Please define the role of a co-teacher in my classroom!

OK, today we had an early release day - well, the kids got out early, not us. The teachers has to stay and get training on Special Education stuff.

One of the topics was co-teaching. At my school, SPED teachers are in some of the classrooms with the regular education teacher to "help out". I currently have a SPED teacher in two of my classes with me. The logic of having him in the classroom with me is that over half of students in each class are on IEP's (Individual Education Plans). So, each of these students has specific accommodations that by law, I need to fulfill. He is supposed to be walking around from student to student and help them out. He's supposed to be familiar with the kids that are on IEP (He doesn't even know what kids are on IEP's and they are on his case load - I've had to tell him which kids need help). Oh, I need to let you know that this is a man that is in his upper 50's and has done SPED for a long time and worked in MANY schools all over MA.

Issue #1 - I was supposed to get copies of my IEP's before school started. I never received any IEP's. So, I went to my co-teacher (twice) and asked him if he could please print out the IEP's of the kids that we have in class. He never did do what I asked him to do for me. I ended up going to two other SPED teachers and they printed out the IEP's for me. They asked why didn't Mr. #$@& do it? My response was that I've asked him twice and he still hasn't printed them out.

Issue #2 - I've heard absolute horror stories on this guy that's supposed to be helping not only the students but me too in the classroom. One by one, teachers have come up to me and told me that Mr. %$##@ is absolutely useless.

Issue #3 - When Mr. $##%% is in the classroom with me, he stands in the back of the room the entire time. He doesn't move around the room to help the kids. When he does have a "conversation" with a kid, it's confrontational. Which isn't a good trait to have with a teenager by the way!

Issue #4 - I've complained to my team teachers about this guy and they gave me a few suggestions on how to deal with it. One of the suggestions was to talk to one of the administrators to see if they could have a chat with Mr. %^$#@. I had a chat with my Housemaster (aka Asst. Principal) today. I'm trying to be diplomatic and professional because it is my first year at this school and I don't want to rock the boat. However, when I spoke to the Housemaster, he's noticed the same things about Mr. ^%##&. The Housemaster said he would speak to Mr. ^%#@.

Issue #5 - I realize that I can't change someone. However, I am asking for professional courtesy and respect. My #1 concern is the kids. Plain and simple! And, these kids are not received the services that they are supposed to according to their IEP. That's against the law!

Issue #6 - Mr. $##%^ leaves the room before the bell rings at the end of the day - before even the kids! And, during class, he will disappear for a while.

Oh, I might want to add that I have three years experience team teaching with two different English teachers and one year experience co-teaching with a SPED teacher. I've been VERY blessed by having some GREAT folks to work with in the classroom. Carla and Donna were amazing educators to work with in the classroom. We had so much fun and the kids learned a great deal from us. Betsy was great with our kids last year because she was always walking around the classroom helping the kids or adding to class discussions and keeping the kids focused. In all these examples, it was presented to the kids that my colleagues and I were a TEAM! That we work together.

I've tried to establish that TEAM attitude with Mr. %^$#@ as well. When I speak, I always say, "Mr. %$#^ and I would like . . . . "

So, the workshop today on co-teaching did clearly define the role of the SPED teacher in my classroom and it's what I originally thought it was - to provide support to the kids and teacher in the classroom. I heard it. But did Mr. %$#@&??????

I'll keep you posted . . . . .