School-Based Professions
There are many professions in a school-based setting other than the classroom teacher, and this listing is not comprehensive. Some positions may require additional education, training, or certification.
School Psychologist
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. An advanced degree is required.
National Association of School Psychologists
School Counselor
School counselors are highly educated, professionally certified individuals who help students succeed in school and plan their career. An integral part of the total education system, school counselors help students form healthy goals, mindsets and behaviors. With the aid of a school counselor, students learn to develop effective collaboration and cooperation skills, to practice perseverance, to develop time management and study skills, and to learn self-motivation and self-direction habits. An advanced degree is required.
American School Counselor Association
Occupational Therapist
Occupational therapy enables people of all ages to participate in daily living. Occupational therapy practitioners are either occupational therapists or occupational therapy assistants. They are skilled health care professionals who use research and scientific evidence to ensure their interventions are effective. With strong knowledge of a person’s psychological, physical, emotional, and social makeup, occupational therapy practitioners can evaluate how a person's condition (or risk for one) is affecting their body and mind, using a holistic perspective. An advanced degree is required.
American Occupational Therapy Association
Speech-Language Pathologist
Speech-language pathologists work with people of all ages, from babies to adults. SLPs treat many types of communication and swallowing problems. These include problems with speech sounds, language, social communication, voice, fluency, and feeding and swallowing. An advanced degree is required.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Art Therapist
Art therapists are clinicians that serve communities in different settings. They support their clients’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being, including children experiencing behavioral challenges, people and caregivers in medical crises, victims of violence or other trauma, older adults struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s Disease, or anyone that needs help coping with life’s challenges. An advanced degree is required.
American Art Therapy Association
School Librarian
A school librarian works with both students and teachers to facilitate access to information in a wide variety of formats, instruct students and teachers how to acquire, evaluate and use information and the technology needed in this process, and introduces children and young adults to literature and other resources to broaden their horizons. As a collaborator, change agent, and leader, the school librarian develops, promotes and implements a program that will help prepare students to be effective users of ideas and information, a lifelong skill. Certification requirements vary by state; an advanced degree may be required.
American Association of School Librarians
Special Education Assistant
Special Education is a high demand area, with nearly every state reporting a shortage of special education teachers. No advanced education is required to work as an assistant in a special education classroom. With a shortage of teachers, many states may offer accelerated licensure paths with financial support. Information about special education licensure in Indiana can be found at the link below:
Indiana Special Education Assisted Licensure
Instructional Technology Specialist
An instructional technology specialist helps integrate technologies, such as computers, hardware, and software, into educational settings. This career is very similar to an instructional coordinator position, since the job often requires you to help plan in-class curriculum. The role of an instructional technology specialist is especially valuable due to the growing use of technology in classrooms. An advanced degree is often required.