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Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of Professional Conduct
for the Edcuation Profession in Florida.
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Standards of Ethical Conduct Our school
values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and
the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and
to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all. Our primary concern is the student and the development of
the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best
professional judgement and integrity. Concern for the student requires
that our instructional personnel: Shall make 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. Shall not
unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning. Shall not unreasonably
deny a student access to diverse points of view. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject
matter relevant to a student's academic program. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary
embarrassment or disparagement. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights. Shall 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 shall make reasonable effort to ensure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage. Shall keep
in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves
professional purposes or is required by law.
Aware of the importance
of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of student's, of parents, and of the community, employees of our
school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees: Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings. Shall not 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 deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional
organization. Shall not interfere with a colleagues exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance
of professional or work responsibilities or with orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating,
abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to ensure that each individual is
protected from such harassment or discrimination. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false
statements about a colleague.
Training Requirement: All instructional personnel
and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct. Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators: All employees and administrators
have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety,
or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments,
prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors.
Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to the administration of Academic High School. Report of misconduct
committed by administrators should be made to: Marjorie Baker, 23123 State Road 7, Suite 107, Boca Raton, FL 33428. Legally
sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices
Services. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects
the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted in the Teacher Handbook for Academic High School. Reporting
Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect: All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual
or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/. Signs of Physical Abuse: The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries;
broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home
or may run away, shy away from physical conduct, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries. Signs of Sexual Abuse: The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain
or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse amy have unusual knowledge
of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy away from
physical conduct, or run away from home. Signs of Neglect: The child may have unattended medical
needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently
tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention. Patterns of Abuse: Serious
abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or
behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.
Liability Protections: Any
person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good
faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune
from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203) An
employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee
upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure
or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current
employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760.
(F.S. 768.095)
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