English Learner Portal-School Personnel

Texas School Personnel

Understanding Who Works in Texas Public Schools

As your child begins their journey in Texas public schools, you will meet a variety of school staff other than your child’s teacher. It is important to understand the different roles and responsibilities of each staff member so you know who to ask for help if you have questions or need more information. Each school may be organized a bit differently or use different titles for staff, so the information below serves as general guidance. We recommend contacting your school or district for specific information. Find your district here.Your school’s website may have a list of staff and their titles.

Below are titles and primary responsibilities of different school personnel and some suggested conversation starters to assist you in communicating with them.

Academic Instructors

Classroom Teacher

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
May also be called homeroom teacher or general education teacher. The teacher delivers instruction by using different strategies to address students’ needs so all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed. The teacher prepares all lessons, grades students’ work, helps students manage their behavior, and Communicates with parents about what is going on in class and students’ progress.	Please provide me with more information about this assignment/project. My child is having difficulty with this assignment. How could they get some extra help from you at school? Please explain why my child has this grade on their assignment/test/report card. I need help understanding the information sent to me about __. When would be a good time for us to meet? What are ways I can volunteer at the school or in the classroom? I’d like to help my child at home with ______. What are some ideas and/or resources that you can recommend?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

May also be called homeroom teacher or general education teacher.
The teacher delivers instruction by using different strategies to address students’ needs so all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed.
The teacher

prepares all lessons,
grades students’ work,
helps students manage their behavior, and
Communicates with parents about what is going on in class and students’ progress.

Please provide me with more information about this assignment/project.
My child is having difficulty with this assignment. How could they get some extra help from you at school?
Please explain why my child has this grade on their assignment/test/report card.
I need help understanding the information sent to me about __. When would be a good time for us to meet?
What are ways I can volunteer at the school or in the classroom?
I’d like to help my child at home with ______. What are some ideas and/or resources that you can recommend?

Interventionist

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
May also be called reading specialist/teacher, math specialist, or educational specialist. The interventionist is similar to a special education teacher but may work with students who receive special education services and other students who are below grade level and need extra support. The interventionist has special training in lesson materials or programs to help students learn and recover specific reading and math skills, and provides instruction in small groups, in a separate classroom, and at a time when students are not receiving reading, math, science, or social studies instruction from their classroom teacher.	My child is struggling with ___. What are some ideas and/or resources that you recommend? How is my child doing in their intervention? When are you available for an in-person meeting or phone call to discuss this further? What tests are available to know whether my child would benefit from some extra help? Who has more information about next steps?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

May also be called reading specialist/teacher, math specialist, or educational specialist.
The interventionist is similar to a special education teacher but may work with students who receive special education services and other students who are below grade level and need extra support.
The interventionist

has special training in lesson materials or programs to help students learn and recover specific reading and math skills, and
provides instruction in small groups, in a separate classroom, and at a time when students are not receiving reading, math, science, or social studies instruction from their classroom teacher.

My child is struggling with ___. What are some ideas and/or resources that you recommend?
How is my child doing in their intervention? When are you available for an in-person meeting or phone call to discuss this further?
What tests are available to know whether my child would benefit from some extra help? Who has more information about next steps?

Special Education Teacher

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The special education teacher delivers instruction to students who are identified as needing special education. The special education teacher teaches in a way that matches students’ learning needs and goals in their individualized education plan (IEP), may support their students in the classroom while the general education teacher delivers instruction, and may provide specialized instruction to students in small groups in a different classroom. To learn more about special education, click here. To learn more about your parental rights and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), click here (will link to our Parental Rights section of the toolkit).	How is special education instruction different from what students receive in general education? How is it specifically helping my child? What are my legal rights regarding a special education for my child? Who can refer my child for special education testing? How can I help my child with reading/math/study skills/homework at home? What is free and appropriate education (FAPE)? What does that mean for my child? How will you share my child’s progress on their IEP with me? My child is being tested to determine whether they qualify for special education services. What tests are given? Please explain the full identification and qualification process to me. What is a learning disability? Please tell me more about dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

The special education teacher delivers instruction to students who are identified as needing special education.
The special education teacher

teaches in a way that matches students’ learning needs and goals in their individualized education plan (IEP),
may support their students in the classroom while the general education teacher delivers instruction, and
may provide specialized instruction to students in small groups in a different classroom.

To learn more about special education, click here. To learn more about your parental rights and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), click here (will link to our Parental Rights section of the toolkit).

How is special education instruction different from what students receive in general education? How is it specifically helping my child?

What are my legal rights regarding a special education for my child? Who can refer my child for special education testing?

How can I help my child with reading/math/study skills/homework at home?

What is free and appropriate education (FAPE)? What does that mean for my child?

How will you share my child’s progress on their IEP with me?

My child is being tested to determine whether they qualify for special education services. What tests are given? Please explain the full identification and qualification process to me.

What is a learning disability? Please tell me more about dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia

Bilingual Program Teacher

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
May also be called dual-language teacher The bilingual program teacher is a classroom teacher who is certified to provide bilingual education. The bilingual program teacher delivers content area instruction (like science, social studies, reading, and math) in English and in another language and builds students’ proficiency in both languages. To learn more about bilingual education and the various programs such as dual-language programs, click here.	How is my child doing with learning _________ language in your class? What goals have been set for my child this year? Please provide me with more information about this assignment/project. My child is having difficulty with this assignment. How could they get some extra help from you at school? Please explain why my child has this grade on their assignment/test/report card. I need help understanding the information sent to me about __. When would be a good time for us to meet? What are ways I can volunteer at the school or in the classroom? I’d like to help my child at home with ______. What are some ideas and/or resources that you can recommend?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

May also be called dual-language teacher The bilingual program teacher is a classroom teacher who is certified to provide bilingual education.
The bilingual program teacher

delivers content area instruction (like science, social studies, reading, and math) in English and in another language and
builds students’ proficiency in both languages.

To learn more about bilingual education and the various programs such as dual-language programs, click here.

How is my child doing with learning _________ language in your class? What goals have been set for my child this year?
Please provide me with more information about this assignment/project.
My child is having difficulty with this assignment. How could they get some extra help from you at school?
Please explain why my child has this grade on their assignment/test/report card.
I need help understanding the information sent to me about __. When would be a good time for us to meet?
What are ways I can volunteer at the school or in the classroom?
I’d like to help my child at home with ______. What are some ideas and/or resources that you can recommend?

English as a Second language (ESL) Teacher

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The ESL program teacher delivers all instruction in English. The ESL program teacher helps students learn new subject matter and vocabulary and supports language development. To learn more about ESL instruction, click here.	How is my child doing with learning _________ language in your class? What goals have been set for my child this year? Please provide me with more information about this assignment/project. My child is having difficulty with this assignment. How could they get some extra help from you at school? Please explain why my child has this grade on their assignment/test/report card. I need help understanding the information sent to me about __. When would be a good time for us to meet? What are ways I can volunteer at the school or in the classroom? I’d like to help my child at home with ______. What are some ideas and/or resources that you can recommend?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

The ESL program teacher delivers all instruction in English.
The ESL program teacher

helps students learn new subject matter and vocabulary and
supports language development.

To learn more about ESL instruction, click here.

Provides Resources for your Student

Librarian

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The librarian oversees the school library. The librarian helps students check out (borrow) books, keeps the library organized and filled with a wide selection of books, encourages students to read and helps them develop a love for reading, helps students with their research skills for essays or projects, and	What are some books you recommend for my child, considering their age, grade level, and interests? What are some reading and/or writing activities you recommend for home? How do I get a city public library card? What other city or district activities, events, or free resources can you tell me about? What are some free audiobooks in languages other than English that you recommend? How can I access those?.

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

The librarian oversees the school library.
The librarian

helps students check out (borrow) books,
keeps the library organized and filled with a wide selection of books,
encourages students to read and helps them develop a love for reading,
helps students with their research skills for essays or projects, and

What are some books you recommend for my child, considering their age, grade level, and interests?
What are some reading and/or writing activities you recommend for home?
How do I get a city public library card? What other city or district activities, events, or free resources can you tell me about?
What are some free audiobooks in languages other than English that you recommend? How can I access those?.

School Counselor

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
At elementary and middle schools, the counselor supports students’ learning and emotional development. The counselor provides counseling sessions with students in school; supports the overall mental health, well-being, and safety of students; and offers guidance to parents on many different topics related to learning.	What campus programs or options are available to support my child’s mental health? What other counseling options and support are available outside of the school campus? Please provide more information about other academic options to help my child (like tutoring, intervention, and gifted-and-talented programs). What is behavioral support?

School Nurse

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The nurse is responsible for health services programs and the health needs of students. The nurse may offer health education and preventive health resources to families and connects parents with resources available both on and off campus.	Please provide more details about my child’s accident at school. What programs and health services are available for my child (like hearing, vision, and dental care)? How can I get more information about receiving a referral? My child takes medicine. I’d like to talk about making sure my child gets their medicine at school when needed.

School Office and Support Staff

Attendance Clerk or Registrar

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The attendance clerk or registrar manages student attendance. They may contact families regarding tardiness (being late to school) and absences.	What is the difference between an excused absence and an unexcused absence? How many excused and unexcused absences is my child allowed to have? How many excused and unexcused absences does my child currently have? How do I get an absence to be excused? What is a tardy? How many tardies is my child allowed to have? How many tardies does my child currently have? What are the rules for absences?

Parent-Teacher Association

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The PTA is a group of parents, educators, and community members. The PTA works to increase family involvement and improve learning outcomes for students.	What is the process to become a member of the PTA? What does the PTA do? How can I get involved in activities or organizations at my child’s school? How about in our community? What problems do we have at our school/community? How can I help? What are some opportunities to meet other parents in the school community?

Family Support Specialist

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The family support specialist develops relationships with families by providing them with district and community resources. The family support specialist provides community support, advocates for students and families, and helps families support the needs of their child.	What information about community resources can you share with me related to support services, transportation, and/or adult classes? Does the school offer adult education classes like ESL? How can I enroll? Are there volunteering opportunities on campus? How can I get involved?

Secretary or Administrative Assistant

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The secretary or administrative assistant oversees the main office and can support families with general questions throughout the school day.	How can I enroll my child in this school? What additional information can you give me about health services, bus schedules, after-school options, bell schedules, and/or free breakfast and lunch options? How do I arrange to pick up make-up work for my child? How can I schedule a meeting with the principal or counselor? I have a few topics I’d like to discuss. Where do I sign in to come onto campus? What identification do I need to come onto campus?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

The secretary or administrative assistant oversees the main office and can support families with general questions throughout the school day.

How can I enroll my child in this school?
What additional information can you give me about health services, bus schedules, after-school options, bell schedules, and/or free breakfast and lunch options?
How do I arrange to pick up make-up work for my child?
How can I schedule a meeting with the principal or counselor? I have a few topics I’d like to discuss.
Where do I sign in to come onto campus? What identification do I need to come onto campus?

Campus/District Leadership

Academic Advisor or Dean of Students

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
In high school, the counselor (usually called an academic advisor or a dean of students) helps students with their mental well-being and provides academic planning services. The academic advisor or dean of students helps students select which classes to take; helps students stay organized while applying for college, scholarships, and grants; advises on career choices or postsecondary training; and helps students ensure that they complete all necessary courses to meet the number of credits required to complete high school	What courses does my child need to take? How many credit hours do they need this year? What support is available to help my child choose what classes to take and understand what classes and credit hours they need to graduate? My child is interested in college employment military service technical training. What are some options for after high school? What help is available to my child for college admissions testing, applications for college, and or other training courses? What are some activities, resources, or involvement opportunities that you recommend for my child so that they are successful in high school? What about after high school? Who can help my child and me fill out college applications? We’re not sure about accessing the application what is needed to begin the application how to find the application the wording on the application. Who can help me find options for tuition assistance for college next year?

Primary Responsibilities

Conversation Starters

In high school, the counselor (usually called an academic advisor or a dean of students) helps students with their mental well-being and provides academic planning services.
The academic advisor or dean of students

helps students select which classes to take;
helps students stay organized while applying for college, scholarships, and grants;
advises on career choices or postsecondary training; and
helps students ensure that they complete all necessary courses to meet the number of credits required to complete high school

What courses does my child need to take? How many credit hours do they need this year?
What support is available to help my child choose what classes to take and understand what classes and credit hours they need to graduate?
My child is interested in college employment military service technical training. What are some options for after high school?

What help is available to my child for college admissions testing, applications for college, and or other training courses?
What are some activities, resources, or involvement opportunities that you recommend for my child so that they are successful in high school? What about after high school?
Who can help my child and me fill out college applications? We’re not sure about accessing the application what is needed to begin the application how to find the application the wording on the application.
Who can help me find options for tuition assistance for college next year?

Superintendent

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The superintendent is the leader of the school district. The superintendent manages all campuses, principals, and district staff hiring; incorporates school board decisions and policies; makes district budget decisions; supports day-to-day operations; guides long-term planning and vision for the district; and builds relations with parents, staff, and board members.	What are the district’s goals and/or programs? How can I set up an in-person meeting or phone call to discuss my child’s educational experience at one of your schools?

Principal

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The principal is the leader of the school. The principal manages learning and teaching decisions, hires staff, supports student behavior decisions, oversees budgeting, works on district and campus initiatives, and builds a community with families, staff, and students.	When can we talk about how the school handles discipline and behavioral issues? How can I schedule a meeting with you to discuss my concerns about my child’s classroom experience? What are the school’s goals for my child? What additional programs are available for my child?

Assistant Principal

Primary Responsibilities	Conversation Starters
The assistant principal works alongside the principal, and their role varies depending on the campus and district. The assistant principal supports management of the school, its staff, and its teaching and learning; organizes campus testing; and supports management of student behavior and support.	How does the school handle behavioral issues? What are the school’s goals for my child? What additional programs are available for my child? How do I arrange to pick up make-up work for my child? I think my child needs additional support with ___. How can you help me