Images: “Students Talking at Albany Senior High School” by Mosborne01 is licensed under CC BY-SA. Photo credit: Shane Wenzlick/Phototek.

Overview

This module covers the roles and responsibilities of teachers and paraeducators.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this module, you should be able to:

• Reference a job description for a job in education

• Compare and contrast the roles and responsibilities of teachers and paraeducators.

• Visit a school district Website to find an appropriate job description for education.

Learning Activities

• Assignment # 7: Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Paraeducators. 

• Weekly Journal: Self-Care for Future Educators: Make Taking Care of Ourselves a Priority

• After-Class Reflection

Learning Activities 

Assignment 7: Roles and Responsibilities of Teachers and Paraeducators

Goal: This assignment aims to gain a deeper understanding of the job descriptions, roles, and responsibilities of teachers and paraeducators. 

Instructions: The assignment consists of two parts. First, you will need to go look for a job description for either a teacher or a paraeducator. Below is a list of school districts that offer job descriptions. 

• Portland Public School District

• Parkrose School District

• North Clackamas School District

• David Douglas School District

• Beaverton School District

• Multnomah Education Service District  (MESD offers a variety of alternative schooling options.

Second, you must respond to prompts that help analyze the roles and responsibilities. 

Step One 

1. Imagine you have either your teaching certificate or your paraeducator certificate, and now you are looking for a job. Visit the websites of any school districts where you might be interested in working. We recognize that not all of you will end up in education, but for this assignment, we ask that you find a job description that you would consider. You can look for a job description for a teacher or a paraeducator.  

Step Two

1. Answer the following prompts about the job description that you found.

   1. What are the primary duties and responsibilities in this position?

   2. What duties and responsibilities are entailed that people might not be as aware of?

   3. What might be some positive aspects of working in this position?

   4. What might be some negative aspects of working in this position?

   5.  How do your education, skills, and experience relate to this position? You may not yet be qualified for a position (such as a certified teacher), but you can still research these types of jobs.

Weekly Journal Self-Care for Future Educators: Make Taking Care of Ourselves a Priority

Teaching is deeply meaningful work, but it can also be emotionally, mentally, and physically demanding. One of the most important professional habits you can build now, as a future educator, is the ability to care for yourself with intention. Sustainable teaching begins with sustainable you.

Why Self-Care Matters in Education

As teachers, we support students through academic challenges, emotional stress, life transitions, and moments of growth. To do this well, we need to nurture and protect our own well-being. Self-care is not indulgent; it’s an essential part of ethical and responsible teaching. When you care for yourself, you:

• Strengthen your resilience and emotional regulation

• Model healthy habits for your students

• Improve your creativity, patience, and decision-making

• Build longevity in the profession
  
  

Your Self-Care Journal 

Throughout the module, you are invited to keep a simple Self-Care Journal. Make a copy of this Google Document and download the copy. Your journal’s purpose is to record one activity that you are doing to take care of yourself each week. We need to develop habits of self-care so that it can become part of our practice. The suggested prompts are provided to help you get started. If you are doing something else than the suggested activity, then add it to your journal. In your After-Class Reflection, report what you are doing each week as a self-care practice. 

Week 7 –After Class Reflections

Goal: The goal of this activity is to gather feedback on your understanding of concepts each week and address any questions you may have related to the content and instructions. This is considered a form of formative assessment. 

Instructions: Please complete the survey.