention…”
 Be Vigilant at all times by anticipating problems or unsafe
situations…from shoe laces to strangers.
 Be Proactive by reviewing and reinforcing expectations with
students.
 Be Safe at all times – know when to intervene and when to
ask for help.
Confidentiality
 Information about students or incidents that occur within the
school must be kept confidential.
 We have an obligation to the students to be sure that
information gained about students or incidents that occur
do not become a subject for casual conversation either
inside or outside of school.
 This is challenging if you know parents outside of school,
who may ask you questions or seek information that is
confidential.
 This requirement is important as a violation can result in
disciplinary action. The district is its employees can be held
legally responsible for violations of confidentiality.
Catch Students Being Good
 Acknowledge and compliment positive behaviors
 Show appreciation when students are being
cooperative
 Start from positive instead of negative
assumptions about students