Georgia Professional Standards Commission

1. Georgia Professional Standards Commission The Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators-2014-2015

2. Professional Standards Commission Certification Educator Preparation Ethics

3. Legal Authority of the PSC Ethics Division

4. 20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.  It shall be the duty of the commission to adoptstandards of performance and a code of ethics for educators…which are generally accepted by educators of this state.

5. Code of Ethics Code of “Common Sense”

6. 20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics. The standards of performance and code of ethics adopted by the commission shall be limited to professional performance and professional ethics. The PSC does not care what you do in you personal lives as long as it does not carryover into your professional lives.

7. Definition of Educator 20-2-982.1.(2)"Educator"means education personnel who hold, have applied for, or been denied certificates, permits, or other certification documents issued by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission.  

8. Legal Compliance Standard 1

9. Standard 1 An educator shall abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes.

10. Legal Compliance Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to the commission or conviction of: a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude. any criminal offense involving a controlled substance or marijuana. any sexual offense specified in Code Section 16. any laws applicable to the profession.

11. Standard #1 Legal Compliance • Educator was arrested and charged with writing bad checks. She entered a guilty plea, forfeited a cash bond, and paid her fine. • Reprimand

12. Standard #1 Legal Compliance • The Educator was arrested for misdemeanor Theft by Shoplifting. She was sentenced to serve 12 months probation, complete community service, receive counseling, and pay a fine. The conviction occurred while the Educator held a valid PSC certificate and it was the 3rd time she had been arrested for shoplifting • Suspension

13. Conduct with Students

14. Standard 2 An educator shall always maintain a professional relationship with all students, both in and outside the classroom.

15. A student isanyone under the age of 18.

16. OR, a student enrolled in grades Pre-K to 12 in a public or private school.

17. For the purposes of the Code of Ethics, the enrollment period for a graduating student ends on August 31 of the year of graduation.

18. Revocation Sexual Abuse of Students

19. Young people instinctively recognize these boundary violations and often nickname the employee engaged in such violations a “pervert,” based on their perceived sense of inappropriateness. Mary Jo McGrath

20. 16-6-5.1 • Jail time for Educators who have sexual relations with students • Age 16-not less than one year nor more than 25 years in jail or a fine not to exceed $100,000 or both • Under the age of 16-not less than 25 years nor more than 50 years in jail

21. 20-2-751.7 (a) • The PSC shall establish a state mandated process for students to follow in reporting instances of alleged inappropriate behavior by a teacher, administrator or any other school employee • Shall include these processes in the student handbook and in employee handbook • Any teacher, counselor, or administrator receiving a report or sexual misconduct shall submit a written report in 24 hours

22. Standard #2 Conduct With Students • An Educator of students with disabilities, admitted to jerking/yanking students, dragging/dropping students, yelling/screaming at students in her self-contained classroom but denied ever intentionally hurting a child. • Suspension

23. Standard #2 Conduct With Students • The Educator admitted he had sent photos of himself to students and requested “fun” photos from the students. The Educator stated he thought the age of 16 was legal for sex. • Revoked

24. Social Networking • Check local school system policy regarding use of social media

25. Student Relationship Guidelines E-mail Phone Calls Be Friendly, Not a Friend. Gossip Parties Inappropriate Jokes Photographs

26. Choose Appropriate Settings Student Relationship Guidelines Home Auto Closet Dark Room

27. Alcohol or Drugs Standard 3

28. Standard 3 An educator shall refrain from the use of alcohol or illegal or unauthorized drugs during the course of professional practice.

29. Alcohol Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: being on school premises or at a school-related activityinvolving students while under the influence of, possessing, or consuming alcoholic beverages.

30. Standard #3 Drugs and Alcohol • The Educator was reported to be using cocaine by a member of the community. When confronted, she admitted to using cocaine earlier in the week but declined to take a drug test. • Suspension

31. Standard #3 Drugs and Alcohol • During a school day, teachers smelled alcohol on the breath of an Educator. The Educator admitted to drinking several martinis the night before while he stayed up late completing end-of-the-year paperwork. When tested, he registered .13 on the breathalyzer • Suspension

32. Honesty Standard 4

33. Standard 4 An educator shall exemplify honesty and integrity in the course of professional practice.

34. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: professional qualifications, criminal history, college or staff development credit and/or degrees, academic award, and employment history;

35. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: information submitted to federal, state, local school districts and other governmental agencies;

36. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to, falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: 3. information regarding the evaluation of students and/or personnel;

37. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: reasons for absences or leaves;

38. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: 5. information submitted in the course of an official inquiry/investigation; and

39. Honesty Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting: 6. information submitted in the course of professional practice.

40. Standard #4 Honesty • The Educator held a student IEP meeting, but the regular education teacher and another special education teacher were not in attendance. The initials of the two teachers who did not attend the meeting were placed on the document. The Educator was unable to recall how the initials of the co-workers were placed on the IEP document • Suspension

41. Standard #4 Honesty • The Educator failed to disclose his criminal history on the PSC application. • Reprimand

42. Public Funds & Property Standard 5

43. Standard 5 An educator entrusted with public funds and property shall honor that trust with a high level of honesty, accuracy, and responsibility.

44. Public Funds & Property Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to: misusing public or school-related funds; failing to account for funds collected from students or parents; submitting fraudulent requests or documentation for reimbursement of expenses or for pay; co-mingling public or school-related funds with personal funds or checking accounts; and using school property without the approval of the local board of education/governing board or authorized designee.

45. Standard #5 Public Funds and Property • The Educator admitted to using Booster club debit card and account number to pay personal bills. The Educator indicated he had used the card by mistake instead of his own debit card • Suspension

46. Standard #5 Public Funds and Property • The Educator, a teacher and coach, rented the high school baseball field to a community team, and had the check made out to him for the use of the field. • Suspension

47. Remunerative Conduct Standard 6

48. Standard 6 An educator shall maintain integrity with students, colleagues, parents, patrons, or businesses when accepting gifts, gratuities, favors, and additional compensation.

49. Standard #6 Remunerative Conduct • Multiple students stated they purchased gift cards for the Educator, at her request, with the understanding they would receive a better grade • Suspension

50. Standard # 6 Remunerative Conduct • The Educator encouraged students in her high school classes to help her sell vitamin supplements and told them she would give them a commission. She distributed samples to some of students for them to try. • Revocation