8.2 (8S2B): Ability to carry out responsibilities in a manner that demonstrates knowledge of, and a positive respect for, the distinctions between the roles and responsibilities of paraprofessionals, professionals, and other support personnel.
8.3 (8S7B): Perform duties within the context of written standards and policies of the school, state, or agency where they are employed.

Introduction

Paraprofessionals are members of a direct service team and interact regularly with teachers, other school personnel, students, parents, and the community. The effectiveness of these relationships depends not only on the work performed, but also on the ethical behavior of each member of the team. You may encounter ethical issues on a daily basis, including confidentiality, record management, and the demands placed on them by teachers and staff. Therefore, it is important that you are exposed to and discuss ethical guidelines related to the role.

Ethical standards in general education and special education settings, confidentiality, and knowing the chain of responsibility within your school and school district are central components to the paraprofessional. In order for the students to be successful in school, the you needs to know the standards they must work towards to advocate for the students.

Maintaining professionalism while working with students in school is important for paraprofessionals, teachers and administrative staff. In order to effectively support student learning, it is important to separate personal issues and from one's responsibilities. It is essential to recognize stress, conflict, or other factors which may interfere with the successful fulfillment of your duties. Working in a school is not an easy job. Paraprofessionals and teachers need to maintain an open form of communication to educate students successfully. In this unit, you will identify personal stressors in the workplace and personal life, understand how to better manage stress, and practice positive communication in the workplace.

Objectives

As you read the objectives for this unit, think about and rate your current knowledge using the following scale.

1. I do not understand this.
2. I do understand this.
3. I understand this well enough to use in my work.
4. I could teach others about it and use it in my work.

In this unit, you will:

• Learn about the changing roles of paraprofessionals
• Gain knowledge about what professional preparation is needed by paraprofessionals
• Learn the ethical standards for paraprofessionals
• Learn about confidentiality as it relates to the role of paraprofessionals
• Determine the chain of command in the workplace

The Para eLink is sponsored by the Minnesota Paraprofessional Consortium, in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Education, located at the Institute on Community Integration in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota.

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