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Georgia Professional Standards Commission Georgia Professional Standards Commission

Georgia Professional Standards Commission - PowerPoint Presentation

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Georgia Professional Standards Commission - PPT Presentation

The Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators Sanctions for Cases Closed by Year Year Deny Suspend Revoke Rep Warn FY 2005 17 173 75 149 126 ID: 622507

school educator student students educator school students student conduct suspension standard unethical sexual includes alcohol year professional revoked limited

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Presentation Transcript

Slide1

Georgia Professional Standards Commission

The Code of Ethics for Georgia EducatorsSlide2

Sanctions for Cases Closed by Year

Year Deny Suspend Revoke

Rep. Warn

FY

2005

17

173

75

149

126

FY 2006

19

177

71

116

64

FY 2007

25

180

83

140

30

FY 2008

15

181

64

140

11

FY 2009

20

250

87

146

11

FY 2010

15

219

73

75

9

FY 2011 6 265 61 79 3Slide3

Legal Authority of the PSC Ethics DivisionSlide4

20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.

(a)  It shall be the duty of the commission to adopt standards of performance and a code of ethics for educators… which are generally accepted by educators of this state.  Slide5

20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.

The standards of performance and code of ethics adopted by the commission shall be limited to professional performance and professional ethics

.

 Slide6

Definition of Educator20-2-982.1.(2)

"Educator" means education personnel who hold, have applied for, or been denied certificates, permits, or other certification documents issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.  Slide7

Legal Compliance

Standard 1Slide8

Standard 1

An educator shall abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes.Slide9

Legal Compliance

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to the commission or conviction of: a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.

any criminal offense involving a controlled substance or marijuana.

any sexual offense specified in Code Section 16.

any laws applicable to the profession.

Slide10

Reporting the Conviction of a Criminal OffenseSlide11

(5) Complaints alleging that an educator has been

convicted… in the courts of this state or any other state, territory, or country or in the courts of the United States.

20-2-984.3.

the commission shall be authorized to investigate:Slide12

20-2-984.3.(5) …the commission shall be authorized to investigate:

Complaints alleging that an educator has been convicted:

of any felony,

of any crime involving moral turpitude, Slide13

20-2-984.3.(5) …the commission shall be authorized to investigate:

Complaints alleging that an educator has been convicted:

of any other criminal offense involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale, or possession of a controlled substance or marijuana, orSlide14

20-2-984.3.(5) …the commission shall be authorized to investigate:

Complaints alleging that an educator has been convicted:

any sexual offense

as provided for in Code Sections 16-6-1 through 16-6-17 or Code Section 16-6-20, 16-6-22.2, or 16-12-100…Slide15

Reporting the COMMISSION of a Criminal OffenseSlide16

20-2-984.2. Requests by Local Boards for Investigation of Criminal Offenses

(a)  Superintendents, associate or assistant superintendents, or directors of personnel shall make an immediate written report to the local board of education upon receiving a

written report

… that any school system educator employed by the local unit of administration has committed any of the following specifically identified crimes:

 Slide17

20-2-984.2. Requests by Local Boards for Investigation of Criminal Offenses

Murder, voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, or kidnapping,Any sexual offense, Any sexual exploitation of a minor

Any offense involving marijuana or a controlled substance

Any offense involving theft

Unlawfully operating a motor vehicle after being declared a habitual violator

Slide18

20-2-984.2. Requests by Local Boards for Investigation of Criminal Offenses

(b) If the local board of education determines that the matters …

warrant investigation

,

then

the local board of education shall … transmit such report to the commission with a request for investigation.

Slide19

The educator pled guilty to two counts of Theft by Taking for stealing gasoline from the school system valued at $1,032.75.

One Year SuspensionSlide20

The educator was convicted of criminal offenses pertaining to the forging and passing of prescriptions for drugs.

RevokedSlide21

The educator surrendered his certificate after being charged with distributing child pornography.

RevokedSlide22

Conduct with StudentsSlide23

Standard 2

An educator shall always maintain a professional

relationship with all students, both in and outside the classroom.Slide24

A student is anyone under the age of

18.Slide25

OR, a student

enrolled in grades Pre-K to 12 in a public or private school.Slide26

For the purposes of the Code of Ethics, the enrollment period for a graduating student ends on August 31 of the year of graduation. Slide27

committing any act of child abuse, including physical and verbal abuse;committing any act of cruelty to children or any act of child endangerment;

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes: Slide28

committing any sexual act with a student or soliciting such from a student;

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes: Slide29

4. engaging in or permitting harassment of a student on the basis of race, gender, sex, national origin, religion or disability;

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes: Slide30

soliciting, encouraging, or consummating an inappropriate written, verbal, electronic, or physical relationship with a student;

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes: Slide31

6. furnishing tobacco, alcohol, or drugs to any student, or

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes: Slide32

failing to prevent the use of alcohol or illegal/unauthorized drugs by students who are under the educator’s supervision

(including but not limited to at the educator’s residence or any other private setting).

Unethical Conduct with Students Includes:

Slide33

The educator failed to properly supervise her 3rd grade class during the showing of a movie, resulting in a female student being molested by male students.

One Year SuspensionSlide34

The Superintendent failed to report that her daughter, a school counselor, was

involved in an inappropriate relationship with a student.

RevokedSlide35

The Principal was advised that a student had a cell phone video of a female student performing a sex act on a male student . She waited 3 days to confiscate the cell phone.

RevokedSlide36

The Principal exchanged over 1,100 text messages with two female students in a 2-month time period that contained discussions of alcohol, drugs, and sex.

Two Year SuspensionSlide37

The educator’s failure to properly supervise students resulted in the sexual assault of a kindergarten student by a third grade student.

One Year SuspensionSlide38

The Educator sent students text messages asking about their sexual orientation or other student’s sexual orientation. He pled guilty to two counts of Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors.

RevokedSlide39

The educator engaged in a sexual relationship with a thirteen year old male student that her daughter was dating.

RevokedSlide40

The educator provided alcoholic beverages that were consumed

by students at a party at her residence.

One Year SuspensionSlide41

Alcohol or Drugs

Standard 3Slide42

Standard 3

An educator shall refrain from the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs during the course of professional practice.

Slide43

Drugs

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:being on school premises or at a school-related activity while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal or unauthorized drugs;Slide44

Illegal and Unauthorized Drugs

are Always Illegal and Unauthorized.Slide45

The educator was involved in the manufacture, use and distribution of methamphetamine at her residence. The educator took methamphetamine onto school system property and provided methamphetamine to student aged individuals.

RevokedSlide46

The educator was arrested for trafficking marijuana. Fifty pounds of marijuana was found in the educator's home. The home "reeked" of the smell of smoked and fresh marijuana. Three children were in the home at the time of the arrest.

RevokedSlide47

Alcohol

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:being on school premises

or at a

school-related activity

involving students

while

under the influence

of,

possessing

, or

consuming

alcoholic beverages.Slide48

20-2-984.1. The … code of ethics … shall be limited to

professional performance and professional ethics.  Slide49

NPC

The educator admits consuming two glasses of wine prior to attending a middle school talent show. She exhibited glassy red eyes, slightly slurred speech, giddy behavior and the odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. The principal asked another teacher to take her home.

No Breath or Blood Alcohol Test Results!Slide50

Georgia's Legal Definitions for "Under the Influence"

An alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams or more at any time within three hours.

Driving - O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391 and Discharging Firearm - O.C.G.A. § 16-11-134

An alcohol concentration of

0.10 grams

or more at any time within three hours.

Operation of Watercraft - O.C.G.A. § 52-7-12 and Hunting - O.C.G.A. § 27-3-7

0.04

percent

or more by weight of alcohol

in a person's blood, breath, or urine.

Driving a Commercial Vehicle - O.C.G.A. § 40-6-391Slide51

Georgia's Legal Definitions for "NOT Under the Influence"

If there was a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 grams or less

,

it shall be presumed that the person was not under the influence

of alcohol.

O.C.G.A. § 40-6-392

Driving

O.C.G.A. § 52-7-12.

Operation of Watercraft

O.C.G.A. § 27-3-7

Hunting Slide52

The educator was under the influence of alcoholic beverages while on school campus. Breath test readings were .160gms and.167gms.

One Year SuspensionSlide53

The educator admits to using alcohol before coming to school and leaving school, without permission, to obtain and drink more alcohol. He vomited and became disoriented in the classroom. He had been arrested and charged with Sexual Battery of a high school student and Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor the previous day.

RevokedSlide54

The educator admitted that he consumed one alcoholic beverage after hours on three nights while serving as a chaperone on an eight-day school-sponsored trip to Italy.

Suspended 20 DaysSlide55

The educator fell asleep in class and failed to supervise two of his students engaged in oral sex during class time. On a required drug test the educator tested positive for cocaine.

RevokedSlide56

Honesty

Standard 4Slide57

Standard 4

An educator shall exemplify honesty and integrity in the course of professional practice.Slide58

Honesty is the Fundamental Value of an Ethical Person. Slide59

Honest People Tell The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth!

Honesty in CommunicationsSlide60

Honesty in Conduct

Honest People Play by the Rules, without Stealing, Cheating, Fraud, Subterfuge and Other Trickery. Slide61

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:professional qualifications, criminal history, college or staff development credit and/or degrees, academic award, and employment history;Slide62

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:information submitted to federal, state, local school districts and other governmental agencies;Slide63

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:3. information regarding the evaluation of students and/or personnel; Slide64

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:reasons for absences or leaves; Slide65

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:5. information submitted in the course of an official inquiry/investigation; andSlide66

Honesty

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:6. information submitted in the course of professional practice. Slide67

The educator provided the system with a doctor’s excuse for the days that she attended an out of state event with her daughter and husband.

5 Day SuspensionSlide68

The educator admitted to changing the grades of 12 students in four subjects with no documentation supporting the grade changes. The educator stated it was done for the benefit of the students.

10 Day SuspensionSlide69

The educator fabricated her IEP paperwork by cutting signatures from other documents, pasting them on the required paperwork, and photocopying the paperwork to conceal the cut and paste. She submitted the fabricated documents to the school system.

90 Day SuspensionSlide70

Public Funds & Property

Standard 5Slide71

Standard 5

An educator entrusted with public funds and property shall honor that trust with a high level of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility.

Slide72

Public Funds & Property

Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:misusing public or school-related funds;

failing to account for funds collected from students or parents;

submitting fraudulent requests or documentation for reimbursement of expenses or for pay;

co-mingling public or school-related funds with personal funds or checking accounts; and

using school property without the approval of the local board of education/governing board or

authorized designee

.Slide73

The DOE Academic Coach Program Manager authorized payment of funds to employ her relatives, to fund unallowable expenditures for herself and a subordinate DOE employee, and to further her pursuit of a doctorate degree.

Three Year SuspensionSlide74

The Superintendent wrote and approved a check to his wife for time that she did not actually work.

90 Contract Day SuspensionSlide75

The Educator used school system computer equipment to exchange emails of a sexual nature with another educator. The emails were obtained by an Open Records Request and published in local newspapers.

90 Day SuspensionSlide76

The educator rented the school auditorium to community members and kept the money for his personal use.

76

RevokedSlide77

The educator forged the superintendent’s signature to obtain unauthorized equipment to use for the creation and distribution of pornographic material to further his private business (the production and distribution of pornography)

.

RevokedSlide78

The educator used her school system computer to access dating and singles websites soliciting relationships with men during instructional time and CRCT test administration. This included arranging meetings for the purpose of having sex.

One Year SuspensionSlide79

Remunerative Conduct

Standard 6Slide80

Standard 6

An educator shall maintain integrity with students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities, favors, and additional compensation.

Slide81

A Coach opened multiple bank accounts with school funds without the school's approval. Checks totaling

thousands of dollars were written to "cash" or to the Educator. This left the school over $27,000 in debt.

Three Year SuspensionSlide82

Other Remunerative Conduct Cases

Solicited parents to pay for private music lessonsAccepted gifts in exchange for extra credit points or starting positions on teams

Promoted a personal business to students, teachers and parents

(Private Coaching)

Collected fees for participation in marching band and paid himself to conduct band camp

Requested a ocean fishing trip from a vendor after a large purchase with no bid.Slide83

Confidential Information

Standard 7Slide84

Standard 7

An educator shall comply with state and federal laws and state school board policies relating to the confidentiality of student and personnel records, standardized test material and other information.

Slide85

Confidential Information

Annual performance evaluation records of school personnel

Health services provided to an insured

Individual student performance data, information and reports

School records of students with disabilities

A student's education recordSlide86

Abandonment of Contract

Standard 8Slide87

An educator shall fulfill all of the terms and obligations detailed in the contract with the local board of education or education agency for the duration of the contract. Slide88

Required Reports

Standard 9Slide89

An educator shall file reports of a breach of one or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics for Educators, child abuse, or any other required report. Slide90

O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5

‘Child abuse’

includes the following conduct by a child’s parent or caretaker:

Physical injury or death

(by other than accidental means)

Neglect or exploitation of a child

Sexual abuse

-

an act of apparent sexual stimulation or gratification ...

Sexual exploitation

-

allows, permits, encourages, or requires a child to engage in prostitution or sexually explicit conduct ….Slide91

20-2-1184

Any employee of a public or private elementary or secondary school ... who has reasonable cause to believe that a student at that school has

committed any of the following acts

upon school property or at any school function, shall immediately report the act and the name of the student to the principal or the principal's designee.

Aggravated assault involving a firearm;

Aggravated battery;

Sexual offenses;

Carrying a deadly weapons at public gatherings;

Carrying weapons at school;

Illegal possession of a pistol or revolver by a person under 18

Possession or any use of marijuana and controlled substances,

The principal ... shall make an oral report

thereof

immediately

by telephone or otherwise to the appropriate school system

superintendent

and to the

appropriate police authority and district attorney

.

Any person

who fails to make a report

shall be guilty of a

misdemeanor

.Slide92

What is “reasonable cause to believe?”Slide93

The High School Principal failed to report rumors that a female student was involved with a male teacher until after the teacher was arrested and charged Sexual Assault.

One Year SuspensionSlide94

The Educator failed to disclose the revocation of a Florida certificate in 1976 for providing alcohol to students, consuming alcohol in the presence of students, and engaging in an inappropriate physical relationship with a student.

94

RevokedSlide95

Professional Conduct

Standard 10Slide96

Standard 10

An educator shall demonstrate conduct that follows generally recognized professional standards and preserves the dignity and integrity of the teaching profession.

Slide97

The educators admit leaving 17 students unsupervised at a hotel to attend a theater performance. The students obtained and consumed alcoholic beverages and participated in sexual acts while the educators were away.

Suspend 2 YearsSlide98

The Educator admitted carrying a yard stick and hitting a student on her leg, allowing students in the gym when they are not supposed to be there, and allowing a student to watch his son in his office instead of attending gym class.

Suspend 30 DaysSlide99

Testing

Standard 11Slide100

Standard 11

An educator shall administer state mandated assessments fairly and ethically.

Slide101

ERASURES!

Are erasures on state test answer sheets unethical?

No!Slide102

Erasures on Student Answer Sheets are NOT Unethical!

Clean up of stray marks and smudges is a requirement for accurate scoring!Slide103

The educator was in and out of the classroom, leaving student CRCT test booklets unsecured in the classroom. Students were present in the classroom at the time and CRCT material was compromised during the time frame in question.

103

20 Day SuspensionSlide104

The Educator deviated from the script when she administered the CRCT Reading exam to 2nd grade students. The Educator reread each test question more times than was authorized, paraphrased the script, and at provided hints to the students.

104

30 Day SuspensionSlide105

The educator administered the CRCT to special education students improperly by reading passages as well as questions and answers, and then falsified the students' IEP reports to convince others that he was supposed to read the passages.

105

90 Day SuspensionSlide106

One Year Suspension

The educator provided a study guide to students was just like the CRCT. DOE confirmed that the study guide matched the test. Witnesses’ statements confirmed that the educator copied testing material.Slide107

Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action against a CertificateSlide108

Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action:

Disciplinary action against a certificate in another state on grounds consistent with those specified in the Code of Ethics for Educators.Order from a court or a request from DHR that a certificate be suspended or denied for non-payment of child support.Slide109

Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action:

Default on or unsatisfactory repayment status on a student loan. Suspension or revocation of any professional license or certificate.

Violation of laws and rules applicable to the profession.

Any other good and sufficient cause that renders an educator unfit for employment as an educator

.Slide110

Enforcing Sanctions

The superintendent and the superintendent’s designee for certification shall be responsible for assuring that an individual whose certificate has been revoked, denied, or suspended is not employed or serving in any capacity in their district. Both the superintendent and the superintendent’s designee must hold GAPSC certification. Slide111