STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF
An effective educational program requires the services of men and women of integrity, high ideals, and human understanding.
All instructional staff members shall adhere to the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees as set forth in F.S. 112.311, et seq.
The Director hereby establishes the following as additional standards of ethical conduct for all instructional staff members at Blossom Montessori School for the Deaf:
A. An instructional staff member shall:
1. Make a reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
2. Not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
3. Not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
4. Not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program.
5. Not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
6. Not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.
7. Not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and make reasonable efforts to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
8. Not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
9. Keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
10. Take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is affiliated.
11. Not intentionally distort or misrepresent facts concerning an educational matter in direct or indirect public expression.
12. Not use institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage.
13. Accept no gratuity, gift, or favor that might influence professional judgment.
14. Offer no gratuity, gift, or favor to obtain special advantages.
15. Maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
16. Not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, martial status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization.
17. Not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
18. Not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual’s performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, make reasonable efforts to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
19. Not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
20. Not use coercive means or promise special treatment to influence professional judgments of colleagues.
21. Not misrepresent one’s own professional qualifications.
22. Not submit fraudulent information on any document in connection with professional activities.
23. Not make any fraudulent statement or fail to disclose a material fact in one’s own or another’s application for a professional position.
24. Not withhold information regarding a position from an applicant or misrepresent an assignment or conditions of employment.
25. Provide upon the request of an individual a written statement of specific reason for recommendations that lead to the denial of increments, significant changes in employment, or termination of employment.
26. Not assist entry into or continuance in the profession of any person known to be unqualified in accordance with these Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and other applicable Florida statutes and State Board of Education rules.
27. Self-report within forty-eight (48) hours to appropriate authorities (as designated by the Director) any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child or the sale and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition, instructional staff members shall self-report any conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty or Nolo Contendere for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within forty-eight (48) hours after the final judgment. When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of F.S. 943.0585(4)(c) and 943.059(4)(c).
28. Report to appropriate authorities any known allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education rules as defined in F.S. 1012.795.
29. Seek no reprisal against any individual who has reported any allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education rules as defined in F.S. 1012.795.
30. Comply with the conditions of an order of the Education Practices Commission imposing probation, imposing a fine, or restricting the authorized scope of practice.
31. Cooperate with the Education Practices Commission in monitoring the probation of a subordinate.
32. Not engage in conduct unbecoming of an employee of the School Board that brings the District into disrepute or that disrupts the orderly processes of the District.
B. All instructional staff members shall adhere to the principles enumerated above.
All instructional staff members shall be required to complete training on the standards established herein.
Statutory Authority: Chapter 2008-108, Laws of Florida
History: New 10/14/08
