Who are the school staff in my child’s school?

School staff

School staff are the people who work in the school. All staff members at schools in the USA are expected to create a safe and inclusive learning environment for students. This includes teachers, support staff, and administrators who work to help students succeed.

Superintendent

The superintendent leads many principals and schools. Superintendents make decisions on policy, curriculum (what the students learn in classrooms), and district rules. Because superintendents work for many schools, they might not be in the same school building as your child.

Principal and vice principal

The principal is the head administrator at a school. They are responsible for overseeing all the teachers and other school staff in the school building. The principal is the leader of the teachers. The principal does not teach students. Instead, the principal helps the teachers, helps with discipline, and leads the school.

In big schools, there are also vice principals. Vice principals (or assistant principals) help the principal. In the USA, if a parent has trouble with a teacher, the parent usually talks to the principal.

Teachers

Teachers work closely with students and their families every day. Teachers are the people directly responsible for educating students. They lead learning activities in classrooms. Teachers of younger students teach many topics. For older students, there are teachers for each subject.

In the USA, families show respect for school staff by working with the teachers to educate and support their children. Teachers meet families several times per year to talk about their students. This is normal and does not mean that there is a problem with your child.

ESL teachers

ESL stands for English as a second language. Some schools have ESL teachers to help newcomer children who are learning to speak English. ESL teachers usually have special classes a few times a week just for English learners. ESL teachers sometimes come into regular classes and help English learners there.

Aides

In many schools, aides help teachers in their classrooms. Some classrooms have multiple aides and some have none, depending on the needs of students within the classroom. Aides often help a student who has special needs or a learning disability. Aides also help small groups of students complete their work. For example, they may help your child to learn English, like an ESL teacher.

Nurse

Nurses work in schools to keep students safe and healthy.  If a student is feeling sick, the teacher might send them to the nurse. If the student is sick, the nurse decides to send them home until they feel better.

In the USA, taking care of students’ mental health is an important part of going to school. Sometimes, students have a hard time in class because they are having difficulty adjusting to life in the USA. They might need extra help because coming to the USA from a different country is very hard. Nurses can help support students who are having difficulty adjusting.

Counselor

School counselors help students’ academic, personal, social, and career development needs. They lead programs that help students succeed in school. Counselors can be very helpful to immigrant families. They can help your student adjust to their new school. They might know about special programs for refugee students.

Counselors sometimes also help with mental and physical healthcare. A counselor is a good person to talk to at the school if you think your student might need extra help.

Social workers 

School social workers provide mental health counseling for students and families. They also connect students and families to community resources. Social workers also help immigrant students respond to challenges at school and home.  

Office staff or secretaries

The school secretary helps the principal and often works in the front office of the school building. Sometimes secretaries are called front office staff. When you come to your child’s school, you may need to sign a paper to check in. This helps keep students safe. The secretary will help you sign in. They can show you where to go. If you need help signing up for school, the secretary helps.

Some schools require you to sign a paper to take your child home from school early. The secretary will help you sign your child out. This is to keep your child safe. They can only go home with a trusted adult.

School resource officer

Some schools have a School Resource Officer (SRO) who is a law enforcement officer assigned to ensure the safety of the school. The SRO may assist with safety programs and respond to emergencies, but it is important to know that they are not allowed to enforce immigration laws or check your child’s immigration status.

Learn more about student rights.

Translators and interpreters 

Translators help translate school materials for students and parents who speak a language other than English. Interpreters help school staff communicate with students and their families at parent-teacher conferences and school events. 

Learn more about free translation help.

Community liaisons 

Community liaisons help immigrant families navigate the school system. They connect families with resources at school and access community resources. They help immigrant families feel welcome and supported at school. 

Parent volunteers

Some schools also have parent volunteers who help in classrooms, during recess, or on school trips. Volunteering is a great way to learn more about your child’s education and school community.

Other staff 

Custodians and janitors keep the school clean and safe for your child. Cafeteria workers help prepare and serve meals during lunch at school.

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