Ethical Leadership

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Georgia Professional Standards Commission
The Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators-2014-2015
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Professional Standards Commission

• Certification
• Educator Preparation
• Ethics

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Legal Authority of the PSC Ethics Division
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20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.

1.  It shall be the duty of the commission to adopt
   standards of performance and a code of ethics for
   educators which are generally accepted by
   educators of this state.  

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Code of Ethics

• Code of Common Sense

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20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.

• The standards of performance and code of ethics
  adopted by the commission shall be limited to
  professional performance and professional ethics.
  
• The PSC does not care what you do in you personal
  lives as long as it does not carryover into your
  professional lives.

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Definition of Educator

• 20-2-982.1.(2) "Educator" means education
  personnel who hold, have applied for, or been
  denied certificates, permits, or other
  certification documents issued by the Georgia
  Professional Standards Commission.  

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Legal Compliance
Standard 1
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Standard 1
An educator shall abide by federal, state, and
local laws and statutes.
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Legal Compliance

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to
  the commission or conviction of
• a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.
• any criminal offense involving a controlled
  substance or marijuana.
• any sexual offense specified in Code Section 16.
• any laws applicable to the profession.

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Standard 1 Legal Compliance

• Educator was arrested and charged with writing
  bad checks. She entered a guilty plea, forfeited
  a cash bond, and paid her fine.
• Reprimand

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Standard 1 Legal Compliance

• The Educator was arrested for misdemeanor Theft
  by Shoplifting. She was sentenced to serve 12
  months probation, complete community service,
  receive counseling, and pay a fine. The
  conviction occurred while the Educator held a
  valid PSC certificate and it was the 3rd time she
  had been arrested for shoplifting
• Suspension

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Conduct with Students
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Standard 2
An educator shall always maintain a professional
relationship with all students, both in and
outside the classroom.
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• A student is anyone under the age of 18.

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• OR, a student enrolled in grades Pre-K to 12 in a
  public or private school.

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For the purposes of the Code of Ethics, the
enrollment period for a graduating student ends
on August 31 of the year of graduation.
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Revocation
Sexual Abuse of Students
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Young people instinctively recognize these
boundary violations and often nickname the
employee engaged in such violations a pervert,
based on their perceived sense of
inappropriateness.
Mary Jo McGrath
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16-6-5.1

• Jail time for Educators who have sexual relations
  with students
• Age 16-not less than one year nor more than 25
  years in jail or a fine not to exceed 100,000 or
  both
• Under the age of 16-not less than 25 years nor
  more than 50 years in jail

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20-2-751.7 (a)

• The PSC shall establish a state mandated process
  for students to follow in reporting instances of
  alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher,
  administrator or any other school employee
• Shall include these processes in the student
  handbook and in employee handbook
• Any teacher, counselor, or administrator
  receiving a report or sexual misconduct shall
  submit a written report in 24 hours

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Standard 2 Conduct With Students

• An Educator of students with disabilities,
  admitted to jerking/yanking students,
  dragging/dropping students, yelling/screaming at
  students in her self-contained classroom but
  denied ever intentionally hurting a child.
• Suspension

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Standard 2 Conduct With Students

• The Educator admitted he had sent photos of
  himself to students and requested fun photos
  from the students. The Educator stated he thought
  the age of 16 was legal for sex.
• Revoked

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Social Networking

• Check local school system policy regarding use of
  social media

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Student Relationship Guidelines
E-mail
Phone Calls
Be Friendly, Not a Friend.
Gossip
Parties
Inappropriate Jokes
Photographs
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Choose Appropriate Settings
Student Relationship Guidelines
Home
Auto
Closet
Dark Room
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Standard 3

• Alcohol or Drugs

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Standard 3
An educator shall refrain from the use of alcohol
or illegal or unauthorized drugs during the
course of professional practice.
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Alcohol

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to
• being on school premises or at a school-related
  activity involving students while under the
  influence of, possessing, or consuming alcoholic
  beverages.

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Standard 3 Drugs and Alcohol

• The Educator was reported to be using cocaine by
  a member of the community. When confronted, she
  admitted to using cocaine earlier in the week but
  declined to take a drug test.
• Suspension

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Standard 3 Drugs and Alcohol

• During a school day, teachers smelled alcohol on
  the breath of an Educator. The Educator admitted
  to drinking several martinis the night before
  while he stayed up late completing
  end-of-the-year paperwork. When tested, he
  registered .13 on the breathalyzer
• Suspension

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Standard 4

• Honesty

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Standard 4
An educator shall exemplify honesty and integrity
in the course of professional practice.
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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• professional qualifications, criminal history,
  college or staff development credit and/or
  degrees, academic award, and employment history

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• information submitted to federal, state, local
  school districts and other governmental agencies

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• 3. information regarding the evaluation of
  students and/or personnel

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• reasons for absences or leaves

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• 5. information submitted in the course of an
  official inquiry/investigation and

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• 6. information submitted in the course of
  professional practice.

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Standard 4 Honesty

• The Educator held a student IEP meeting, but the
  regular education teacher and another special
  education teacher were not in attendance. The
  initials of the two teachers who did not attend
  the meeting were placed on the document. The
  Educator was unable to recall how the initials of
  the co-workers were placed on the IEP document
• Suspension

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Standard 4 Honesty

• The Educator failed to disclose his criminal
  history on the PSC application.
• Reprimand

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Standard 5

• Public Funds Property

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Standard 5
An educator entrusted with public funds and
property shall honor that trust with a high level
of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility.
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Public Funds Property

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to
• misusing public or school-related funds
• failing to account for funds collected from
  students or parents
• submitting fraudulent requests or documentation
  for reimbursement of expenses or for pay
• co-mingling public or school-related funds with
  personal funds or checking accounts and
• using school property without the approval of the
  local board of education/governing board or
  authorized designee.

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Standard 5 Public Funds and Property

• The Educator admitted to using Booster club debit
  card and account number to pay personal bills.
  The Educator indicated he had used the card by
  mistake instead of his own debit card
• Suspension

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Standard 5 Public Funds and Property

• The Educator, a teacher and coach, rented the
  high school baseball field to a community team,
  and had the check made out to him for the use of
  the field.
• Suspension

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Standard 6

• Remunerative Conduct

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Standard 6
An educator shall maintain integrity with
students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or
businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities,
favors, and additional compensation.
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Standard 6 Remunerative Conduct

• Multiple students stated they purchased gift
  cards for the Educator, at her request, with the
  understanding they would receive a better grade
  
• Suspension

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Standard 6 Remunerative Conduct

• The Educator encouraged students in her high
  school classes to help her sell vitamin
  supplements and told them she would give them a
  commission. She distributed samples to some of
  students for them to try.
• Revocation

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Standard 7

• Confidential Information

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Standard 7
An educator shall comply with state and federal
laws and state school board policies relating to
the confidentiality of student and personnel
records, standardized test material and other
information.
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Confidential Information

• Annual performance evaluation records of school
  personnel

• Health services provided to an insured

• Individual student performance data, information
  and reports

• School records of students with disabilities

• A student's education record

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Standard 7 Confidential Information

• An Educator admits she gave her computer password
  to a student and allowed the student to assist
  her in completing RTI information for the
  students in her class.
• Suspension

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Standard 7 Confidential Information

• The Educator, a teacher at the middle school,
  admitted to accessing a high school students IEP
  information through another teachers log-in code
  because he was dating her daughter
• Suspension

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Standard 8

• Abandonment of Contract

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An educator shall fulfill all of the terms and
obligations detailed in the contract with the
local board of education or education agency for
the duration of the contract.
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Abandonment of Contract

• The PSC expects educators to honor their
  contracts.
• The PSC has identified circumstances that
  warrant educators leaving their contracted
  positions without a release.
• Educators are expected to make every effort to
  minimize the effect on the students experiencing
  the loss.

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Standard 8 Abandonment of Contract

• The Educator signed a contract to work for the
  2013-2014 school year. In November, the Educator
  submitted her resignation, effective the same
  day. She stated that the extra duties had been
  added to her job and she was completely
  overwhelmed.
• Suspension

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Standard 9

• Required Reports

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An educator shall file reports of a breach of one
or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics
for Educators, child abuse, or any other required
report.
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• O.C.G.A. 19-7-5
• Child abuse includes the following conduct by a
  childs parent or caretaker
• Physical injury or death (by other than
  accidental means)
• Neglect or exploitation of a child
• Sexual abuse - an act of apparent sexual
  stimulation or gratification ...
• Sexual exploitation - allows, permits,
  encourages, or requires a child to engage in
  prostitution or sexually explicit conduct .

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20-2-1184

• Any employee of a public or private elementary or
  secondary school ... who has reasonable cause to
  believe that a student at that school has
  committed any of the following acts upon school
  property or at any school function, shall
  immediately report the act and the name of the
  student to the principal or the principal's
  designee.
• Aggravated assault involving a firearm
• Aggravated battery
• Sexual offenses
• Carrying a deadly weapons at public gatherings
• Carrying weapons at school
• Illegal possession of a pistol or revolver by a
  person under 18
• Possession or any use of marijuana and
  controlled substances,
• The principal ... shall make an oral report
  thereof immediately by telephone or otherwise to
  the appropriate school system superintendent and
  to the appropriate police authority and district
  attorney.
• Any person who fails to make a report shall be
  guilty of a misdemeanor.

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Standard 9 Required Reports

• A teacher reported that the Counselor refused to
  assist her in completing a mandated child abuse
  report because it was after hours and she was
  going home
• Suspension

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Standard 9 Required Reports

• A first year teacher came to the principal and
  told her about a student who had made an outcry
  regarding abuse by her Father. She was not the
  students teacher so she only knew the students
  nickname. The principal said they would
  investigate the situation in the morning.
• Revocation

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Standard 10

• Professional Conduct

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Standard 10
An educator shall demonstrate conduct that
follows generally recognized professional
standards and preserves the dignity and integrity
of the teaching profession.
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Standard 10 Professional Conduct

• The Educator admitted to showing an inappropriate
  YouTube Video in his classes
• Suspension

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Standard 10 Professional Conduct

• The assistant principal harassed a female
  custodian. The victim reported that the Educator
  exposed himself to her.
• Suspension

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Standard 11

• Testing

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Standard 11
An educator shall administer state mandated
assessments fairly and ethically.
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Georgia Not Only State With Questionable Test
Scores
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Nationwide Problem

• 196 of the largest 3,125 school systems in the
  United States has suspect test score improvement
• Odds of obtaining these reported results by
  chance alone is over 1000 to 1
• In 33 of these school systems, the odds were
  worse than 1,000,000 to 1

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Testing

• United States spends 760,000,000 a year on
  testing required by NCLB
• States are left to their own in monitoring the
  testing
• Most states do not have resources to conduct
  investigations of this magnitude
• One graduate student, in her dissertation,
  surveyed teachers in her state and found that
  50 of teachers either had cheated or knew a
  colleague who had cheated

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• With a good testing program
• Students know the skills and knowledge they have
  mastered and how they compare to others.
• Parents can evaluate whether their children are
  obtaining the skills and knowledge they need.
• Teachers can determine if students have mastered
  the skills and knowledge needed to advance to the
  next level.
• Community members have a measuring stick for
  student performance.

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Major Testing Violations

• Breach of Test Security
• Fail to provide or attend training
• Fail to follow directions specified in the manual
• Coach, prompt, alter or provide answers to
  students during the test
• Interpret, explain, or paraphrase test items
• Copy or take notes on test items

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Standard 11 Testing

• The Educator fell asleep while administering an
  EOCT to students
• Suspension

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Standard 11

• The Educator read aloud the science portion of
  the CRCT to students who did not have a read
  aloud accommodation
• Suspension

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Teachers Role

• Attend training
• Ensures security of test booklets before,
  during, and after testing
• Follow directions
• Arrange seats to promote individual work
• Circulate about the classroom to prevent cheating
  and other violations
• Be familiar with allowable student accommodations
• Account for all testing materials

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Lessons Learned

• Establish an environment conducive to student
  learning and test score improvement
• Require training for all participants with
  similar information and format at all training
  sessions
• Require available staff to monitor during testing
• Test security is paramount

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Lessons Learned

• Investigate all allegations and complaints
  thoroughly - consider involvement of outside
  investigators
• Large increases in student test scores are a red
  flag
• Having knowledge of testing violations and
  failing to report jeopardizes teaching
  certificate
• Superintendents, Principals, and Test
  Coordinators are ultimately responsible

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Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action

• Suspension or revocation of any professional
  license or certificate.
• Violation of laws and rules applicable to the
  profession.
• Any other good and sufficient cause that renders
  an educator unfit for employment as an educator.

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Enforcing Sanctions

• The superintendent and the superintendents
  designee for certification shall be responsible
  for assuring that an individual whose certificate
  has been revoked, denied, or suspended is not
  employed or serving in any capacity in their
  district. Both the superintendent and the
  superintendents designee must hold GAPSC
  certification.

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Sanctions-June, 2013-June 2014

• Legal compliance-46
• Conduct with Students-84
• Alcohol and Drugs-32
• Honesty-109
• Public Funds and Property-31
• Remunerative Conduct-3
• Confidential Information-7

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Sanctions

• Abandonment of Contract-3
• Required Reports-20
• Professional Conduct-65
• Testing-47
• Total-447

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ADVICE

• Teachers have two major responsibilities-teach
  the students and protect them
• Take testing seriously
• Be friendly to the students-you are not their
  friend but a supervisor and role model
• Honesty and Integrity are important
• Educators are held to higher standards
• Educators are mandated reporters if they are
  aware of violations of Code of Ethics

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Contact Information

• Paul A. Shaw
• Email-paul.shaw_at_gapsc.com
• Phone -404-232-2635