Who are Professionals and Paraprofessionals?
Special educators have numerous names in different countries but they all have the same role. Special educators are also known as: educational assistants, shadow teachers, paraprofessional, teacher assistant, teacher aid and support teachers in Lebanon.
Remember that people in different countries use different terms and I encourage you to use the terminology most suitable in the cultural norms of your country. |
Not every child will be assigned a special educator, it depends on what is required from the Individualized Education Plan (IEP); a document that include what special education services the child qualifies for. A special educator must be provided by the school if mentioned in the IEP unless told otherwise. On the other hand, some people may feel the need to hire their own special educator even if it was not stated in the IEP; they could do so on their own expense if not stated in the IEP.
Classroom teachers work together with special educators to create an inclusive environment that allows a student to work towards the goals of his/her IEP. The special educator receives instruction from the classroom teacher, who holds the ultimate responsibility for the learning of the student. Below is a list of some of the roles and responsibilities of a special educator:
As stated in the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (2009), the need of special educators is on the rise due to “the need to provide adequate support for teachers in making schools more inclusive for students with special needs”(p.4).
Classroom teachers work together with special educators to create an inclusive environment that allows a student to work towards the goals of his/her IEP. The special educator receives instruction from the classroom teacher, who holds the ultimate responsibility for the learning of the student. Below is a list of some of the roles and responsibilities of a special educator:
- Implement IEP goals on a daily basis
- Reinforce a skill taught to the rest of the students in class
- Provide help on the side (ex: personal care such as dressing, or help with technological gadgets)
- Help organize material
- Assess the student’s progress
- Provide feedback and proof (when needed) about the child’s progress, performance, behavior, growth and needs.
As stated in the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (2009), the need of special educators is on the rise due to “the need to provide adequate support for teachers in making schools more inclusive for students with special needs”(p.4).