STAFF ETHICS

An effective educational program requires the services of men and women of integrity, high ideals, and human understanding.  To maintain and promote these essentials, the Board of Education expects all professional staff members to maintain high standards in their working relationships, and in the performance of their professional duties, to:

A.	recognize basic dignities of all individuals with whom they interact in the performance of duties;

B.	represent accurately their qualifications;

C.	exercise due care to protect the mental and physical safety of students, colleagues, and subordinates;

D.	seek and apply the knowledge and skills appropriate to assigned responsibilities;

E.	keep in confidence legally-confidential information;

F.	ensure that their actions or those of another on their behalf are not made with specific intent of advancing private economic interests;

G.	avoid accepting anything of value offered by another for the purpose of influencing judgment;

H.	refrain from using his/her position or public property, or permitting another person to use an employee's position or public property for partisan political or religious purposes.  (This will in no way limit constitutionally or legally protected rights as a citizen.)

I.	refuse to accept compensation from any other source, other than the Board, for the performance of his/her official duties, any other act or service in his/her public capacity, for the general performance of the duties of his/her public employment, or as a supplement to his/her public compensation;

In addition, the Board believes that each professional staff member should maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct and conform his/her behavior to the code of ethics set forth below as adopted, in part, from the Association of American Educators' Code of Ethics and the National Education Association's Code of Ethics of the Education Profession, by demonstrating a commitment to students, the educational profession, and the District and community.

Commitment to Students - each professional staff member shall:

A.	strive to create a learning environment that nurtures to fulfillment the potential of all students and stimulates the spirit of inquiry, acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the formulation of worthy goals;

B.	not unreasonably restrain students from independent action in the pursuit of learning or deny each student's access to varying points of view;

C.	deal considerately and justly with each student and seek to resolve problems, including discipline, according to Board policy and law;

D.	refrain from intentionally exposing students to disparagement or embarrassment;

E.	refrain from revealing confidential information concerning students, unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law;

F.	make a constructive effort to protect students from conditions detrimental to learning, health or safety;

G.	endeavor to present facts without distortion, bias or personal prejudice;

H.	refrain from using his/her professional relationships with students for private advantage;

I.	not on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly:

1.	exclude any student from participation in any program;

2.	deny benefits to any student;

3.	grant any advantage to any student.

Commitment to the Educational Profession - each professional staff member shall:

A.	assume responsibility and accountability for his/her performance and continually strive to demonstrate competence;

B.	endeavor to maintain the dignity of the profession by respecting and obeying the law, and by demonstrating personal integrity;

C.	apply for, accept, or assign a position or a responsibility on the basis of professional qualifications, and adhere to the terms of a contract or appointment;

D.	continue professional growth;

E.	comply with written Board policies, administrative guidelines, or applicable laws and regulations;

F.	honestly account for all funds committed to his/her charge;

G.	refrain from using District or professional privileges for personal or partisan advantage;

H.	refrain from knowingly or willfully making false statements about a colleague or the District;

I.	not assist a non-teacher in the unauthorized practice of teaching.

Commitment to District and Community - each professional staff member shall:

A.	recognize that quality education is the common goal of the public, Board of Education, administration, and staff members;

B.	make concerted efforts to communicate to parents all information that should be revealed in the interest of a student;

C.	endeavor to understand and respect the value and traditions of the diverse cultures represented in the community and in his/her classroom;

D.	manifest a positive and active role in District/community relations.

Ohio Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion 2008-01

Adopted 11/06
Revised (DATE)
© Neola 2008