The Magnolia School Standards of Ethical Conduct
● The Magnolia 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 development of the students 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:
a) Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the students mental and/ or physical health and/ or safety.
b) Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
c) Shall not unreasonably deny a students access to diverse points of view.
d) Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a students academic program.
e) Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecesary embarrassment.
f) Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.
g) Shall not harass or discriminate against any student based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, sexual oriantation, handicap, and social/ family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment and discrimination.
h) Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
i) Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service.
● Stay aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community and employees of the school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:
a) Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
b) Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicap and social/family backgrounds deny professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization to a colleague.
c) Shall not interfere with colleagues’ exercises of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
d) Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct.
e) Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
TRAINING REQUIREMENT: All instructional personnel, educational support, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct.
As required by Florida Statute Section 1002.421, the Magnolia School has adopted policies establishing standards for the ethical conduct for instructional personnel and school administrators.
All employees, educational support employees, and administrators of the Magnolia School have an obligation and legal responsibility to report any misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.
Examples of such misconduct affecting the health, safety or welfare of a student include:
● Obscene Language
● Drug and Alcohol Use
● Disparaging Comments
● Prejudice or Bigotry
● Sexual Innuendo
● Cheating
● Testing Violations
● Physical Aggression
● Accepting or Offering Inappropriate Favors
The following behavior may be indicative of misconduct that should be reported:
● being alone with a student in dark or closed room or secluded area
● behaving in an overly friendly or familiar way or failing to maintain an appropriate professional boundary with a student
● using forceful or unnecessary physical contact with a student
● administering discipline not compliant with school policy
● accepting or offering of gifts for return of a favor or privilege from students or colleagues
● badgering or habitually teasing a student
● mocking or belittling a student
● chronically embarrassing a student
● displaying prejudice or bigotry against a student
● suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
● failing to properly supervise students or to ensure student safety
● cheating, falsifying information or testing violations
● retaliating against a student or colleague for reporting misconduct
● bantering or engaging in colloquial or slang communications with a student
● using profane, offensive, or explosive language before students
● making lewd or suggestive comments or overtures toward a student or colleague
HOW TO REPORT MISCONDUCT
● Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by an instructional personnel member to:
▪ Primary Contact: Carly Sinnadurai, School Director, at 850-385-3834 or 850-264-4035
▪ Alternate Contact: Denise Spivey, Board Chair, at 407-539-4157
● Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by your school administrators to Denise Spivey, Board Chair, at 407-539-4157
● Document the activities or details of the event
● Secure Evidence (if applicable)
HOW TO REPORT 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 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:
▪ Primary Contact: Carly Sinnadurai, School Director, at 850-385-3834 or 850-264-4035
▪ Alternate Contact: Denise Spivey, Board Chair, at 407-539-4157
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 office and on our Web site at http://www.TheMagnolia.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 1-800-96ABUSE ore 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.
Signs of Sexual Abuse: the child may have torn or stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or an STD. A child may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, shy away from physical contact or act depressed and withdrawn.
Signs of Neglect: The child may have unattended medical and hygiene needs, little to no supervision and appear underweight. A child may be frequently tired, hungry, or need extra attention.
WHO SHOULD BE REPORTED?
All Instructional Personnel, educational support employees, and School Administrators are covered by these ethical standards. Instructional Personnel, educational support employees, and School Administrators include:
● Classroom teachers
● Paraprofessionals
● Substitute teachers
● Librarians, guidance counselors, and social workers
● Career specialists and school psychologists
● Administrative and educational directors
For complete definitions, see Florida Statute Section 1012.01(2) & (3)(c), available at www.leg.state.fl.us. Any Instructional Personnel, educational support employees, and School Administrator who engages in misconduct affecting the health, welfare or safety of a student should be reported.
FAILURE TO REPORT MISCONDUCT
Possible penalties for instructional personnel or site administrators who fail to report misconduct may include, at the discretion of the Magnolia School:
● Written Reprimand
● Suspension with or without pay
● Termination of employment
TRAINING
Training on the Standards for Ethical Conduct is mandatory for all instructional personnel, educational support employees and school administrators.
FLORIDA STATUTES AND RULES
Liability Protections Florida Statutes s. 39.203 states that any person reporting good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the Department of Children and Families or law enforcement, 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)
Florida Statute s. 768.095 states that an employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon the request of the prospective employer is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless clear and convincing evidence shows that the information was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected by Florida laws pertaining to civil rights and fair housing, and other law contained in Chapter 760, Florida Statutes.
Florida Statutes s. 1006.061 states all employees and agents of the district school board, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students, have an obligation to report misconduct by an instructional personnel member or school administrator
Florida Statutes s. 1012.33 outlines disciplinary procedures regarding district employment contracts with instructional personnel staff, supervisors, and school principals
Florida Statutes s. 1012.795 provides the Education Practices Commission the authority to issue disciplinary action against an individual’s Florida Educator certificate
Florida Statutes s. 1012.796 provides authority for the Department of Education to investigate and prosecute allegations of educator misconduct
Florida Statute s. 1012.01 defines public school instructional personnel, administrative personnel, school volunteers, education support employees, and managers
The full text of Florida Statutes are available online at: www.leg.state.fl.us