Para eLink: Where Minnesota's Paraprofessionals Learn Online

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1.3 (1K3B): Understanding of the distinctions between roles and responsibilities of professionals, paraprofessionals, and support personnel.


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Where Do Paraprofessionals Fit In?

School districts and vocational or residential settings are (or should be) organized in such a way that everyone's responsibilities are clear, the level of authority of each position is clear, and the path of accountability is clear.

The two lists below show the typical organization for schools and residential or vocational settings. Notice where the paraprofessional fits into each model and from whom s/he receives direction.

Organizational Hierarchy
Typical School System	Typical Residential/Vocational Setting
Local School Board Superintendent Department Heads: Curriculum & Instruction Elementary Education Special Education Vocational Education Human Resources/Personnel Building Principal Lead Teacher General, Special, or Vocational Education Teacher Paraprofessional	Administrator, Executive Director, President, etc. Program Director, Vice President, Program Manager Quality Mental Retardation Professional, QMRR House/Program Coordinator, Unit Coordinator House/Program Supervisor Paraprofessional/Direct Service Staff

Activities

To chart the hierarchy in your current (or past) workplaces, open a blank worksheet for a school system or a residential or vocational setting.
Obtain organizational charts from your supervisor and compare them to the one(s) you have made.
What is the hierarchical structure at your workplace? Does the written "organizational chart" accurately reflect what is really going on?
Are the responsibilities of your current job in line with those outlined in the hierarchical charts?
How would you go about redefining your job with your supervisor if you felt you were doing more "supervisory" tasks than appropriate based on your training and education?