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

1.   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.

2.   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 judgment and integrity.

3.   Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

   a.   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.

   b.   Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.

   a.   Shall not unreasonably deny  a student access to diverse points of view.

   b.   Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter  relevant to a student's academic program.

   c.  Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.

   d.   Shall not intentionally violate or deny  a student's legal rights.

   e.   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 assume that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.

   f.     Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage. g.   Shall  keep  in  confidence  personally  identifiable  information  obtained  in  the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

4.  Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, students, parents, and  of the  community, employees of our school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

   a.   Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.

   b.   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.

   c.   Shall  not  interfere  with  a  colleague's  exercise  of political  or  civil rights  and responsibilities.

  
   d.   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 processes 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.

   e.   Shall not make  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 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 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 of employees should be made to the Principal, Mr. Arlee Miguel M. Pabustan, MS Ed. Lead. (954)739-7094 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to the

Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Jim Rigg, Ph.D, (305)762-1018 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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 affect the health, safety, or welfare  of a  student are  posted on  bulletin  board, front  office,  break  room,  and  on  the school website www.sainthelen.net

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. The  child  may  have  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. The  child  may  have   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. The  child may  have  unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear 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)