GBEBB: EMPLOYEE PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
The Kittery School Committee expects all employees to maintain the highest professional, moral, and ethical standards in their conduct with students. For the purposes of this policy, staff members also include school volunteers and substitutes.
The interactions and relationships between staff members and students should be based upon mutual respect and trust; an understanding of the appropriate boundaries between adults and students in and outside of the educational setting; and consistency with the educational mission of the schools.
The School Committee understands that staff members may interact with and have friendships with families of students outside of school. This policy is not intended to prohibit such interactions, provided that professional boundaries are maintained at all times.
Staff members are expected to be sensitive to the appearance of impropriety in their conduct with students. Staff members are encouraged to discuss issues with their building administrator or supervisor whenever they are unsure whether particular conduct may constitute a violation of this policy.
Unacceptable Conduct
Examples of unacceptable conduct by staff members include but are not limited to the following:
A. Any type of sexual or inappropriate physical contact with students or any other conduct that might be considered harassment under the Committee's policy in ACAA-Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students;
B. Singling out a particular student or students for personal attention and friendship beyond the normal teacher-student relationship;
C. Associating with students in any situation or activity as referenced in Policies ADC-Tobacco, Marijuana, and Vape-Free District, and JICH-Drug and Alcohol Use by Students;
D. For non-school counseling staff, encouraging students to confide their personal or family problems and/or relationships. If a student initiates such discussions, staff members are expected to be supportive but to refer the student to appropriate school counseling staff. In either case, staff involvement should be limited to a direct connection to the student's school performance;
E. Sending students on personal errands;
F. Sexual banter, allusions, jokes, or innuendos with students;
G. Asking a student to keep a secret;
H. Disclosing personal, sexual, family, employment concerns, or other private
matters to one or more students;
I. Addressing students with terms of endearment, pet names, or otherwise in an overly familiar manner; and
J. Permitting students to address you by your first name, nickname or otherwise in an overly familiar manner.
K. Being alone with individual students out of the view of others;
L. Inviting or allowing students to visit the staff member's home;
M. Visiting a student's home, unless on official school business;
N. Maintaining personal contact with a student outside of school by letters,
phone, email, social networking websites, or other digital media (beyond
homework or other legitimate school business);
0. Exchanging personal gifts (beyond the customary student-teacher gifts);
P. Socializing or spending time with students inappropriately (including but not
limited to activities such as going out for meals or movies, shopping, traveling, and recreational activities) outside of school-sponsored events or except as participants in organized community activities; and /or
Q. Friending students or engaging in any other interactions on social media or
through digital applications (outside of any school-approved activity).
Reporting Violations
Students and/or their parents/guardians are strongly encouraged to notify the building principal if they believe a teacher or other staff member may be engaging in conduct that violates this policy.
Staff members are required to promptly notify the building principal or Superintendent if they become aware of a situation that may constitute a violation of this policy.
Disciplinary Action
Staff violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal. Violations involving sexual or other abuse will also result in referral to the Department of Human Services and/or law enforcement in accordance with the School Committee's policy on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect.
Dissemination of Policy
This policy shall be included in all employee, student and volunteer handbooks.
Adopted: September 17, 1985
Revised: September 3, 1991
July 5, 1994
January 5, 2002
October 16, 2018
January 5, 2021
December 21, 2021
Cross Reference: ACAA- Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students
ADC-Tobacco, Marijuana, and Vape-Free District
GCSA - Staff Computer/Internet Use JICH-Drug and Alcohol Use by Students
JLF - Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect