Utilise this page to gain an understanding of the teaching and support roles you may come across in schools!
Amy, when working in NSW public schools there are many different teachers and support staff who you will need to work with collaboratively. Make sure you utilise their skills and expertise, take on board their advice and feedback and incorporate their ideas and strategies into your teaching. Remember you are a beginning teacher so you need to be open to ideas and finding out what works best for you and your students.
Here is some key information about the teachers and support staff at your school who will be able to support you in many different ways.
Principal
The principal of a public school has the responsibility of the education and management that takes place within that school. Principals must be educational leaders as they have many roles to fulfill including:
· The day to day running of the school
· Ensuring the educational and welfare needs of all students are met through quality educational programs
· Preparing, implementing and evaluating the school’s strategic plan
· Ensuring staff welfare, development and management
· Establishing and managing school finances
· Developing and promoting processes to engage student families and develop community relationships
(NSW DET 2000)
Make sure you work with the principal to ensure you are following school policies and guidelines.
· The day to day running of the school
· Ensuring the educational and welfare needs of all students are met through quality educational programs
· Preparing, implementing and evaluating the school’s strategic plan
· Ensuring staff welfare, development and management
· Establishing and managing school finances
· Developing and promoting processes to engage student families and develop community relationships
(NSW DET 2000)
Make sure you work with the principal to ensure you are following school policies and guidelines.
Deputy Principal
The Deputy Principal of a school supports the Principal in the leadership and management of the school. Some of their roles and responsibilities may include:
· Monitoring and supporting student learning and well-being
· Responding to teaching and learning issues
· Staffing procedures such as casual teachers and staff leave
· Supporting teachers to implement Quality Teaching
The Deputy Principal of your school will assume the role of Acting Principal in the absence of the Principal. Seek advice and support from the Deputy Principal to enhance your teaching and student learning outcomes.
(NSW DET 2000)
· Monitoring and supporting student learning and well-being
· Responding to teaching and learning issues
· Staffing procedures such as casual teachers and staff leave
· Supporting teachers to implement Quality Teaching
The Deputy Principal of your school will assume the role of Acting Principal in the absence of the Principal. Seek advice and support from the Deputy Principal to enhance your teaching and student learning outcomes.
(NSW DET 2000)
Assistant Principal
Assistant Principals also support the principal in the management of the school. Assistant Principals will often be assigned specific responsibilities within the school such as student learning and welfare or leadership and staff development. Roles and responsibilities may include:
· Allocating budgets, resources and positions of responsibility
· Supervising teachers in the delivery of quality teaching and learning programs
· Student discipline and management structures
One of the school’s Assistant Principals is also likely to be your supervising teacher. Ensure you develop positive relationships with all Assistant Principals in your school.
(NSW DEC 2012)
· Allocating budgets, resources and positions of responsibility
· Supervising teachers in the delivery of quality teaching and learning programs
· Student discipline and management structures
One of the school’s Assistant Principals is also likely to be your supervising teacher. Ensure you develop positive relationships with all Assistant Principals in your school.
(NSW DEC 2012)
Supervising Teacher
Supervising Teachers support classroom teachers to implement effective teaching and learning programs. They encourage the collaboration of Stage teachers, evaluate teaching and learning and monitor assessment and student progress for students in the Stage which they are supervising. Supervising Teachers play a key role in supporting New Scheme Teachers to reach ‘Professional Competence’ as they observe teaching, evaluate programs and approve evidence for meeting each standard. You should work closely with your Supervising Teacher to implement effective pedagogies and to work collaboratively with staff teaching on the same Stage as you.
(NSWIT 2010)
(NSWIT 2010)
Classroom Teacher
Classroom teachers have the responsibility of ensuring all students are provided with a quality education in a safe learning environment. They have the ability to engage and empower students to make a difference in their lives.
Teachers must:
· Be aware of their duty of care to their students
· Demonstrate professional behaviour at all times
· Collaborate to develop school plans and programs
· Plan and document teaching and learning programs
· Treat all students equally and fairly
· Ensure programs are implemented for child protection and student welfare
· Follow the Departments Code of Conduct
· Take part in ongoing professional development
(NSW DEC 2012)
Teachers must:
· Be aware of their duty of care to their students
· Demonstrate professional behaviour at all times
· Collaborate to develop school plans and programs
· Plan and document teaching and learning programs
· Treat all students equally and fairly
· Ensure programs are implemented for child protection and student welfare
· Follow the Departments Code of Conduct
· Take part in ongoing professional development
(NSW DEC 2012)
New Scheme Teacher
Teachers who have never been employed to teach in NSW before October 1, 2004 (either on a permanent, casual or temporary basis) or who have not been employed as a teacher during the last five years, are New Scheme Teachers under the Institute of Teachers Act 2004.
(NSW DEC 2012)
Amy this is you! Make sure you read more about New Scheme Teachers and what requirements you need to meet on the Accreditation page of this website.
(NSW DEC 2012)
Amy this is you! Make sure you read more about New Scheme Teachers and what requirements you need to meet on the Accreditation page of this website.
Support Teacher Learning Assistant (STLA)
STLA teachers work with students who have learning difficulties. They have the roles of assessing and identifying students who may require additional support for learning. They also implement the appropriate learning programs for these students in collaboration with classroom teachers. STLA teachers will work in your classroom to support students as well as withdrawing students for specific learning tasks.
(NSW DEC 2012)
(NSW DEC 2012)
Teacher Librarian
Teacher Librarians are important members of the school staff, they are qualified teachers and librarians. They have a number of roles and responsibilities including:
· Developing and implementing teaching and learning programs
· Encouraging students to read and develop a love of literature
· Manage technology in the school library and library resources
· Teach information skills such as critical literacy
· Provide students with access to information about their interests
(NSWTF 2012).
· Developing and implementing teaching and learning programs
· Encouraging students to read and develop a love of literature
· Manage technology in the school library and library resources
· Teach information skills such as critical literacy
· Provide students with access to information about their interests
(NSWTF 2012).
ESL Teacher
English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers must be qualified primary or secondary teachers who have also have completed a course of study in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
(NSW DET 2010)
Amy, you need to work collaboratively with the ESL teacher at your school to ensure any ESL students in your class are provided with the best possible learning opportunities and support. The ESL teacher may work with the students in your classroom or withdraw them to complete specific teaching and learning tasks to meet the language needs of the student.
(NSW DET 2010)
Amy, you need to work collaboratively with the ESL teacher at your school to ensure any ESL students in your class are provided with the best possible learning opportunities and support. The ESL teacher may work with the students in your classroom or withdraw them to complete specific teaching and learning tasks to meet the language needs of the student.
Aboriginal Education Resource Teacher (AERT)
AERT’s are qualified teachers who work with teachers in the Aboriginal Language Development Program and support a focus on literacy in the classroom. AERT’s collaborate with other staff members such as the AEO to develop and implement culturally relevant teaching programs including Aboriginal perspectives in all Key Learning Areas.
(NSW DET 2010b)
Amy the AERT at your school provides you with a significant advantage for meeting the needs of Aboriginal students within your class as well as for integrating Aboriginal Perspectives into your teaching and learning program. Make sure you take on their advice and feedback!
(NSW DET 2010b)
Amy the AERT at your school provides you with a significant advantage for meeting the needs of Aboriginal students within your class as well as for integrating Aboriginal Perspectives into your teaching and learning program. Make sure you take on their advice and feedback!
Aboriginal Education Officer (AEO)
These staff members are employed in schools with a significant enrolment of Aboriginal students. Teachers need to work closely with the AEO in their school to develop and implement culturally appropriate resources and programs to successfully teach Aboriginal Education. AEO’s also develop strong links and relationships with parents and community to support both students and their families. The Aboriginal students in your class will be supported by the AEO to succeed in all aspects of schooling. You should also collaborate with the AEO to keep parents and community informed of student achievement and school activities.
(NSW DEC 2012)
Amy, when AEO’s are utilised to their full potential they will provide your Aboriginal students with a positive role model and someone who they can seek support from to succeed. Make sure you develop a positive, working relationship with your school’s AEO.
(NSW DEC 2012)
Amy, when AEO’s are utilised to their full potential they will provide your Aboriginal students with a positive role model and someone who they can seek support from to succeed. Make sure you develop a positive, working relationship with your school’s AEO.
School Learning Support Officer
Within the school, these personnel work under the supervision of a teacher to assist with classroom activities, routines as well as supporting students with special needs. Some of their responsibilities may include:
· Implementing individual education programs (IEPs)
· Providing opportunities for and supporting students to develop a range of life skills
· Taking care of the personal needs of students
· Some clerical duties such as copying learning materials
(NSW DEC 2012)
· Implementing individual education programs (IEPs)
· Providing opportunities for and supporting students to develop a range of life skills
· Taking care of the personal needs of students
· Some clerical duties such as copying learning materials
(NSW DEC 2012)
Integration (funding support) Aide
Integration Aides support classroom teachers to meet the needs of students with disabilities in the classroom. They are funded through the Integration Funding Support Program. Roles and responsibilities of these personnel are the same as School Learning Support Officers.
(NSW DEC 2012)
(NSW DEC 2012)