Ethics Training and Reporting

Training Requirements:

All instructional personnel, educational support employees, administrative support employees, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical content.

Reporting of Ethical Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators:

All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators that affects a student’s health, safety, or welfare. Examples of misconduct included 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 employee misconduct should be made to Dr. Debra Rains, Assistant Head of School, at (904) 724-8323, ext. 1065. Reports of misconduct by administrators should be made to Sally Hazelip, Head of School, (904)724-8323. Ext 1055. Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida-certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators that affect a student’s health, safety, or welfare are posted in the staff breakrooms and on the school website (www.northfloridaschool.org).

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: https://reportabuse.myflfamilies.com/s/

Liability Protections:

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 an 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. 760. (F.S. 768.095)

STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT (Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida.)

Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community, employees of the North Florida School of Special Education must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
Shall not deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization 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.
Shall not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct that 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, shall make a reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

Shall 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.
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 studenton the basis ofrace, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background, and shall make a reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
Shall keep confidential personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

Training Requirement

As a condition of employment, all instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required to complete training on the standards of ethical conduct by reviewing this handbook and certifying that they have read and understood it.

Reporting Misconduct

All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators that affects a student’s health, safety, or welfare. 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 should be reported at the discretion of the employee to either a Senior Administrator, Director of Human Resources or Head of School as listed below: Sally Hazelip, Head of School, Dr. Debra Rains, Assistant Head of School or Carolyn Williams, Human Resources Manager. 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, educational support employees, and administrators that affect the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted on the school website, https://www.northfloridaschool.org/.

Reporting Child Abuse 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 contact, 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 the genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may 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 contact, 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)