ETHICAL CONDUCT
Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Professional conduct of the Education Profession in Florida- as stated in attachment K of the FL Department of Education for the Florida Compliance Scholarship form.
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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.
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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.
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Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel
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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.
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Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
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Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
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Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program.
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Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
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Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.
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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 students is protected from harassment or discrimination.
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Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
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Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
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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:
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Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
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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.
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Shall not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
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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 process 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.
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Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
Training Requirements
All instructional personnel, educational support employees 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, 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 for 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 Director of the School Mrs. Bibiana Oaxaca at (954) 252-9250 or email boaxaca@appletreemont.com.
Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to the Owner of the School Mrs. Elizabeth Gonzalez at (954) 252-9250 or email appletreemontessorischool@gmail.com.
Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported 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 staff lounge, and on our website at https://www.appletreemont.com/about-us.
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Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect
All staff will read and sign the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting form. Staff is aware of our responsibilities to report anything we see related to 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 www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report.
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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 clean 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)