In TRS, a teacher is a person who is qualified to teach and works for a public school as an instructor, administrator or supervisor. [WAC 415-112-120]
Note: As applied to other TRS employers, "public school" means an institution whose primary function is to educate students where fifty percent or more of the employees are qualified to teach. [WAC 415-112-015 ; RCW 41.32.010(21)]
"Instructor" means a qualified teacher performing services as a classroom teacher. [WAC 415-112-015]
"Administrator or supervisor" means a manager responsible for (a) the administration of a public school; or (b) exercising direction over other employees of the public school. [WAC 415-112-015]
Note: Administrators or supervisors include, but are not limited to, principals, assistant principals, superintendents, assistant superintendents, personnel managers and business managers.
An "Educational Staff Associate" (ESA) is a person employed by a public school in any of the following positions:
A person employed in an ESA position in a public school must hold a certificate authorized by the State Board of Education.
Note: A person employed in an ESA position on or after June 7, 1984, must become a member of TRS. There are instances where a person employed as an ESA prior to June 7, 1984, has membership rights to PERS. If you have this situation, contact TRS Retirement Services for help in determining this person's membership rights.
A public school employee who is qualified to teach who is not employed as an instructor, administrator or supervisor is not a teacher. A person in such a position cannot be in TRS. Those positions include, but are not limited to, the following: [WAC 415-112-120]