Standards of Ethical Conduct

Standards of Ethical Conduct

Achieve and Shine Learning Center Inc.

(Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida)

Core Values

Achieve and Shine Learning Center Inc. 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 achieving these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach, and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

Commitment to Students

Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student’s potential. Employees will strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

Responsibilities to Students

Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel: 

• Make reasonable efforts to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
•  Not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning. 
• Not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view. 
• Not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program. 
• Not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
• Not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights. 
• 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 make reasonable efforts to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
• Not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage. 
• Keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

Commitment to Professional Conduct

Maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, students, parents, and the community requires employees to display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This includes:

•  Maintaining honesty in all professional dealings.
•  Not denying colleagues professional benefits or advantages, or participation in any professional organization, 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. C.
•  Not interfering with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities. 
• Not engaging 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 making reasonable efforts to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination. 
• Not making malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Training Requirement

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

All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, 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 by employees should be made to Erica Stewart 407-488-6758. Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Kim Davis 863-245-6839.

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 front office and on our website at Parent Support & Resources – Achieve & Shine (achieveandshinelearningcenter.com)

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 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

Signs of Physical Abuse

• 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, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

Signs of Sexual Abuse

• Torn, stained, or bloody underwear; trouble walking or sitting; pain or itching in genital area; or 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, or run away from home.

Signs of Neglect

• Unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appearing underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

Patterns of Abuse

• 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.

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)