TA Professional Development & Ethics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A teaching assistant notices a colleague frequently belittling students in front of the class. The BEST first step is to:
- Ignore it since it is not your classroom
- Report it immediately to the principal without talking to the colleague
- Address concerns privately with the supervising teacher (Correct answer)
- Post about it on social media to raise awareness
Correct answer: Address concerns privately with the supervising teacher
Raising concerns privately with the supervising teacher is the appropriate professional channel before escalating to administration.
Question 2: Which activity BEST supports a teaching assistant's ongoing professional development?
- Attending professional development workshops and conferences (Correct answer)
- Reviewing the same lesson plans used the previous year
- Limiting collaboration to avoid outside influence
- Focusing solely on classroom management tasks
Correct answer: Attending professional development workshops and conferences
Professional workshops and conferences expose TAs to current research, strategies, and networking opportunities that improve practice.
Question 3: A student shares with you that they are being bullied on the school bus. As a TA, you should:
- Keep it confidential since the student trusted you
- Tell the student to handle it themselves
- Report the information to the supervising teacher or school counselor (Correct answer)
- Contact the bully's parents directly
Correct answer: Report the information to the supervising teacher or school counselor
TAs are mandated reporters and must pass student safety concerns to the appropriate school personnel.
Question 4: Which behavior demonstrates professional ethics when handling student academic records?
- Sharing grade information with other students for comparison
- Discussing a student's scores openly in the teacher's lounge
- Accessing only the records necessary for your assigned duties (Correct answer)
- Forwarding records to a parent upon verbal request alone
Correct answer: Accessing only the records necessary for your assigned duties
FERPA requires that student records be accessed only on a need-to-know basis tied to legitimate educational duties.
Question 5: A TA disagrees with the lead teacher's instructional approach. The MOST professional response is to:
- Change the approach when the teacher is not present
- Discuss the concern privately with the teacher after class (Correct answer)
- Complain to other staff members in the hallway
- Refuse to implement the approach in front of students
Correct answer: Discuss the concern privately with the teacher after class
Respectful private dialogue with the lead teacher maintains a collaborative environment and models professional conflict resolution.
Question 6: Which scenario represents a conflict of interest a TA must avoid?
- Helping a student who is the child of a neighbor using the same support given to all students
- Tutoring a student in your class privately for personal payment without disclosure (Correct answer)
- Attending a school event where students you work with are performing
- Recommending a general reading list to a parent
Correct answer: Tutoring a student in your class privately for personal payment without disclosure
Privately tutoring students you supervise for pay creates a conflict of interest that should be disclosed and may violate district policy.
Question 7: What does it mean for a TA to maintain professional boundaries with students?
- Never speaking to students outside of formal lessons
- Keeping interactions supportive but role-appropriate, avoiding personal relationships (Correct answer)
- Refusing to answer personal questions about your own education background
- Limiting all praise to avoid students becoming dependent
Correct answer: Keeping interactions supportive but role-appropriate, avoiding personal relationships
Professional boundaries mean relationships remain supportive and role-appropriate, preventing inappropriate dependency or favoritism.
TA Professional Development & Ethics 2
A teaching assistant notices a colleague frequently belittling students in front of the class.
The BEST first step is to: