Ethical Leadership

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Georgia Professional Standards Commission
The Code of Ethics for Georgia Educators 2015-16
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Professional Standards Commission

• Certification
• Educator Preparation
• Ethics

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Legal Authority of the PSC Ethics Division
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20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.

1.  It shall be the duty of the commission to adopt
   standards of performance and a code of ethics for
   educators which are generally accepted by
   educators of this state.  

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Code of Ethics

• Code of Common Sense

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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.

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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.  

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

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Standard 1 Legal Compliance

• The Educator and her husband were arrested and
  charged with felony Cruelty to Children-Deprivatio
  n of Necessary Sustenance in the 1st Degree. The
  offense is still pending adjudication. The
  Educator failed to provide documentation
  requested by the PSC Investigator
• Revoked.

12
Standard 1 Legal Compliance

• The Educator was arrested for Theft by
  Shoplifting while holding a valid PSC
  paraprofessional certificate. Subsequently, the
  Educator was sentenced to 20 hours of community
  service, take a shoplifting/theft education
  class, and pay a fine of 300 under a pre-trial
  diversion program
• Suspend 20 Days

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Conduct with Students
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Standard 2
An educator shall always maintain a professional
relationship with all students, both in and
outside the classroom.
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• A student is anyone under the age of 18.

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

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For the purposes of the Code of Ethics, the
enrollment period for a graduating student ends
on August 31 of the year of graduation.
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Revocation
Sexual Abuse of Students
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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
Standard 2 Conduct With Students

• Paraprofessionals 1 and 2 stated that the
  Educator had a history of abusing (spanking)
  students. In her most recent incident, the
  Educator took a student behind a bookcase and
  spanked him with a ruler. Even though she could
  not be seen, the paraprofessionals could hear the
  screams and the sound of hitting the student.
  The principal saw the red marks on the students
  arms
• Suspend 2 Years

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Standard 2 Conduct With Students

• The Educator admitted he developed a close
  relationship with a sixth grade student. He
  admitted to hugging her, kissing her on the
  forehead, and walking her to her other classes.
  Later, through his attorney, he denied kissing
  her. Letters to the Educator professing her love
  for him were found in the Educators desk drawer
• Revoked

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Student Relationship Guidelines
E-mail
Phone Calls
Be Friendly, Not a Friend.
Gossip
Parties
Inappropriate Jokes
Photographs
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Choose Appropriate Settings
Student Relationship Guidelines
Home
Auto
Closet
Dark Room
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Standard 3

• Alcohol or Drugs

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

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

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• 20-2-984.1. The code of ethics shall be
  limited to professional performance and
  professional ethics.  

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Standard 3 Drugs and Alcohol

• During an end of the year program, the Educator
  displayed unusual behavior in front of the
  students. The Educator agreed to a drug
  screening, which revealed a positive reading for
  marijuana and hydrocodone. The Educator did not
  possess a prescription for the drug at the time
  of screening.
• Suspend 2 Years

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Standard 3 Drugs and Alcohol

• The Educator met with her Principal and A.P. at
  645 for her annual performance review. During
  the meeting the principal noticed an odor of
  alcohol and that the Educator seemed disorganized
  and unable to collect her thoughts. The Educator
  declined to submit to a drug screening but did
  admit to consuming a bottle of wine the previous
  evening
• Suspend 1 Year

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Question

• How many Educators are guilty of going to a
  restaurant on a Friday evening and consuming a
  bottle of beer or a glass of wine with their
  meal, and then going to a high school football
  game?
• What level of intoxication is acceptable when an
  educator is interacting with students or
  community members at school events?

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Standard 4

• Honesty

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

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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

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Honesty

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

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Honesty

• Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
  falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting
• reasons for absences or leaves

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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

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Honesty

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

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Standard 4 Honesty

• The Educator failed to disclose on a 2010
  application for certification renewal having two
  bad check offenses (2004, 2006) which occurred
  while she held a valid PSC certificate. The
  matter was not submitted for PSC to review until
  it was discovered by her employing school system
  in 2014
• Suspend 5 Days

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Standard 4 Honesty

• The Educator falsified student data used for
  monitoring and tracking the progress of SWD.
  During a review of the Educators student data
  collection binder, the principal found at least
  80 data points were falsified. Data was entered
  for some students during holidays and during days
  when the Educator was absent. The Educator
  indicated she made some careless errors
• Suspend 90 Days

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Standard 5

• Public Funds Property

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

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Standard 5 Public Funds and Property

• The Educators school computer was used to access
  inappropriate content on multiple days from
  12/15/14 thru 1/6/15. The Educators attorney
  provided the PSC with an affidavit asserting a
  house guest was responsible for the inappropriate
  use. The house guest was interviewed by the
  PSC. He stated that after being pressured he
  signed the affidavit, but the content was not
  true
• Revoke

45
Standard 5 Public Funds and Property

• The Educator admitted that she sold items donated
  for student use (coupons for pizza, Six Flag
  tickets, etc.) on eBay through her personal
  account. The school systems investigator
  estimated the Educator made a profit of
  approximately 300
• Suspend 1 Year

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Standard 6

• Remunerative Conduct

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

• A parent reported the Educator was charging to
  tutor students after school during the last half
  hour of the work day. The Educator initially
  denied she was charging the students. The parent
  then provided text messages sent by the teacher
  telling parents not to tell the administrators.
  The Educator was suspended and given a letter of
  direction. She continued to tutor for money
• Suspend 1 Year

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Standard 6 Remunerative Conduct

• The investigation conducted by the school system
  established that the Educator promoted a
  nutritional supplement to students at school.
  This included providing free samples, and
  offering student a commission for any supplements
  sold. The Educator had a financial interest in
  the product.
• Revoke

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Standard 7

• Confidential Information

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Standard 7
An educator shall comply with state and federal
laws and state school board policies relating to
the confidentiality of student and personnel
records, standardized test material and other
information.
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Confidential Information

• Annual performance evaluation records of school
  personnel

• Health services provided to an insured

• Individual student performance data, information
  and reports

• School records of students with disabilities

• A student's education record

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Standard 7 Confidential Information

• The Educator admitted on one or two occasions he
  allowed a student to enter grades into the school
  database. During the investigation, it was
  discovered that the student not only entered
  grades on several occasions, but was allowed to
  correct papers and assign grades. The student
  was also allowed to use the school computer for
  online shopping
• Suspend 60 Days

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Standard 7 Confidential Information

• The Educator admitted he received a copy of a
  fellow teachers grading record and turned over
  the student grades to a reporter. The principal
  had changed the grades of the fellow teachers
  students for legitimate reasons.
• Revoke

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Standard 8

• Abandonment of Contract

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An educator shall fulfill all of the terms and
obligations detailed in the contract with the
local board of education or education agency for
the duration of the contract.
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Abandonment of Contract

• The PSC expects educators to honor their
  contracts.
• The PSC has identified circumstances that
  warrant educators leaving their contracted
  positions without a release.
• Educators and systems are expected to act
  professionally and make every effort to minimize
  the effect on the students experiencing the loss.

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Standard 8 Abandonment of Contract

• The Educator left her job the same day she
  submitted her letter of resignation. She did not
  respond to the request from the Superintendent to
  give a 30 day notice so a replacement could be
  located. The Educator said extra duties had been
  added to her job and she was too overwhelmed to
  continue
• Suspend 90 Days

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Standard 8 Abandonment of Contract

• The Educator signed an employment contract FY
  2015 and then requested to be released from the
  contract to take a position in a neighboring
  county which was closer to her residence. The
  request was denied. Subsequently she filed a
  second request citing medical issues. In all,
  she filed 4 requests, which were denied. She was
  charged 2014 in liquidated damages and reported
  to the PSC
• Reprimand

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Standard 9

• Required Reports

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An educator shall file reports of a breach of one
or more of the standards in the Code of Ethics
for Educators, child abuse, or any other required
report.
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• O.C.G.A. 19-7-5
• Child abuse includes the following conduct by a
  childs parent or caretaker
• Physical injury or death (by other than
  accidental means)
• Neglect or exploitation of a child
• Sexual abuse - an act of apparent sexual
  stimulation or gratification ...
• Sexual exploitation - allows, permits,
  encourages, or requires a child to engage in
  prostitution or sexually explicit conduct .

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20-2-1184

• Any employee of a public or private elementary or
  secondary school ... who has reasonable cause to
  believe that a student at that school has
  committed any of the following acts upon school
  property or at any school function, shall
  immediately report the act and the name of the
  student to the principal or the principal's
  designee.
• Aggravated assault involving a firearm
• Aggravated battery
• Sexual offenses
• Carrying a deadly weapons at public gatherings
• Carrying weapons at school
• Illegal possession of a pistol or revolver by a
  person under 18
• Possession or any use of marijuana and
  controlled substances,
• The principal ... shall make an oral report
  thereof immediately by telephone or otherwise to
  the appropriate school system superintendent and
  to the appropriate police authority and district
  attorney.
• Any person who fails to make a report shall be
  guilty of a misdemeanor.

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Standard 9 Required Reports

• The Educator admitted a student disclosed that he
  had been whipped by his grandmother with an
  extension cord and a hanger and was then shown a
  scar on his arm that was allegedly caused by
  abuse. The Educator typed the abuse report but
  failed to submit the report to anyone for two
  days because it got lost under some papers
• Suspend 90 Days

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Standard 9 Required Reports

• The Educator was employed as a high school
  principal. A counselor reported to him in the
  fall that she had her rumors of an inappropriate
  relationship between the a teacher and a student.
  Previously, a school secretary had reported a
  similar rumor to him. Two years later, the
  teacher was arrested and charged with 3 counts of
  sexual assault.
• Revoke

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Standard 10

• Professional Conduct

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Standard 10
An educator shall demonstrate conduct that
follows generally recognized professional
standards and preserves the dignity and integrity
of the teaching profession.
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Standard 10 Professional Conduct

• The Educator admitted he and a student engaged in
  a shouting match and exchanged inappropriate
  language and profanity. The incident was recorded
  by another student with his cell phone
• Suspend 20 Days

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Standard 10 Professional Conduct

• Multiple students in the Educators classroom
  recalled him making derogatory comments towards
  students. The comments included pea-brain,
  stupid, crazy, and ignorant. Several students
  also said the Educator used profanity
• Suspend 10 Days

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Standard 11

• Testing

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Standard 11
An educator shall administer state mandated
assessments fairly and ethically.
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Georgia Not Only State With Questionable Test
Scores
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Nationwide Problem

• Over 196 of the largest 3,125 school systems in
  the United States has suspect test score
  improvement
• Odds of obtaining these reported results by
  chance alone is over 1000 to 1
• In 33 of these school systems, the odds were
  worse than 1,000,000 to 1

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Testing

• United States spends 760,000,000 a year on
  testing required by NCLB
• States are left to their own in monitoring the
  testing
• Most states do not have resources to conduct
  investigations of this magnitude
• One graduate student, in her dissertation,
  surveyed teachers in her state and found that
  50 of teachers either had cheated or knew a
  colleague who had cheated

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• With a good testing program
• Students know the skills and knowledge they have
  mastered and how they compare to others.
• Parents can evaluate whether their children are
  obtaining the skills and knowledge they need.
• Teachers can determine if students have mastered
  the skills and knowledge needed to advance to the
  next level.
• Community members have a measuring stick for
  student performance.

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Major Testing Violations

• Breach of Test Security
• Fail to provide or attend training
• Fail to follow directions specified in the manual
• Coach, prompt, alter or provide answers to
  students during the test
• Interpret, explain, or paraphrase test items
• Copy or take notes on test items

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Standard 11 Testing

• The Educator whispered to the proctor during
  the CRCT and made facial gestures at some of the
  students , which they interpreted as meaning they
  had the wrong answers. A total of 15 students
  were coded as irregularities and 5 tests were
  invalidated.
• Suspend 2 Years

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Standard 11

• The Educator admits she misinterpreted
  eligibility guidelines for students who were
  taking the CRCT-M with the results being 9
  students were not eligible for the modified
  version that was administered to them. The GaDOE
  invalidated the results
• Suspend 90 Days

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Teachers Role

• Attend training
• Ensures security of test booklets before,
  during, and after testing
• Follow directions
• Arrange seats to promote individual work
• Circulate about the classroom to prevent cheating
  and other violations
• Be familiar with allowable student accommodations
• Account for all testing materials

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Lessons Learned

• Establish an environment conducive to student
  learning and test score improvement
• Require training for all participants with
  similar information and format at all training
  sessions
• Require available staff to monitor during testing
• Test security is paramount

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Lessons Learned

• Investigate all allegations and complaints
  thoroughly - consider involvement of outside
  investigators
• Large increases in student test scores are a red
  flag
• Having knowledge of testing violations and
  failing to report jeopardizes teaching
  certificate
• Superintendents, Principals, and Test
  Coordinators are ultimately responsible

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Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action against a
Certificate
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Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action

• Suspension or revocation of any professional
  license or certificate.
• Violation of laws and rules applicable to the
  profession.
• Any other good and sufficient cause that renders
  an educator unfit for employment as an educator.

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Enforcing Sanctions

• The superintendent and the superintendents
  designee for certification shall be responsible
  for assuring that an individual whose certificate
  has been revoked, denied, or suspended is not
  employed or serving in any capacity in their
  district. Both the superintendent and the
  superintendents designee must hold GAPSC
  certification.

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• Year Denied Revoked
  Voluntary Total
  Surrender
• FY 2005 25 93 22 140
• FY 2006 42 72 17 131
• FY 2007 23 76 26 125
• FY 2008 33 54 16 103
• FY 2009 25 71 27 123
• FY 2010 13 67 28 108
• FY 2011 18 58 20 96
• FY 2012 18 92 25 135
• FY 2013 14 86 28 128
• FY 2014 18 99 26 143
• FY 2015 26 81 29 136

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Sanctions-June, 2014-June 2015

• Legal compliance-41
• Conduct with Students-82
• Alcohol and Drugs-22
• Honesty-76
• Public Funds and Property-19
• Remunerative Conduct-2
• Confidential Information-3

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Sanctions

• Abandonment of Contract-3
• Required Reports-11
• Professional Conduct-52
• Testing-26
• Total-337

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RESA Totals

• FY 2015

• FY 2014

• CSRA-31
• Chattahoochee-30
• Coastal Plains-34
• First District-70
• Griffin-59
• Heart of Georgia-6
• Metro-289
• Middle Georgia-45
• North Georgia-34

• CSRA-72
• Chattahoochee-30
• Coastal Plains-31
• First District-124
• Griffin-53
• Heart of Georgia-12
• Metro-317
• Middle Georgia-51
• North Georgia-28

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RESA Totals

• FY 2015

• FY 2014

• NE Georgia-29
• NW Georgia-36
• Oconee-12
• Okefenokee-14
• Pioneer-16
• SW Georgia-30
• West Georgia-26
• RESA Avg-48
• RESA Total-761

• NE Georgia-64
• NW Georgia-53
• Oconee-10
• Okefenokee-10
• Pioneer-34
• SW Georgia-45
• West Georgia-18
• RESA Avg-60
• RESA Total-955

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Open Cases by RESA -Teachers Listed on CPI Report

• 2015

• 2015

• CSRA-.0063
• Chattahoochee-.0094
• Coastal Plains-.0097
• First District-.0083
• Griffin-.0088
• Heart of Ga.-.0042
• Metro-.0068
• Middle Ga.-.0100

• North Ga.-.0070
• NE Ga.-.0058
• NW Ga.-.0050
• Oconee-.0123
• Okefenokee-.0077
• Pioneer-.0032
• SW Ga.-.0085
• W. Ga.-.0065
• Avg.-.0070

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ADVICE

• Take testing seriously
• Be friendly but not a friend to the studentsyou
  are not their friend but their supervisor and
  role model
• Honesty and Integrity are important
• Educators are held to higher standards
• Educators are mandated reporters if they are
  aware of violations of Code of Ethics
• Do not interact with students via social media

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Contact Information

• Paul A. Shaw
• Email-paul.shaw_at_gapsc.com
• Phone -404-232-2635