POLICIES & PROCEDURES
Employee Ethical Standards of 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 judgment 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 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 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 students, 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 if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization.
Shall not interfere with a colleague's 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 the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make 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.
Training Requirement
All instructional personnel and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct.
Reporting Professional Misconduct
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.
If someone tells you about misconduct, be a LEADER:
Listen
Evaluate
Act immediately
Document
Encourage
Report
Reports should be made to:
Janna Hill, Administrator & Chief Executive Officer of GOLD STAR PRIVATE ACADAMY, INC.
850-601-5075 ext 1001 / jannahill@gspafl.org
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 Gold Star Private Academy Employee Handbook and Student Handbook.
Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect
Look for the signs
Dial 1-800-96-ABUSE
Signs of Physical Abuse
The child may have unexplained:
Bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries
Broken bones
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
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
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
Run away from home
Signs of Neglect
The child may have:
Unattended medical needs
Little or no supervision at home
Poor hygiene
Appear underweight
A child experiencing neglect may:
Be frequently tired or hungry
Steal food
Appear overly needy for adult attention
Look for the Patterns
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.
If a child tells YOU about abuse:
Be a good listener. Show that you understand and believe what the child tells you. Encourage, but don’t pressure him/her to talk. Ask open ended questions.
Be supportive. Tell the child he/she did the right thing by coming to you. Stress that he/she is not to blame. Let the child know that you want to help.
Don’t overreact. This can frighten the child or prevent him/her from telling you more. Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child.
Document and report it. Document your conversation as soon as you can. If possible, write down the child’s exact words.
Don’t delay. Never assume someone else will report the abuse. The sooner it’s reported, the sooner the child and their family can be helped.
WHO MUST REPORT ABUSE?
Doctors
Nurses
Social Workers
Police Officers
Child Care Workers
Any Witnesses
Any/All School Personnel
Call or Report it online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/
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)
