Overview
Orah is designed to support multiple user roles within a boarding school, each with different responsibilities and levels of access.
This article provides an overview of the main user roles in Orah, what each role is responsible for, and how roles work together to support safe and effective boarding operations.
All user roles are managed directly within Orah under Staff > Roles.
Understanding roles early helps ensure:
The right people have the right access
Day-to-day workflows run smoothly
Setup and Go-Live are not delayed by permission issues
Why Roles Matter in Orah
Roles in Orah determine:
What users can see
What actions they can perform
Which students, houses, or workflows they are responsible for
In a boarding context, clear role assignment is critical.
It ensures accountability, reduces confusion, and supports student safety.
A well-defined role structure allows staff to focus on their responsibilities without unnecessary access or complexity.
Core User Roles for Boarding Schools
Most boarding schools using Orah will configure some or all of the following roles.
These roles are available as templates and can be reviewed or adjusted under Staff > Roles.
Boarding Administrators
Who this role is for
Boarding Directors
Senior boarding staff
Orah system owners
What this role typically does
Configure boarding houses, roll calls, and passes
Manage staff access and role assignments
Review reports and overall boarding activity
Support staff during onboarding and Go-Live
Boarding Administrators are responsible for how Orah is set up and maintained at the school.
House Parents and Boarding Staff
Who this role is for
House Parents
Residential staff
Duty staff responsible for supervision
What this role typically does
Run daily and evening roll calls
Sign students in and out
Manage day-to-day boarding activity
Record information during duty periods
House Parents interact with Orah frequently, but typically do not manage system configuration.
Teaching Staff (if applicable)
Some schools choose to provide limited access to teaching staff.
What this role may include
Viewing relevant student information
Supporting attendance or supervision workflows
Limited access based on school policy
Access for teaching staff varies by school and should reflect operational needs rather than convenience.
IT or Systems Administrators (if applicable)
Who this role is for
School IT teams
Systems administrators
What this role typically does
Manage SIS or data integrations
Support data accuracy and syncing
Assist with technical setup or troubleshooting
IT users may not be involved in daily boarding workflows, but they play a key role in ensuring Orah operates reliably.
Parents and Students
Depending on how your school uses Orah, parents and students may also have access.
Typical access includes
Viewing relevant information
Submitting requests or forms (where enabled)
Receiving communications
Parent and student access is intentionally limited and focused on visibility rather than management.
Assigning and Reviewing Roles
When inviting staff into Orah, it’s important to:
Assign the correct role at the time of invitation
Review role permissions under Staff > Roles
Ensure users are associated with the correct boarding houses (where applicable)
Incorrect role assignment is one of the most common causes of onboarding delays and access-related questions.
Roles can be adjusted at any time — they do not need to be perfect on day one.
Role Setup Tips for Boarding Schools
Clearly identify who will act as Boarding Administrators
Limit admin access to users who genuinely need it
Ensure House Parents are linked to the houses they supervise
Review roles again just before Go-Live
Taking time to review roles early prevents confusion later.
What to Have in Place Before Go-Live
Before moving forward, confirm that:
All required staff have been invited
Roles reflect real-world responsibilities
House Parents can access the students they supervise
Administrators can manage boarding workflows confidently
This helps ensure a smooth transition into day-to-day use of Orah.
What’s Next
Once users and roles are set up correctly, the next step is preparing your school for Go-Live.
👉 Next article: Preparing for Go-Live – Boarding Schools