Sexual Harassment Awareness Training

1. Sexual HarassmentAwareness Training RadfordCity Public Schools

2. Forms of Harassment • Sexual • Racial • Religious • Disability • National Origin All these forms of harassment are illegal and a violation of Civil Rights.

3. Harassment Laws • Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act • Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendment

4. The most common form of harassment in schools: Sexual Harassment

5. What is your responsibility? • As an employee, you are obligated to foster a working environment that is free of sexual harassment. • As an employee of the Radford City Public Schools, it is your duty to provide a learning environment that is free of sexual harassment.

6. What is considered sexual harassment? • Any unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature, whether the behavior is written, verbal or physical.

7. Two Types of Sexual Harassment: • “Quid pro quo” harassment occurs when a school employee causes a student to believe that he/she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct in order to participate in a school program or activity. It can also occur when an employee causes a student to believe that the employee will make or will influence an educational decision based on whether or not the student submits to unwelcome sexual conduct.

8. Hostile Environment • “Hostile environment” harassment occurs when unwelcome sexually harassing conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it impacts a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an education program or activity, or creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment.

9. Verbal forms of Sexual Harassment • Sexual or gender based jokes or teasing • Using language such as “honey” “babe” • Wolf whistles or derogatory language • Rumors about a person’s sex life • Comments about a person’s body • Derogatory comments based on gender

10. Sexual harassment may include: • Display of obscene posters, cartoons, pin-ups • Obscene e-mails, text messaging, and other forms of computer generated communications • Offensive models, statues, structures • Inappropriate clothing

11. Physical Forms of Sexual Harassment • Inappropriate touching • Grabbing and/or fondling • Purposefully rubbing up against another person • Massaging or stroking another person • Stalking

12. Points of Information • The number of sexual harassment claims by males is increasing. • “I didn’t mean anything by it” is not a valid defense to excuse offensive behavior.

13. What are the standards for education employees? • Local School Board Policies • State Board of Education Requirements Code of Ethics, Standards of Professional Conduct • State Statutory Requirements • Federal Laws

14. Who is impacted by allegations of employee misconduct? • The employee • The employee’s family • Students • School and school division • School Board • Potential employees

15. What are the possible results of employee misconduct or alleged misconduct? • Embarrassment to employee and employee’s family • Suspension • Resignation/dismissal • License revoked • Civil suit • Difficulty in future employment • Criminal charges • Jail

16. Sexual harassment can be a “career killer” • Promote a work and learning environment that is free from harassment of any type. • Report any and all incidents to the appropriate school administrator.

17. Radford City Public SchoolsEmployee Verification of Sexual Harassment Training • I viewed the Sexual Harassment training presentation. • I understand the types of behavior that can result in allegations of sexual harassment. • I understand that sexual harassment of students, colleagues, and others in the Radford City Public Schools is absolutely forbidden. • I understand that this type of conduct will result in disciplinary action. _______________________________Employee’s Printed Name _______________________________Employee’s Signature _______________________________Date (This is slide number 17. Print out this form, sign, date, and send to the Assistant Superintendent.) 9-14-2010