STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT FOR TEACHERS
Teachers are charged with the education of the youth of this state. In order to perform effectively, teachers must demonstrate a belief in the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizing the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurturing of democratic principles.
In recognition of the magnitude of the responsibility inherent in the teaching process and by virtue of the desire for the respect and confidence of their colleagues, students, parents, and the community; teachers are to be guided in their conduct by commitment to students and the profession.
PRINCIPLE I
COMMITMENT TO THE STUDENTS
The teacher must strive to help each student realize his or her potential as a worthy and effective member of society. The teacher must work to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.
In fulfillment of the obligation to the student, the teacher:
1. Shall not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning.
2. Shall not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view.
3. Shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student's progress.
4. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety.
5. Shall not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement.
6. Shall not on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly
A. Exclude any student from participation in any program,
B. Deny benefits to any students,
C. Grant any advantage to any student.
7. Shall not use professional relationships with students for private advantage.
8. Shall not disclose information about students obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose and is permitted or required by law.
STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT FOR TEACHERS (Cont.)
PRINCIPLE II
COMMITMENT TO THE PROFESSION
The teaching profession is vested by the public with a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of professional service.
In order to assure that the quality of the services of the teaching profession meets the expectations of the state and its citizens, the teacher shall exert every effort to raise professional standards, fulfill professional responsibilities with honor and integrity, promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgment, achieve conditions which attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education, and assist in preventing the practice of the profession by unqualified persons.
In fulfillment of the obligation to the profession, the educator:
1. Shall not in an application for a professional position deliberately make a false statement or fail to disclose a material fact related to competency and qualifications.
2. Shall not misrepresent his/her professional qualifications.
3. Shall not assist entry into the teaching profession of any person known to be unqualified in respect to character, education, or other relevant attribute.
4. Shall not knowingly make a false statement concerning the qualifications of a candidate for a professional position.
5. Shall not assist an unqualified person in the unauthorized practice of the teaching profession.
6. Shall not disclose information about colleagues obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law.
7. Shall not knowingly make false or malicious statements about a colleague.
8. Shall not accept any gratuity, gift, or favor that might impair or appear to influence professional decision or actions.
PRINCIPLE III
1. Pursuant to the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990, a career teacher may be dismissed or not reemployed for:
A. Willful neglect of duty.
B. Repeated negligence in performance of duty.
C. Mental or physical abuse to a child.
STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE AND CONDUCT FOR TEACHERS (Cont.)
D. Incompetency.
E. Instructional ineffectiveness.
F. Unsatisfactory teaching performance.
G. Commission of an act of moral turpitude.
H. Abandonment of contract,
I. Conviction of a felony,
J. After a finding that such person has engaged in criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct that has impeded the effectiveness of the individual's performance of school duties, or
K. Failure to earn required staff development points.
2. A career teacher shall not be subject to dismissal or non-reemployment for items A, B, D, E, and F, above unless and until a written admonishment has been issued in accordance with relevant law.
3. A probationary teacher shall not be subject to dismissal or non-reemployment for inadequate teaching performance unless or until a written admonishment has been issued in accordance with relevant law.
4. Temporary teachers, substitute teachers, adult education teachers, and teachers employed in positions fully funded by private or federal grants shall not be protected by the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act.
5. A teacher convicted of a felony shall be dismissed or not reemployed unless a presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued.
6. A teacher may be dismissed, refused employment, or not reemployed after a finding that such person engaged in criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct that has impeded the effectiveness of the individual's performance of school duties:
A. "Criminal sexual activity" means the commission of an act defined in Section 886 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, which is the act of sodomy; and
B. "Sexual misconduct" means the soliciting or imposing of criminal sexual activity (70 O.S. §6-101.22).
REFERENCE: 70 O.S. §6-101.21, et seq.
NOTE: In accordance with the referenced statutes, a copy of these standards of performance and conduct will be provided to each teacher.
THIS POLICY REQUIRED BY LAW.
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