Behind every classroom teacher or instructor is a team of coworkers dedicated to the education process and system. And while the teachers abide by certain standards of professionalism and ethics, not everyone will adopt those same standards. How many individuals make up your education teams? Do they all operate by the same code of ethics?

Education is ruled by layers of compliance and regulations, some of which vary by state, region, and municipality. But the goal for all education-related services is to provide guidance, support, and learning for today’s students. To ensure your organization maintains this level of ethics and integrity, from the back office to the front of the class, here are a few initiatives and policies to consider.

A Dedication to Uphold Healthy Relationships

Educators should develop close connections with parents, guidance counselors, coworkers, and administrators if they want to create positive relationships with students. Unless the law demands it, teachers should avoid talking about confidential information regarding colleagues or pupils.

Teachers should never engage in gossip, whether true or false, about coworkers or students. Teachers and staff are required by the code of ethics to work with other teachers, parents, and administrators to create a learning and development-friendly environment. These staff members may also be called upon to train student teachers who want to teach, so having the correct mentality and attitude can make a significant difference.

A “Students Come First” Policy

Consider adopting an official “Students Come First” policy, in which teachers and staff must exemplify excellent personality traits, including perseverance, honesty, respect, legality, fairness, patience, and unity. Teachers must treat every student with compassion and respect without showing favoritism or prejudice. Students’ trust should not be abused for personal gain. Unless a situation necessitates parental involvement, school administration involvement, or law enforcement intervention, teachers should always support the well-being of their students.

A Commitment to the Role

Whether the role is that of a teacher or a support staff member in the office, ethics in education also requires a commitment from the individual. There should be a defined policy whereby all educators agree to promote safety, acceptance, and security for all students. This may also include language regarding contract fulfillment, school guidelines, and funds.

Combatting Impropriety in Education

Just scrolling through the headlines over the last few years, there’s no shortage of school-related impropriety out there. And it would be a devastating mistake to presume violations can’t happen within your organization. To combat compliance violations, unsavory situations, and concerning issues with staff and students, consider implementing an ethics hotline. And having a resource like a hotline available means providing everyone with a safe, anonymous, and reliable method of reporting improprieties immediately. Knowing there is a way to raise concerns without fear of retaliation will encourage all of your educators and teams to do so.

If you’re exploring ethics reporting options for your school or institution, consider an ethics hotline. Today’s compliance in education is ever-changing, and it’s the ethics hotline that will help keep your organization operating at its best. Let Ethical Advocate be your guide as you navigate these next steps and in implementing your most ideal method for reporting.