Georgia Ethics for Educators - PowerPoint Presentation

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Georgia Ethics for Educators

Rhonda Powers, Professional Learning CoordinatorSlide2

What are the GA Code of Ethics for Educators?

Set by the Professional Standards Commission

11 Standards

Available at www.gapsc.com/ethicsSlide3

What is the role of the PSC?

Establishes standards with the input of educators and in response to real need. (Testing standard most recently added.)

Reviews cases submitted by educators or parents or students throughout the state

Determines if action is required: suspension or revocationIssues suspension or revocation and monitors actions required by educatorDoes not recommend criminal penalties, but may testify in civil or criminal actionsSlide4

How does this relate to me?

Educator is defined as:

“a teacher, school or school system administrator, or other education personnel who holds a certificate issued by the Professional Standards Commission and persons who have applied for but have not yet received a certificate.

For the purposes of the Code of Ethics for Educators, “educator” also refers to paraprofessionals, aides, and substitute teachers.”Slide5

Ethical Decision Making for Teachers Article

Read the article.

Write a one-sentence summary of each section.Slide6

What do you already know?

Pre-testSlide7

Eleven Standards

Standard 1: Legal Compliance

Standard 2: Conduct with Students

Standard 3: Alcohol or DrugsStandard 4: HonestyStandard 5: Public Funds and PropertyStandard 6: Remunerative ConductStandard 7: Confidential InformationStandard 8: Abandonment of ContractStandard 9: Required ReportStandard 10: Professional ConductStandard 11: TestingSlide8

PSC Sanctions – 9/12 – 9/13

Legal compliance-35

Conduct with Students-80

Alcohol and Drugs-26Honesty-110Public Funds and Property-29Remunerative Conduct-2Confidential Information-4Abandonment of Contract-5Required Reports-29Professional Conduct-37

Testing-110

Total-467Slide9

Standard 1: Legal Compliance

Must abide by all federal, state, and local laws and statutesSlide10

Unethical Conduct

Unethical conduct includes:

Commission or conviction of a felony

Crime involving moral turpitude Other criminal offense involving the manufacture, distribution, trafficking, sale, or possession of a controlled substance or marijuanaSlide11

Standard 1 Legal Compliance, cont.

Conviction includes:

Finding or verdict of guilty

Plea of nolo contendere (regardless of whether an appeal has been sought),Situation where first offender treatment without adjudication of guilt was grantedSituation where an adjudication of guilt or sentence was otherwise withheld or not entered on the chargeSlide12

Crimes involving Moral Turpitude

Fraud or false pretenses in obtaining something of value

Larceny or a misdemeanor theft by taking

Larceny after trustMurderSoliciting for prostitutesVoluntary manslaughterSale of narcotics or other illegal drugsPattern of failure to file federal tax returns in years in which taxes are dueCriminal Issuance of a bad checkMake a false report of a crimeSlide13

Not Crimes involving Moral Turpitude

Public drunkenness

Driving under the influence

Carrying a concealed weaponUnlawful sale of liquorFightingSimple BatterySimple AssaultMisdemeanor criminal trespassChild abandonmentMisdemeanor offense of escapeMisdemeanor offense of obstructing a law enforcement officerFederal misdemeanor offense of Conspiracy in Restraint of Interstate Trade and Commerce

Possession of less than one ounce of marijuanaSlide14

Standard 2: Conduct with Students

An educator shall always maintain a professional relationship with all students,

both in and outside

the classroom.Slide15

Who are students?

Individual enrolled in the state’s public or private schools from preschool through grade 12

or

any individual under the age of 18.For the purpose of the code of ethics, the enrollment period for a graduating student ends on August 31 of the year of graduation.Slide16

Unethical conduct includes:

Committing any act of child abuse, including physical and verbal abuse

Committing any act of cruelty to children or any act of child endangerment

Committing any sexual act with a student or soliciting such from a studentEngaging in or permitting harassment of or misconduct toward a student that would violate a state or federal lawSlide17

Unethical conduct, cont.

Soliciting, encouraging, or consummating an inappropriate written, verbal, electronic, or physical relationship with a student.

Furnishing tobacco, alcohol, or illegal/unauthorized drugs to any student

Failing to prevent the use of alcohol or illegal or 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)Slide18

Be Friendly, Not a Friend.

Student Relationship Guidelines

Inappropriate Jokes

E-mail

Parties

Phone Calls

Photographs

GossipSlide19

Choose Appropriate Settings

Student Relationship Guidelines

Home

Closet

Dark Room

AutoSlide20

Student Relationship Guidelines

Social Networking

Don’t accept students as friends

and

decline any student initiated social network friend requests.

Don’t post anything on a website that you would not post on the front door of the school.Slide21

Standard 3: Alcohol & Drugs

An educator shall refrain from the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs during the course of professional practice. Slide22

Unethical Conduct:

Being on school premises or at a school-related activity while under the influence of, possessing, using, or consuming illegal or unauthorized drugs

Being on school premises or at a school-related activity involving students while under the influence of, possessing, or consuming alcoholSlide23

What is a “school-related activity”?

Any activity sponsored by the school or school system (booster clubs, parent-teacher organizations, or any activity designed to enhance the school curriculum i.e., Foreign Language trips, etc.)Slide24

Standard 4: Honesty

An educator shall exemplify honesty and integrity in the course of professional practice.Slide25

Unethical conduct:

Falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:

Professional qualifications, criminal history, college or staff development credit and/or degrees, academic award, and employment history

Information submitted to federal, state, local school districts, and other government agenciesInformation regarding the evaluation of students and/or personnelSlide26

Unethical Conduct, cont.

Falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting

:

Reasons for absences or leavesInformation submitted in the course of an official inquiry/investigationInformation submitted in the course of professional practiceSlide27

Standard 5: Public Funds & Property

An educator entrusted with public funds and property shall honor that trust with a high level of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility. Slide28

Unethical Conduct:

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 (including fraudulent or purchased degrees, documents, or coursework)Co-mingling public or school-related funds with personal funds or checking accountsUsing school property without the approval of the local board of education or authorized designeeSlide29

Standard 6: Remunerative Conduct

An educator shall maintain integrity with students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities, favors, and additional compensation.Slide30

Unethical Conduct:

Soliciting students or parents of students to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from the educator or to participate in activities that financially benefit the educator unless approved by the local board or education or authorized designee

Accepting gifts from vendors or potential vendors for personal use or gain where there may be the appearance of a conflict of interestSlide31

Unethical Conduct, cont.

Tutoring students assigned to the educator for remuneration unless approved by the local board of education or authorized designee

Coaching, instructing, promoting athletic camps, summer leagues, etc. that involves students in an educator’s school system and from whom the educator receives remuneration unless approved by the local board of educator or authorized designee.Slide32

Standard 7: Confidential Information

An educator shall comply with state and federal laws and state school board policies relating to the confidentiality of student and personal records, standardized test material and other information.Slide33

Unethical conduct:

Sharing of confidential information concerning student academic and disciplinary records, health and medical information, family status and/or income, and assessment/testing results unless disclosure is required or permitted by law.

Sharing of confidential information restricted by state or federal lawSlide34

Unethical conduct, cont.

Violation of confidentiality agreements related to standardized testing including copying or teaching identified test items, publishing or distributing test items or answers, discussing test items, violating local school system or state directions for the use of test or test items

Violation of other confidentiality agreements required by state and local policySlide35

Standard 8: Abandonment of Contract

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.Slide36

Unethical conduct:

Abandoning the contract for professional services without prior release from the contract by the employer

Willfully refusing to perform the services required by a contract.Slide37

Standard 9: Required Reports

An educator shall file reports of a breach of one or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics for Educators, child abuse (O.C.G.A. §19-7-5), or any other required report.Slide38

Unethical Conduct:

Failure to report all requested information on documents required by the Commission when applying for or renewing any certificate

Failure to make a required report of a violation of one or more standards of the Code of Ethics for educators of which they have personal knowledge as soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of an alleged breach unless the law or local procedures require reporting soonerSlide39

Unethical Conduct, cont.

Failure to make a required report of any violation of state or federal law as soon as possible but no later than ninety (90) days from the date the educator became aware of an alleged breach unless the law or local procedures require reporting sooner. Slide40

Important Note:

O.C.G.A. §

19-7-5 requires that suspected child abuse be reported within 24 hours.Slide41

Standard 10: Professional Conduct

An educator shall demonstrate conduct that follows generally recognized professional standards and preserves the dignity and integrity of the teaching profession. Slide42

Unethical conduct:

Any conduct that impairs and/or diminishes the certificate holder’s ability to function professionally in his or her employment position, or behavior or conduct that is detrimental to the health, welfare, discipline, or morals of students.Slide43

Professional Conduct Cases

Organized a betting pool with students

Called a student a “heifer” and her mother “stupid”

Gave extra credit to students who contributed to a fundraiserLeft class without permission via a window Had two loaded guns in desk drawerSexually harassed a colleagueRestrained a teacher and tried to kiss her against her willSexual interaction with colleague on school grounds Slide44

Standard 11: Testing

An educator shall administer state-mandated assessments fairly and ethically.Slide45

Unethical conduct:

Committing any act that breaches test security

Compromising the integrity of the assessmentSlide46

Disciplinary Action

Monitor – quarterly appraisal of educator’s conduct

Warning – warns that conduct was unethical. Further unethical conduct will lead to more severe action

Reprimand – admonishes certificate holder for his/her conduct. Further unethical conduct will lead to more severe actionSuspend – temporary invalidation of certificateRevoke – invalidation of certificateDeny – refusal to grant certificateSlide47

When can disciplinary actions be taken?

Unethical conduct from Code of Ethics

Disciplinary action from another state

Court order for non-payment of child support (O.C.G.A. §19-6-28.1 and §19-11-9.3)Notification from GA Higher Ed Assistance Corporation of default on student loans (O.C.G.A. §20-3-295)Slide48

Any individual whose certificate has been revoked, denied, or suspended may not serve as a volunteer or be employed as an educator, paraprofessional, aide, substitute teacher or in any other position during the period of the revocation, suspension, or denial. Slide49

Advice from the PSC …

Take testing seriously

Be friendly to the students – you are not their friend but their supervisor and role model

Honesty and integrity are importantEducators are held to higher standardsEducators are mandated reporters if they are aware of violations of the Code of EthicsSlide50

If you have a doubt …… don’t do it!!!Slide51

Ethics in the news …

ArticlesSlide52

Questions?Slide53

Let’s clarify what we have learned …

Quiz (group)

WorksheetSlide54

Now to apply what we learned ….

Situation Cards

Group AssignmentSlide55

Checking for Understanding ….

Individual Assignment

Due: July 21Slide56

Thinking about what we have done …

What steps did I go through to teach the lesson?

Lecture (structured note taking)

Clarification of conceptsApplication of conceptsChecking for understandingWhy did I go through all of those steps?Slide57

Thinking through the lesson cont.

How would the lesson have been different if I stopped after the lecture and gave a quiz

?

Why did I choose the materials/resources that I did for the lesson?