11. Professional Conduct & Leadership

11.) Professional Conduct and Leadership: Being a teacher is a profession. I must act in a professional manner at all times. This is many times the difference in one person getting and/or keeping a job over another person. Rather I know it or not, I will be an authority figure whom will be looked up to and respected. I must rise to the occasion and lead my students in a professional yet friendly way.

The teacher understands education as a profession, maintains standards of professional conduct, and provides leadership to improve student learning and well-being.

Knowledge Indicators - The competent teacher:

11A. understands the unique characteristics of education as a profession.

11B. understands how school systems are organized and operate.

11C. understands school policies and procedures.

11D. understands legal issues in education.

11E. understands the importance of active participation and leadership in professional organizations.

11F. is familiar with the rights of students with disabilities.

11G. knows the roles and responsibilities of teachers, parents, students, and other professionals related to special education.

11H. knows identification and referral procedures for students with disabilities.

Performance Indicators - The competent teacher:

11I. contributes knowledge and expertise about teaching and learning to the profession.

11J. follows codes of professional conduct and exhibits knowledge and expectations of current legal directives.

11K. follows school policy and procedures, respecting the boundaries of professional responsibilities, when working with students, colleagues, and families.

11L. initiates and develops educational projects and programs.

11M. actively participates in or leads in such activities as curriculum development, staff development, and student organizations.

11N. participates, as appropriate, in policy design and development at the local level, with professional organizations, and/or with community organizations.

11O. demonstrates commitment to developing the highest educational and quality-of-life potential of individuals with disabilities.

11P. demonstrates positive regard for individual students and their families regardless of culture, religion, gender, and sexual orientation.

11Q. promotes and maintains a high level of integrity in the practice of the profession.

11R. complies with local, State, and federal monitoring and evaluation requirements related to students with disabilities.

11S. complies with local, State, and federal regulations and policies related to students with disabilities.

11T. uses a variety of instructional and intervention strategies prior to initiating a referral of a student for special education.

"The teacher understands education as a profession, maintains standards of professional conduct, and provides leadership to improve student learning and well-being."

Being a teacher means being a leader, someone that many people look up to. In that respect, anyone who teaches must be professional and hold themselves with a sense a pride and responsibility. The teachers actions will be directly translated through the actions of their students ( for the better and the worse). Remember that.