Tulsa Public Schools Policy 4408: Employee Ethics
PURPOSE: To establish expectations for ethical behavior.
The Board of Education expects employees to adhere at all times to recognized standards of professional ethical behavior. Teachers, administrators, and support employees are role models and must exemplify ethical and establish an example of acceptable behavior for students. Employees must not engage in conduct detracting from a positive learning environment.
Inappropriate exploitation of employee/student relationships will not be tolerated. Commercial dealings between students and employees are not acceptable. Additionally, an employee may not use a teacher/administrator relationship with a student for personal gain. Exploitation of a student may result from an improper personal relationship encouraged by the teacher/administrator. Employees should be aware gestures and physical conduct, even though innocent and properly motivated, may be misinterpreted by students and parents/guardians. Therefore, teachers/administrators/support employees must avoid any conduct that might be characterized as evidencing an improper and unprofessional personal involvement with a student.
In their capacity as role models, employees are expected to establish an example of acceptable behavior standards for students. Employees are expected to encourage respect for the law and the institutions of our democratic society.
Employees are expected to refrain from comments or statements, even in jest, reflecting adversely on any person or group with reference to race, creed, national origin, gender, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, political or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, sexual orientation, or disability. Use of ethnic slurs constitutes unprofessional conduct.