Professional Ethics Mesquite ISD July 2020 Professional Ethics

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Professional Ethics Mesquite ISD July 2020

Professional Ethics Mesquite ISD July 2020

Professional Ethics • Professional ethics refers to the personal code of conduct that one

Professional Ethics • Professional ethics refers to the personal code of conduct that one is expected to uphold in a workplace, as well as the ethics of the organization and industry where he or she works. It implies quality of workmanship or service.

Policy DH Employee Standards of Conduct • All educators shall comply with standard practices

Policy DH Employee Standards of Conduct • All educators shall comply with standard practices and ethical conduct toward students, professional colleagues, school officials, parents, and members of the community and shall safeguard academic freedom.

Policy DH Employee Standards of Conduct • The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC)

Policy DH Employee Standards of Conduct • The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) shall provide for the adoption, amendment, and enforcement of an educator’s code of ethics [see DH(EXHIBIT)- Educators’ Code of Ethics]. SBEC is solely responsible for enforcing the ethics code for purposes related to certification disciplinary proceedings.

Policy DH - Electronic Communication • "Electronic communication" means any communication facilitated by the

Policy DH - Electronic Communication • "Electronic communication" means any communication facilitated by the use of any electronic device, including a telephone, cellular telephone, computer network, personal data assistant, or pager. The term includes e-mails, text messages, instant messages, Facebook, Snap Chat, and any other form of communication made through a website, including a social media website or a social networking website or App.

Policy DH – Electronic Communication • In accordance with ethical standards applicable to all

Policy DH – Electronic Communication • In accordance with ethical standards applicable to all District employees, an employee shall be prohibited from using electronic communications in a manner that constitutes prohibited harassment or abuse of a District student; adversely affects the student’s learning, mental health, or safety; includes threats of violence against the student; reveals confidential information about the student; or constitutes an inappropriate communication with a student, as described in the Educators’ Code of Ethics.

Policy DH – Electronic Communication • An employee shall have no expectation of privacy

Policy DH – Electronic Communication • An employee shall have no expectation of privacy in electronic communications with students. • This refers to district technology sources as well as personal technology sources. • Remember, all types of electronic communication leaves some form of digital footprints behind.

Policy DH Social Media - Personal Use • All employees shall be held to

Policy DH Social Media - Personal Use • All employees shall be held to the same professional standards in their use of electronic communications as for any other public conduct. If an employee’s use of electronic communication violates state or federal law or District policy, or interferes with the employee’s ability to effectively perform his or her job duties, the employee is subject to disciplinary actions, up to and including termination of employment.

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • An employee shall notify his

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • An employee shall notify his or her principal or immediate supervisor within three calendar days of any arrest, indictment, conviction, no contest or guilty, or other adjudication of the employee for any felony, any offense involving moral turpitude, and of the other offenses as indicated in this policy.

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving school property or

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving school property or funds; • Crimes involving attempt by fraudulent or unauthorized means to obtain or alter any certificate or permit that would entitle any person to hold or obtain a position as an educator; • Crimes that occur wholly or in part on school property or at a school-sponsored activity;

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving moral turpitude, which

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving moral turpitude, which include: • Dishonesty; fraud; theft; deceit; misrepresentation • Deliberate violence; • Base, vile, or depraved acts that are intended to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of the perpetrator;

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving moral turpitude (continued)…

Policy DH Arrests, Indictments, Convictions, and Other Adjudications • Crimes involving moral turpitude (continued)… • Felony possession or conspiracy to possess, or any misdemeanor or felony transfer, sale, distribution, or conspiracy to transfer, sell, or distribute any controlled substance defined in Chapter 481 of the Health Safety Code; • Felony driving while intoxicated (DWI or DUI); • Acts constituting abuse or neglect under the Texas Family Code.

Mandatory Sanctions • SBEC has adopted rules establishing minimum certification sanctions in cases where

Mandatory Sanctions • SBEC has adopted rules establishing minimum certification sanctions in cases where an educator has pled guilty or accepted a deferred adjudication or some other type of pretrial resolution of a criminal charge beyond a simple dismissal of the charge, even when the charges are ultimately dismissed or where prosecution does not relate to the educator’s job or profession.

Mandatory Sanctions • It is important to know that a resolution of a criminal

Mandatory Sanctions • It is important to know that a resolution of a criminal charge that includes probation, community service, counseling, or anything beyond an outright dismissal of the charge may result in a required certificate sanction.

Mandatory Sanctions • The minimum sanction for a misdemeanorlevel prosecution is an inscribed reprimand

Mandatory Sanctions • The minimum sanction for a misdemeanorlevel prosecution is an inscribed reprimand on the educator’s certificate. The minimum sanction for a felony-level prosecution is suspension of the certificate for the period of any probation or community service.

New Title IX Regulations ~Sexual Harassment~ • All employees are potential reporters and must

New Title IX Regulations ~Sexual Harassment~ • All employees are potential reporters and must report, not just victims • Every district must have at least one Title IX Coordinator; MISD Title IX Coordinators – Emilio Duran and Chassordee Willie; Taylor Morris will investigate student to student cases • New regulations will become effective August 14, 2020 • Website, district policies and brochures have been updated to reflect this information.

New Title IX Regulations ~Six Types of Sexual Harassment~ • Quid Pro Quo •

New Title IX Regulations ~Six Types of Sexual Harassment~ • Quid Pro Quo • Hostile Environment • Sexual Assault • Dating Violence • Domestic Violence • Stalking

New Title IX Regulations ~Quid Pro Quo~ • When an employee conditions favorable treatment

New Title IX Regulations ~Quid Pro Quo~ • When an employee conditions favorable treatment on the acceptance of unwelcome sexual attention • This definition applies only to actions of employees: • Teacher offers good grades to student in exchange for. . . • Principal offers promotion to teacher…

New Title IX Regulations ~Hostile Environment~ • Conduct that is so severe, pervasive and

New Title IX Regulations ~Hostile Environment~ • Conduct that is so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the program • This could be student-to-student conduct, employee-tostudent conduct, or employee-to-employee conduct. • Examples – making sexual remarks about clothing, sexually suggestive remarks or sounds, asking intrusive questions of a sexual nature.

New Title IX Regulations ~Sexual Harassment – Four More~ • Sexual assault: Forcible or

New Title IX Regulations ~Sexual Harassment – Four More~ • Sexual assault: Forcible or non-forcible sexual offenses under the Uniform Crime Reporting System of the FBI • Dating violence: Violence done by a person who is, or has been, in a dating relationship with the other person. • Domestic Violence: Violence by a current or former intimate partner. • Stalking: A course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for personal safety of self or others; or to suffer emotional distress.

New Title IX Regulations ~Definitions and Terminology~ • Complainant – victim of sexual harassment

New Title IX Regulations ~Definitions and Terminology~ • Complainant – victim of sexual harassment • Respondent – person accused of sexual harassment • Formal Complaint vs. Report – a report is verbal or in writing by anyone, while a formal complaint may be initiated by the complainant or the Title IX Coordinator • Actual Knowledge – when any employee finds out

HB 3 “Do Not Hire” Registry • The “Do Not Hire” Registry is an

HB 3 “Do Not Hire” Registry • The “Do Not Hire” Registry is an online list, on the TEA website, of individuals who are not eligible for employment in a Texas public school based on misconduct or criminal history.

Who Will Be Placed on the Registry? • Individuals who had an SBEC certificate

Who Will Be Placed on the Registry? • Individuals who had an SBEC certificate previously revoked for abusing or soliciting an inappropriate relationship with a student or minor; • Non-certified employees found by the Commissioner to have • Abused or otherwise committed an unlawful act with a student or minor; • Was involved in a romantic relationship with or solicited or engaged in sexual contact with a student or minor; • Were found to be ineligible due to having been convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for certain criminal history.

Behave Yourself!!! What happens today is on social media tomorrow!

Behave Yourself!!! What happens today is on social media tomorrow!