Certified employees are those whose positions require a teaching license. These include but are not limited to general and special education teachers, building administrators, school counselors, psychologists, school social workers, occupational and physical therapists.
Classified employees are those whose positions do not require a teaching license; these include but are not limited to administrative assistants, facilities crews, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nutrition specialists, and support staff.
Substitute positions for teachers, secretaries, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, bus aides, and more are important supports for students and families.
Paraprofessionals are classified support staff who work in classrooms under the supervision of certified teachers to provide instructional and behavioral support to students. Paraprofessionals can work in preschools, elementary schools, and secondary schools, and in programs such as special education, language instruction, and migrant education.
Behavior Specialists hold classified support staff positions that are unique to Joplin Schools. Behavior Specialists occuy many of the same duties in the same spaces as Paraprofessionals, but have completed additional on-the-job training to qualify for specialized situations and additional pay.