Instructional Personnel and School Administrators

1. We value 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.

2. Our primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student’s potential. We will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

3. We are aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of our colleagues, of students, of parents, and of other members of the community. We will strive to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.

4. We understand that we have an affirmative duty and legal responsibility to report any alleged instructional personnel or school administrator misconduct that affects the health, safety or welfare of a student. We also understand that a failure to report such misconduct may result in penalties up to termination of employment and/or revocation of any applicable licenses or certifications. We understand that examples of misconduct that may affect the health, safety or welfare of a student include but are not limited to: drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating, testing violations, physical aggression or accepting favors from students.

5. We further agree to abide by the following procedures when reporting alleged misconduct of an instructional personnel or school administrators:

a. Immediately report all allegations or any suspicion of misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student engaged in by any instructional personnel to the school principal; or Immediately report all allegations or any suspicion of misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student engaged in by any school administrator to the school principal; or Immediately report all allegations or any suspicion of misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student engaged in by the school principal(s) to the Superintendent of Schools;

b. Thoroughly document the activities and details of the allegations or event; and

c. Secure evidence (if applicable).

6. We further understand that we have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to Florida Department of Children and Families either by phone at 1-800-96Abuse or online at www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

7. We understand that any employee who reports in good faith any instance of misconduct, child abuse, abandonment, or neglect will be immune from any civil or criminal liability. Additionally, as provided by Fla. Stat. 768.095, any employee who discloses information about a former or current employee in response to a request or inquiry is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the emp