Mississippi Educator Code of Ethics

Mr. Pedyfoot is a first year 4th grade teacher at EmBoyd Elementary School.  The copy machine was being used by another teacher after school yesterday, which prevented him from making copies for the unit assessment.  It’s 8 AM, and his students are entering the room.  Mr. Pedyfoot runs to the teacher’s lounge to make copies. The principal passes Mr. Pedyfoot’s room and notices the students in the room alone. Mr. Pedyfoot’s behavior describes which component of Standard 1 Unethical Conduct?

• Harassment of colleagues

• Misuse or mismanagement of tests or test materials

• Inappropriate language on school grounds or any school-related activity

• Failure to provide appropriate supervision of students and reasonable disciplinary actions.

Ms. Lockridge has been having a challenging year. She teaches Algebra I and II at Greenville High School and has used all of her personal days for the year.  She wants to take a week long vacation to get a break from her students.  Her best friend Ann is a doctor.  She asks Ann to write her a doctor’s excuse “saying” that she has the flu and recommends she takes one week of medical leave. Ann writes her the excuse, and Ms. Lockridge submits it to her school. Ms. Lockridge’s behavior describes which component of Standard 2 Unethical Conduct?

Falsifying, misrepresenting, omitting, or erroneously reporting any of the following:

• employment history, professional qualifications, criminal history, certification/recertification

• information submitted to local, state, federal, and/or other governmental agencies

• information regarding the evaluation of students and/or personnel

• reasons for absences or leave

Mr. Gibson was convicted of a felony for assaulting his girlfriend last spring. Is a felony conviction considered unethical behavior for an educator?

• Yes

• No

Mr. Baker teaches World History at Greenville High School, which has a diverse student body.  While teaching a unit on world religions, Mr. Baker makes fun of the dress code of various cultures.  He often makes these types of rude and insulting comments about race and religion that offend many students. Mr. Baker’s behavior describes which component of Standard 4 Unethical Conduct?

• Committing any act of child abuse

• Committing any act of cruelty to children or any act of child endangerment

• Engaging in harassing behavior on the basis of race, gender, national origin, religion or disability

• Soliciting, encouraging, participating or initiating inappropriate written, verbal, electronic, physical or romantic relationship with students.

The Teacher of the Year (TOY) program is a big deal in the Greenville School District.  Each school is allowed to select a TOY who receives $1,000.  Each school’s TOY then competes for the district teacher of the year for the opportunity to win $3,000 and be the district representative at the state recognition program.  The counselor is responsible for the program at Boyd Elementary School.  The two finalists are Ms. Jackson and Mrs. Evers.  All teachers in the building vote for the school TOY by turning in their ballots to the counselor.  The counselor receives all ballots, and Ms. Jackson has the most votes.  The counselor decides that since Ms. Jackson is single and has no children, she doesn’t have much need for the money.  Mrs. Evers has a family and could definitely use the money from winning TOY.  Although Ms. Jackson received more votes for TOY, the counselor decides to announce Mrs. Evers as the winner. 

The counselor’s behavior describes which component of Standard 5 Unethical Conduct? 

• Discriminating against or coercing a colleague on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, sex, disability or family status

• Using coercive means or promise of special treatment in order to influence professional decisions of colleagues.

• Harming others by knowingly making false statements about a colleague or the school system

• Revealing confidential health or personnel information concerning colleagues unless disclosure serves lawful professional purposes or is required by law

Mrs. Townsend is over the academic debate team at Johnson Performing Arts High School.  She travels to Southaven with the debate team for a competition.  Mrs. Townsend and the students select to eat at a local restaurant for dinner.  Mrs. Townsend orders an alcoholic beverage with her dinner. 

Does Mrs. Townsend’s decision to order an alcoholic beverage violate ethical behavior for an educator?

• No. It is after work hours, and she is not on school property.

• Yes

Mr. Clifton has been the band director for several years.  At the end of the summer, each of the band students must pay fees to cover uniforms and other costs for the year.  He collects the money himself and does not issue receipts.  Many parents complain that many of the things they paid for were never received.  An investigation also revealed that he used some of the money for personal spending. Mr. Clifton’s behavior describes which components of Standard 7 Unethical Conduct? Check all that apply.

• Knowingly misappropriating, diverting or using funds, personnel, property or equipment committed to his or her charge for personal gain

• Failing to account for funds collected from students, parents or any school-related function

• Submitting fraudulent requests for reimbursement of expenses or for pay

• Co-mingling public or school-related funds with personal funds or checking accounts

Ms. Vallery is a teacher at Boyd Elementary School.  She makes gift baskets and sells them from her home.  It’s the beginning of February, and she knows people will be purchasing Valentine’s Day gifts soon.  As each of her students’ parents come to pick up his/her child, she informs them that she will be selling Valentine’s Day gift baskets and gives them her personal business card.

Ms. Vallery's behavior describes which component of Standard 8 Unethical Conduct? 

• Soliciting students or parents of students to purchase equipment, supplies, or services from the educator or to participate in activities that financially benefit the educator unless approved by the local governing body

• Tutoring students assigned to the educator for remuneration unless approved by the local school board

• The educator shall neither accept nor offer gratuities, gifts, or favors that impair professional judgment or to obtain special advantage. (This standard shall not restrict the acceptance of gifts or tokens offered and accepted openly from students, parents, or other persons or organizations in recognition or appreciation of service.)

Mrs. Jointer has a student Shelly who has significant cognitive disabilities.  Mrs. Jointer runs into Shelly’s mom at the beauty salon.  She recognizes her from the IEP meetings.  Once Shelly’s mom leaves the beauty shop, Mrs. Jointer discusses Shelly’s disabilities with her stylist and the other women in the beauty salon.  Mrs. Jointer’s behavior describes which component of Standard 9 Unethical Conduct?

• Sharing confidential information concerning student academic and disciplinary records, health and medical information family status/income and assessment/testing results unless disclosure is required or permitted by law.

• Violating confidentiality agreements related to standardized testing including copying or teaching identified test items, publishing or distributing test items or answers, discussing test items, and violating local school board or state directions for the use of tests

• Violating other confidentiality agreements required by state or local policy.   

Mrs. Milton teaches 5th grade math and science at Boyd Elementary School.  Several parents have complained to the principal that Mrs. Milton doesn’t grade student work or post grades online as other teachers.  The students say that they do not receive any instruction all day.  She assigns a couple of workbook pages each day.  Once students complete the work, they are allowed to talk to their friends as long as they don’t get too loud.  Mrs. Milton spends most the day on the computer or talking on her cell phone during class time and sometimes leaves the students unattended. .  Mrs. Milton’s behavior describes which component of Standard 10 Unethical Conduct?

• Abandoning the contract for professional services without prior release from the contract by the school board

• Refusing to perform services required by the contract.