February 17, 2026

Ep. 74: How Teachers Can Set Boundaries and Collaborate with School Support Staff

16 minutes

When another professional walks into your classroom, things can get complicated fast. In this episode, Audra and Caitlin answer a listener question about what to do when support staff, behavior consultants, or other specialists aren’t showing up in the way you expected. They share practical, professional ways to navigate power dynamics, clarify roles, and protect your classroom while keeping relationships intact.

🔑 Key Takeaways
• Document objectively and consistently 📋 — focus on facts, patterns, and student impact, not emotions.
• Start with direct communication 🤝 — go to the source before escalating to admin or supervisors.
• Frame concerns around student safety and learning 🧠 — this keeps conversations professional and grounded.
• Ask clarifying questions instead of making accusations ❓ — misunderstandings about roles happen more than you think.
• Protect your classroom systems 🏫 — keep running behavior plans, data collection, and instruction regardless of who enters the room.
• Give clear, specific tasks when possible 🧩 — structure can help overwhelmed or unclear support staff succeed.
• Sometimes you can only control your response 🔄 — do your best, stay professional, and focus on student outcomes.

📦 Resources Mentioned
• Join the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• Submit future episode topics in the group 💬

🙌 Join Us & Share
• Have you ever had to navigate tricky staff dynamics in your classroom?
• What strategies helped you keep things professional and student-focused?
• Share your experiences in the Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group 📸
• Know a teacher or BCBA who needs this conversation? Send them this episode 💙