An educator maintains a professional relationship with each student, both in and outside the classroom

Guidance for standard 1 (Rules Governing the Code of Ethics for Arkansas Educators, 2022): This standard goes to the core of a professional educator’s expected conduct and relationship with all students and transcends criminal behavior or other actions which violate law. The professional relationship with students is such behavior and action which promotes at all times the mental, emotional, and physical health and safety of students. An educator should show respect for and not demean, embarrass, or harass students.

A professional relationship is one where the educator maintains a position of educator/student authority with students even while expressing concern, empathy, and encouragement for students. In that position of authority, an educator may nurture the student’s intellectual, physical, emotional, social and civic potential. An educator may display concern and compassion for a student’s personal problems and, when appropriate, refer the student for school counseling or other help.

Specific guidance includes:

• Educators should maintain professional relationships with students while using social networking technology tools. See also additional Social Media Guidance

• An educator should not participate in and should discourage bullying based on such characteristics as race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation or identity, age, disability, or religion. "Bullying" means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence against a student by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that may address an attribute, as defined in A.C.A. § 6-18-514, of the student and that causes or creates actual or reasonably foreseeable: (a) physical harm to a student or damage to the student's property; (b) substantial interference with a student's education; or (c) a hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act.

Considerations (Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Practices Commission Educator Ethics Toolkit):

• do not engage in activities that may reasonably raise concerns as to their propriety;

• do not engage in activities directed towards developing a relationship with a student beyond the recognized boundaries of a teacher/student relationship regardless of the student's age;

• do not make comments of a personal nature or suggestive in tone to a student;

• do not pursue any sexual or romantic contact with a student regardless of the student's age or apparent consent;

• do not invite students to your home;

• do not see students in isolated or private situations;

• do not share information of a personal nature about yourself with students;

• do not give personal gifts to a student;

• do not exchange notes, e-mails or other communications with a student of a personal nature;

• do not place yourself in situations which could be construed as posing a risk to the student or facilitating an inappropriate relationship with students;

• refer students to the appropriate resource if they are in need of counseling;

• ensure that your actions always serve the best interests of the student; and

• be mindful of your reputation in the community.

Discuss: (The following is a scenario is used by permission from the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility Training Guide.) Ms. K is a veteran teacher who is very popular with her students. She frequently offers students extra help after school, so it’s not uncommon to see students visiting her classroom after school. She has tutored one of her students, Melissa, in a variety of subjects over a two year period. During that time, Ms. K has emailed and texted Melissa’s cell phone using her personal number and email address. At first, the exchanges were very general; sometimes unrelated to school work (e.g., asking Melissa about a sick family member, or how she was getting along with friends). Recently, the student began to text her teacher about more personal feelings.

• What possible issues/concerns might this scenario raise?

• How could this situation become a violation of the law, the Code of Ethics or other school /district policies?

• In this situation, what are some potential negative consequences for the teacher, for the students and the school community?

• What responses/actions will result in a more positive outcome and/or what proactive measures?

Scenario and questions used by permission from the Connecticut Code of Professional Responsibility Training Guide.