BROOKE HOUSE ACADEMY
STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

The Brooke House Academy Standards of Professional Conduct are adapted from the Florida Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and the Principals of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida.

 

COMMITMENT TO OUR STUDENTS

Our primary concern is for the health, safety, and well-being of our students. Brooke House Academy employees and volunteers shall exercise their best professional judgment including but not limited to:

 

1. Making every reasonable effort to protect our students from mental and physical harm.

2. Not restraining our students from independent action in pursuit of learning.

3. Not denying our students access to diverse points of view.

4. Not suppressing or distorting any subject matter relevant to our academic program.

5. Not exposing our students to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.

6. Not violating or denying the legal rights of our students.

7. Not harassing or discriminating against our students on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, social and family background, or other protected class.

8. Not exploiting a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.

9. Keeping confidential any personally identifiable information of our students unless disclosure serves a professional purpose or is otherwise required by law.

 

COMMITMENT TO OUR COLLEAGUES

Employees and volunteers of Brooke House Academy shall show respect for one another and display the highest degree of professional conduct including but not limited to:

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1. Maintaining honesty and integrity in all professional dealings.

2. Not denying professional benefits or advantages on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, social and family background, or other protected class.

3. Not interfering with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.

4. Not engaging in harassment or discriminatory conduct or creating a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive work environment.

5. 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 REQUIREMENT

All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Reports of misconduct should be made to the Executive Director or School Director. Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the Office of Professional Practices Services.

 

CHILD ABUSE, ABANDONMENT, AND NEGLECT

All employees and agents of Brooke House Academy have an affirmative duty to report any 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/.

 

Look for the signs!

 

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.

 

REPORTING 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)