E thics in E ducation - PowerPoint Presentation

E thics in E ducation A u gust 201 7

BPS Code of E thics As a n empl oyee of Brevard Public Schools, we are a ll bound to a common code of ethics to the ext e nt t he r e is no c o nflict w i th a ny l a ws, r ul e s or go v e r n m e nt a l r eg ul a t i o ns. T he B P S E t hics P o l icy is d e si g n e d t o c r e a t e a cu l tu r e of ho n e s t y a nd i nt eg r i t y t h a t w i l l hel p t he D is t r ict m eet t he go a l of p r o vi d i ng a s a fe e nv i r o n m e nt a nd hi g h q u a l i t y e duc a t i o n t o a ll s tud e nt s.

Annual Ethics State ment All empl oyees must annual ly sign an ethics statement indicati ng that they have had training on a nd und e r s t a nd t he D is t r ic t ’s e t hics p ol icy includi ng t he ir r e sp o nsi b i l i t y t o r e p o r t un e t hic a l b e h a vi o r.

BPS Ethics Po licy I have the re sponsibility t o ask questio ns, seek guidance, repo rt known violations, and express concerns concerning complia nce with this policy and related procedures.I understand tha t retaliation against employees who come forward to ra ise c o nc e r ns w i l l n ot be t o l e rat e d. I und e r s ta nd t h a t i t is m y r e sp o nsi b i l i t y t o s tr ive t o a chi e ve a nd sus t a i n t he hi ghe st d eg r e e of e t hic a l c o nduct .

Flor ida Education Profess ion C ode The Stat e of Florida Code of E thics of t he Educati on Professi on imposes requ irements on all e duc at o r s i n t he s tat e. T he D is tr ict e x t e nds t he se r e q u i r e m e nt s t o a ll e m p lo y ees.

Student Potential The employee’ s prim ary profess ional c oncern w ill always be for t he student and for the developmen t of the student’s potent i a l. T h e e m ployee w i ll str i ve f or pro f ess i o n a l g rowth a n d w i ll seek to e x er ci se t h e b est pro f ess i o n a l j u dg m e n t a n d i n te g r i ty. I t i s t h e respo n s ibi l i ty of a ll i n di v id u a ls a sso ci a ted w i th t h e Di str ic t to a c t i n a m a nn er t h a t w i ll e n sure t h e pu b l ic ’ s trust a s well a s t h e trust of c olle a g ues a n d peers.

Conflict of Interest A c onflic t of in terest is d efined as a s ituation in which regard f or a priva te or personal interest leads to disregard of a public d uty or i n terest. A n y a b use of a n e m ployee of t h e a ut h or i ty of h i s/ h er o ffic e i s a c o n f l ic t of i n terest. A n y e m ployee w h o h a s a fi n a n ci a l c o n f l ic t of i n terest m ust di s q u a l if y or re c use h i m sel f / h erself f rom a n y d e ci s i on c o n c er n i n g t h a t e n t i ty i n c lu di n g a n y d e ci s i on to c o n tr a c t or n ot c o n tr a c t w i th t h e e n t i ty a n d t h e a d m i n i str a t i on of t h e c o n tr a c t .

Ex amples of Act ivit ies tha t Confl ict with Dut ies (not inclusive) T he provisi on of any private lessons or services t o a p e r s o n w ho m t he e m p lo y e e e v a l u a t e s or t e a ch e s fo r a fee. T his includ e s m usic t e a c he r s p r o vi d i ng m usic le ss o ns fo r a fee, t e a c he r s tut o r i ng s tud e nt s fo r a fee, c o a c he s p r o vi d i ng p r iv at e le ss o ns fo r a fee, i f t he t e a c he r o r c o a ch cu rr e nt l y t e a c he s o r m a y t e a ch t he s tud e nt i n t he n e a r fu tu r e.

Ex amples of Act ivit ies tha t Confl ict with Dut ies (not inclusive) T he use, sale, or improper divulging of any privi lege d inf o r m a t i o n a b o ut a s tud e nt o r cli e nt g a i n e d i n t he c o u r se of e m p lo y m e nt . T his includ e s s t a ff m e mb e r s d iscussi ng c o nc e r ns inf o r m a l l y o r o t h e rw ise ab o ut a s tud e nt r el at e d t o d iscipli n e, att e nd a nc e, o r o t h e r m att e r s w i th o t h e r s ta ff m e mb e r s o r m e mb e r s of t he pu b l ic wi t hout a “ n ee d t o kn o w.”

Ex amples of Act ivit ies tha t Confl ict with Dut ies (not inclusive) T he referra l of a student or c lient for lessons or s e r vic e s t o a ny p r iv a t e b usi n e ss o r p r ofe ssi o na l p ra c t i t i o n e r i f t he r e is a ny e xp e c t a t i o n of r e ci p r o c a l r efe rra ls, sh ar i ng of fees, o r r e m un e ra t i o n. R e m un e ra t i o n ge n e ra l ly m e a ns a wa g e o r s a l ar y b ut m a y a lso inc l ude b o nus es, g i ft c ar ds, f r e e o r r e duc e d c o s t s fo r goo ds /t ick e t s /t ra v e l , e t c.

Ex amples of Act ivit ies tha t Confl ict with Dut ies (not inclusive) T his cou ld include teachers promoting or referr i ng s tud e nt s o r p ar e nt s t o n on - b o ard a pp r o v e d tra v el c o m p a n i e s o r p r iv at e gy m s i f t he t e a c he r e xp e c t s t o r e c e ive d isc o unt e d t ra v el o r i f t he p r iv a t e gy m is o wn e d b y t he t e a c he r o r a m e mb e r of t he t e a c he r ’s i mm e d i a t e f a m i ly.

Ex amples of Act ivit ies tha t Confl ict with Dut ies (not inclusive) T he req uirement of students or clients to purcha se o r c o n tra ct fo r a ny p r iv at e goo ds o r se r vic e s p r o vi d e d b y a n e m pl o y e e o r a b usi n e ss wi th w ho m t he e m pl oye e h a s a f i n a nci a l r el a t i o nshi p a s a c o nd i t i o n of r e c e ivi ng g ra d es, c r e d i t s, p r o m o t i o ns, a p o si t i o n o n a t e a m , e t c.

Outsid e Empl oyment Em ployees shal l not hold outside em ployment which conflicts with th eir regu larly assigned duties.

Financial Interest Emp loyees shall not eng age i n or ha ve a fin ancial i nterest , dire ctly or indirectl y, in any activity t h a t c o nf l ic t s, o r ra is e s a r e a s o n ab le q u e s t i o n of c o nf l ic t , w i th t h e ir dut i e s and r e sp o nsi b i l i t i e s of t he sch ool sys t e m .

Financial Interest All em ployees that have a financial interest in a co mpany t hat derive s revenue from student s where a question of co n f l i ct ma y a ris e , r ece ive m o ne y dir ectly f rom s tu d ent s or t h e ir p a r ent s f or a n a c t ivi ty in a priv ate c a p a ci ty si m i la r to t h e em p loy ee s’ posi tion with t h e dis t ric t , mu st co m p lete and p ro p e r ly s u bm it t h e “E t hic a l S tan d a rds Que s t io nna ir e ” an d/or t h e “ R e q ue st f or Dua l E m p loy ment / Out si d e Act ivi ty. ” T h e et hi c s co mm i tmen t wil l t h e n co n sid e r t h e em p loy e e r e q ue st an d r en d e r a d e cision to a llow or dis a llow t h e em p loy e e f rom m ovi n g f orw a rd with t h e act ivi t y. For ms av a i la b le on t h e et hics we b p age .

Use of Inform ation Employee s shall n ot disclose or use a ny inform ation not avai lable to members of the gen eral public and ga i n e d b y r e a s o n of t he ir off ici a l p o si t i o n w i th t he D is t r ict fo r t he ir o wn p e r s o n a l g a i n o r b e n ef i t o r t he p e r s o n a l g a i n or b e n ef i t of a ny o t he r p e r s o n o r b usi n e ss e nt i t y. E m p l oyee s sh a ll n ot c o rr upt ly us e, o r att e m pt to us e, t he ir off ici a l p o si t i o n o r a ny p r o p e r t y or r e s o u r c e s of t he D is t r ict o r p e r fo rm t he ir dut i es i n such a m a nn e r t o s e cu r e a sp e ci a l p r ivi lege, b e n ef i t , o r e x e m pt i o n fo r t he m s e lv e s o r o t he r s.

Gifts Gifts are defined as the transfer, directly or i ndirectly, of any item, service, or thing, regardless of form, from any e ntity related to the employee’s employm ent with the District or seeking to influence any b usiness related function of the employee.

Gifts (cont’d) Memb ers of the support staff may a ccept gifts of n ominal value i n circum stances not related to employment, service, or act to influenc e j u dg m e n t. E x a m ples would b e a perso n a l gif t f or a bi rt h d a y or h ol id a y c ele b r a t i o n , or stu d e n ts prese n t i n g gif ts to te a c h ers d ur i n g t h e h ol id a y se a so n . T h e Di str ic t d e fi n es " n o m i n a l v a lue" a s $ 5 0 . 0 0 or less. G if ts i n e xc ess of $ 5 0 . 0 0 i n v a lue m ust b e reported v i a N ot ific a t i on of Acc ept a n c e of G if t f or m .

Pe rsonal Adve rtisements E mployees sh all not advertise business or professio nal ac tivities on Board proper ty or use school or wo r k h o u r s o r d is tr ict p r o p e rt y to p r o m o t e p e r s o n a l e nt e r p r is e s o r t o c a m p a i g n or ra ise m o n e y fo r a ny c a nd i d a t e s fo r p o l i t ic a l off ic e. T his includ e s p r o vi d i ng a cc e ss t o a n o ut side e nt i t y w i t hout r e q u i r i ng t he e nt i t i e s t o follo w t he r e q u i r e m e nt s of B o ar d P ol icy 75 10- U se of D is tr ict F a ci l i t i e s

Conduct Regarding Students Ever y empl oyee shall: Not hara ss or d iscrimin ate aga inst any student on the basis of race, color, r el i g i o n, s e x, a ge, n at i o n a l o r e t h n ic o r i g in, p ol i t ic a l b e l i efs, m ar i tal s t a t us, h a nd ic a pp i ng c o nd i t i o n, s e xua l o r i e n tat i o n, o r s o ci a l a nd f a m i l y ba ck g r o und a nd s h a l l m a ke r e a s o n ab le effo r t t o a ssu r e t h a t e a ch s tud e nt is p r o t e c t e d f r o m h ara ss m e nt o r disc r imin a t i o n.

C onduct R egard ing Stude nts (c ont’d) Protect the stude nt from condit ions harmful to learn ing, mental, physica l h e a l th a nd o r s a fe t y; N ot un r e a s o n ab l y r e s tra i n a s tud e nt f r o m i nd e p e nd e nt a c t i o n i n pu r sui t of le ar n i n g; N ot un r e a s o n a b l y d e ny a s tud e nt a cc e ss t o div e r se p o i nt s of vi e w;

C onduct R egard ing Stude nts (c ont’d) Not inte ntional ly suppre ss or d istort subject matter relevant to a stud e nt ’s a c a d e m ic p r og ra m ; N ot i nt e nt i o n a l ly e xp o se a s tud e nt t o unn e c e ss ar y e m barra ss m e nt o r d isp ara ge m e nt; N ot i nt e nt i o n a l ly vi ol a t e o r d e ny a s tud e nt ’s leg a l r i g h t s;

C onduct R egard ing Stude nts (c ont’d) Not explo it a rel ationship with a student for personal gain or advanta ge; a nd/ or K ee p i n c o nfi d e nce p e r s o n a l ly i d e nt i f i a b le inf o r m a t i o n o b t a i n e d i n t he c o u r se of p r ofe ssi o n a l s e r vic e; unl e ss d isc o u r se s e r v e s p r ofe ssi o n a l pu r p o s e s o r is r e q u i r e d b y l a w.

R eporting Violations 633- 1000 , e xt 170 Retal iation a gainst employees who raise ethical conce rns is prohibited. Directo r o f Ethics : Rivers Lewis A n e t hics c o m p l a int is a fo r m a l a l leg a t i o n of vi ol a t i o n of D is t r ict p ol icy A l l vi o l at i o ns m ust b e r e p o rt e d C o mpl ai n ts can be do n e by ph o n e or t h rough t h e et h ics co mpl ai n t form fou n d on t h e Di s trict w eb- s ite. M u s t be fi l ed w it h in 3 0 da y s of t h e a ll eged m i s co n duct.

E thics Quer y A q uery can b e about a hypot hetical situatio n and is an anonymous me ans for inquiring w he t he r or n ot a p ra c t ice warra nt s f i l i ng a c o m pl a i nt. M a y b e s e nt via c o u r i e r o r m a i l t o: ▫ Director of Et h ics 2 7 00 Judge Fran Ja m ie s on W ay V iera, FL 3 2 9 40 Or via confidential letter, phone call or email to the Director of Ethics at Lewis.Rivers@Brevardschools.org

E mplo yment S creening Employme nt sc reening for a n instruct ional or admi nistrative p osition that has direct contact with s tud e nt s m ust includ e: T h e Pr o f ess i onal Pr a c ti c es D a t abase of Di s c i p l i na r y A c ti ons Tea ch er C e r tifi c a ti on D a t abase R e f e r en c e ch e c k f r om c an d i d a t e’s p r e vi ous e m p l oyer

A dminist rators offering a po sition must d ocume nt the results from each step in emplo yment screening. If un a b le t o c o nt a ct t he c a nd i d a t e’s p r e vi o us e m p lo y e r , t he d is t r ict must document the efforts to contact the employer. E m p l o ym ent S c r eening (cont’d )

Educator DisciplineImmedi ate Suspensio n If all eged misconduct affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student, the district school superintendent m u s t I MM EDI A TELY SUS PE N D t h e accu s ed W ITH P A Y a n d a ss ign to a p o s ition n ot requiri n g direct co n tact with students.

Notice of R eporting Misconduct Eac h sch ool must post on its website a nd at a prom inent place at e ach sc hool site the policies and procedures for reporting m i s c o n d u c t, t h e c o n t a c t person to w h om a report s h ould b e m a d e, a n d t h e pe n a lties for failure to report misconduct or abuse.

DOE Samp le Notices S am ple n otices are post ed at: www.myfloridat eacher.com und e r t he l i nk “ E t hics i n E duc at i o n R e s o u r c e s.” B P S E t hi c s W e b s ite http://www.edline.net/pages/Brevard_County_Schools/Departments/Departments__ K-Z/HumanResources/Ethics

Ethics Policy I have the responsibility to ask questions, seek guidance, report known violations, and express concerns concerning compliance with this policy and related procedures. I understand that retaliation against employees who come forward to raise concerns will not be tolerated. I understand that it is my responsibility to strive to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.I certify that I have read, understand, and will abide by the District's ethics policy and all other documents referenced therein.