Georgia Professional Standards Commission
The Code of Ethics for
Georgia Educators 2013-2014
Professional Standards
Commission
Certification
Educator Preparation
Ethics
2
Legal Authority
of the PSC
Ethics Division
20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.
(a)
It shall be the duty of the
commission to adopt
standards of
performance and a
code of ethics for
educators… which are
generally accepted by
educators of this state.
Code of Ethics
Code of “Common Sense”
20-2-984.1. Adoption of a Code of Ethics.
The standards of performance and
code of ethics adopted by the
commission shall be limited to
professional performance and
professional ethics.
The PSC does not care what you do in
you personal lives as long as it does
not carryover into your professional
lives.
Definition of Educator
20-2-982.1.(2) "Educator" means
education personnel who hold, have
applied for, or been denied
certificates, permits, or other
certification documents issued by
the Georgia Professional Standards
Commission.
Standard 1
Legal
Compliance
Standard 1
An educator shall
abide by federal,
state, and local
laws and statutes.
Legal Compliance
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited
to the commission or conviction of:
• a felony or any crime involving moral
turpitude.
• any criminal offense involving a
controlled substance or marijuana.
• any sexual offense specified in Code
Section 16.
• any laws applicable to the profession.
Standard #1 Legal Compliance
 The
Educator admits to being arrested for
theft by shoplifting. The Educator was
sentenced to 6 months probation, a fine,
and 40 hours of community service.
 Suspended
Standard #1 Legal Compliance
 Educator
was arrested and charged with
writing bad checks. She entered a guilty
plea, forfeited a cash bond, and paid her
fine.
 Reprimand
Standard #1 Legal Compliance
 Five
marijuana plants and a small amount
of processed marijuana were located at
the Educator’s home and vehicle. The
Educator was subsequently charged with
misdemeanor possession of marijuana.
The Educator entered a plea of not guilty.
The criminal case is still pending.
 Suspension
Conduct with
Students
Standard 2
An educator shall
always maintain a
professional
relationship with all
students, both in and
outside the classroom.
A student is
anyone under
the age of
18.
OR, a student
enrolled in
grades Pre-K to
12 in a public or
private school.
For the purposes of the
Code of Ethics,
the
enrollment period for a
graduating student
ends on August 31 of
the year of graduation.
Sexual Abuse
of Students
Young people instinctively
recognize these boundary
violations and often
nickname the employee
engaged in such violations a
“pervert,” based on their
perceived sense of
inappropriateness.
Mary Jo McGrath
Sexual Relationship with
Students
 O.
C.G. A.--16-6-5.1
 Person who has supervisory or disciplinary
authority over a student who engages in
sexual contact with students…
 New thing in Georgia
21
Sexual Relationship with
Student
22
16-6-5.1
 Jail
time
 Age 16-not less than one year nor more
than 25 years in jail or a fine not to exceed
$100,000 or both
 Under the age of 16-not less than 25 years
nor more than 50 years in jail
23
20-2-751.7 (a)
 The
PSC shall establish a state mandated
process for students to follow in reporting
instances of alleged inappropriate
behavior by a teacher, administrator or
any other school employee
 Shall include these processes in the
student handbook and in employee
handbook
 Any teacher, counselor, or administrator
receiving a report or sexual misconduct
shall submit a written report in 24 hours 24
Standard #2 Conduct With
Students
 The
Educator was employed as an
elementary school teacher. It was
reported that she was dating a student
who was in high school. At age 18 the
student dropped out of high school,
proposed to the teacher, and married her.
 Revoke
Standard #2 Conduct With
Students
 Witnesses
from faculty reported that
student frequently visits Educator’s
classroom before and after school.
Educator’s husband found a phone that
contained messages expressing love as
well as sexual desires. Examination of
phone records revealed more than 1700
text messages and 141 phone calls in a
period of 26 days. Both denied being
romantically involved.
Social Networking
 Use
Facebook, Twitter, and other
communications on a professional level
 Notify administration of your plans and
always copy them
 Should student communicate
inappropriately, notify your supervisor
immediately
Student Relationship Guidelines
Be Friendly,
Not a Friend.
Student Relationship Guidelines
Choose
Appropriate
Settings
Standard 3
Alcohol
or
Drugs
Standard 3
An educator shall
refrain from the use of
alcohol or illegal or
unauthorized drugs
during the course of
professional practice.
Drugs
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:
1.
being on school premises or
at a school-related activity
while under the influence of,
possessing, using, or
consuming illegal or
unauthorized drugs;
Illegal and
Unauthorized
Drugs are Always
Illegal and
Unauthorized.
Standard #3 Drugs and Alcohol
 The
school was placed on lock down
during an unannounced law enforcement
search of the school premises. The
principal observed an Educator out of
class in the faculty parking lot throwing an
object over the fence. A sheriff’s deputy
retrieved the object-a glass pipe and found
a small amount of marijuana in Educator’s
car.
 Suspension
Standard #3 Drugs and Alcohol
 During
a school day, two students
reported to the SRO they smelled alcohol
on the Educator’s breath. Educator told
principal she had alcohol the night before.
The principal drove Educator to medical
testing facility where she took a
breathalyzer and registered .13 and the
confirmation test read .12
 Suspension
Alcohol
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:
2.
being on school premises or
at a school-related activity
involving students while
under the influence of,
possessing, or consuming
alcoholic beverages.
20-2-984.1. The … code of
ethics … shall be limited to
professional performance
and professional ethics.
Standard 4
Honesty
Standard 4
An educator shall
exemplify honesty
and integrity in the
course of professional
practice.
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
1. professional
qualifications,
criminal history, college or
staff development credit and/or
degrees, academic award, and
employment history;
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
2.
information submitted to
federal, state, local school
districts and other
governmental agencies;
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
3. information regarding the
evaluation of students and/or
personnel;
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
4.
reasons for absences or
leaves;
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
5. information submitted in the
course of an official
inquiry/investigation; and
Honesty
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to,
falsifying, misrepresenting, or omitting:
6. information submitted in the
course of professional
practice.
Standard #4 Honesty
 The
Case Manager prepared and laid out
two student IEP meeting participant
signature pages on a table and invited
Educators to come by and sign without an
IEP meeting held for either student. Both
student IEP meeting invitations listed the
same date, time, and location.
 Case Manager-suspended
 Teachers signing IEP-suspended
Standard #4 Honesty
 The
Educator signed her principal’s name
to a chorus registration form without his
permission and faxed the form to the
registration office for a state competition.
 Suspension
Standard 5
Public Funds
& Property
Standard 5
An educator entrusted
with public funds and
property shall honor that
trust with a high level of
honesty, accuracy, and
responsibility.
Public Funds & Property
Unethical conduct includes but is not limited to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
misusing public or school-related funds;
failing to account for funds collected from students
or parents;
submitting fraudulent requests or documentation
for reimbursement of expenses or for pay;
co-mingling public or school-related funds with
personal funds or checking accounts; and
using school property without the approval of the
local board of education/governing board or
authorized designee.
Standard #5 Public Funds and
Property
 Educator
collected funds from parents,
staff, and students for a fundraiser to
support a local charity. The school system
had specific guidelines regarding the
collection of funds but the Educator did not
follow the guidelines. Records indicate
that $1017 was collected and only $440.92
was delivered to the charity. The Educator
said the ledger was inaccurate because he
allowed students to attend who did not pay
Standard #5 Public Funds and
Property
 The
Educator was issued an Ipad for use
as an AP. Educator admitted downloading
software to bypass firewalls and
downloading applications without paying
for them. He accessed pornographic sites
in violation of the Acceptable Use policy
 Suspension
Standard 6
Remunerative
Conduct
Standard 6
An educator shall maintain
integrity with students,
colleagues, parents,
patrons, or businesses
when accepting gifts,
gratuities, favors, and
additional compensation.
Standard #6 Remunerative
Conduct
 The
Educator admits having offered to let
students sell Girl Scout cookies in
exchange for students to earn extra credit
or to be excused from some class work.
Educator stated that no one actually
received extra credit or reduced work
because the principal found out and
directed her to return any money collected
 Suspension
Standard # 6 Remunerative
Conduct
A
coach worked to improve the skills of
several baseball players on an individual
basis who attended the high school where
he taught. The parents paid him for the
hours he worked on Saturdays.
 Suspension
Standard 7
Confidential
Information
Standard 7
An educator shall comply with
state and federal laws and
state school board policies
relating to the confidentiality
of student and personnel
records, standardized test
material and other
information.
•
•
•
•
•
Confidential Information
Annual performance evaluation
records of school personnel
Health services provided to an
insured
Individual student performance
data, information and reports
School records of students with
disabilities
A student's education record
Standard # 7 Confidential
Information
 An
Educator admits she gave her
computer password to a student and
allowed the student to record grades into
the software system on numerous
occasions
 Suspension
Standard 8
Abandonment
of
Contract
An educator shall fulfill all
of the terms and obligations
detailed in the contract with
the local board of education
or education agency for the
duration of the contract.
Abandonment of Contract
The PSC expects educators to honor their
contracts.
 The PSC has identified circumstances
that warrant educators leaving their
contracted positions without a release.
 Educators are expected to make every
effort to minimize the effect on the
students experiencing the loss.

Standard #8 Abandonment of
Contract
 The
Educator signed a contract to work for
the 2012-2013 school year. In November,
the Educator submitted her resignation,
effective the same day. The School
System HR informed the Educator that
she would be released as soon as a
suitable replacement could be found. The
Educator left that day anyhow.
 Suspension
Standard 9
Required
Reports
An educator shall file
reports of a breach of one
or more of the standards in
the Code of Ethics for
Educators, child abuse, or
any other required report.
O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5
‘Child abuse’ includes the following
conduct by a child’s parent or caretaker:
 Physical injury or death (by other than
accidental means)
 Neglect or exploitation of a child
 Sexual abuse - an act of apparent sexual
stimulation or gratification ...
 Sexual exploitation - allows, permits,
encourages, or requires a child to engage in
prostitution or sexually explicit conduct ….
20-2-1184
Any employee of a public or private elementary or secondary school ... who
has reasonable cause to believe that a student at that school has
committed any of the following acts upon school property or at any school
function, shall immediately report the act and the name of the student to the
principal or the principal's designee.







Aggravated assault involving a firearm;
Aggravated battery;
Sexual offenses;
Carrying a deadly weapons at public gatherings;
Carrying weapons at school;
Illegal possession of a pistol or revolver by a person under 18
Possession or any use of marijuana and controlled substances,
The principal ... shall make an oral report thereof immediately by telephone
or otherwise to the appropriate school system superintendent and to the
appropriate police authority and district attorney.
Any person who fails to make a report shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
Standard # 9 Required Reports
 The
Educator admitted not reporting
abuse that was divulged by a student.
Reportedly, the physical abuse was
occurring at the home of the student. The
Educator told the student to talk with the
family members about the problem.
 Suspension
Standard # 9 Required Reports
 The
Educator admitted that a teacher
brought a kindergarten student with
disabilities to her who had bruises on both
arms. The Educator told the teacher to
send a note home to the parents. The
incident was not reported to DFACS.
 Suspension
Standard 10
Professional
Conduct
Standard 10
An educator shall
demonstrate conduct that
follows generally recognized
professional standards and
preserves the dignity and
integrity of the teaching
profession.
Standard #10 Professional
Conduct
 The
Educator made inappropriate racial
slurs to a student of bi-racial ethnicity
 Suspended
 The Educator admitted that he engaged in
sexual intercourse with a co-worker in an
office at the school in which they both
worked. The encounter was after school
hours when no students were present
 Suspension
Standard 11
Testing
Standard 11
An educator shall
administer state
mandated assessments
fairly and ethically.
Georgia Not Only State
With Questionable Test
Scores
76
Nationwide Problem
 Over
196 of the largest 3,125 school
systems in the United States has suspect
test score improvement
 Odds of obtaining these reported results
by chance alone is over 1000 to 1
 In 33 of these school systems, the odds
were worse than 1,000,000 to 1
77
Testing
 United
States spends $760,000,000 a year
on testing required by NCLB
 States are left to their own in monitoring
the testing
 Most states do not have resources to
conduct investigations of this magnitude
 One graduate student, in her dissertation,
surveyed teachers in her state and found
that 50% of teachers either had cheated or
knew a colleague who had cheated
78
With a good testing program:
 Students know the skills and knowledge
they have mastered and how they compare
to others.
 Parents can evaluate whether their
children are obtaining the skills and
knowledge they need.
 Teachers can determine if students have
mastered the skills and knowledge needed
to advance to the next level.
 Community members have a measuring
stick for student performance.
Major Testing Violations
 Breach
of Test Security
 Fail to provide or attend training
 Fail to follow directions specified in the
manual
 Coach, prompt, alter or provide answers to
students during the test
 Interpret, explain, or paraphrase test items
 Copy or take notes on test items
80
Standard # 11 Testing
A
test proctor stated the Educator
provided the students with clarifying
information and a word definition during
CRCT. Educator admitted she
paraphrased 2 CRCT questions and
defined one word in order to calm an
unruly student
 Suspension
Standard # 11
 The
Educator submitted a GAA portfolio
with photographic documentation of test
activities on two different dates. Two
photographs dated on the same day had
the same students in different clothes and
one student had long hair in one
photograph and short hair in the other
photograph.
 Suspension
Teacher’s Role
 Attend
training
 Ensures security of test booklets before,
during, and after testing
 Follow directions
 Arrange seats to promote individual work
 Circulate about the classroom to prevent
cheating and other violations
 Be familiar with allowable student
accommodations
 Account for all testing materials
83
Lessons Learned
 Establish
an environment conducive to
student learning and test score
improvement
 Require training for all participants with
similar information and format at all
training sessions
 Require available staff to monitor during
testing
 Test security is paramount
84
Lessons Learned
 Investigate
all allegations and complaints
thoroughly - consider involvement of
outside investigators
 Large increases in student test scores are
a red flag
 Having knowledge of testing violations and
failing to report jeopardizes teaching
certificate
 Superintendents, Principals, and Test
Coordinators are ultimately responsible 85
Other Grounds
for Disciplinary
Action against a
Certificate
Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action:

Disciplinary action against a certificate
in another state on grounds consistent
with those specified in the Code of
Ethics for Educators.

Order from a court or a request from
DHR that a certificate be suspended or
denied for non-payment of child
support.
Other Grounds for Disciplinary Action:

Suspension or revocation of any
professional license or certificate.

Violation of laws and rules applicable to
the profession.

Any other good and sufficient cause that
renders an educator unfit for employment
as an educator.
Enforcing Sanctions
The superintendent and the
superintendent’s designee for
certification shall be responsible for
assuring that an individual whose
certificate has been revoked, denied, or
suspended is not employed or serving
in any capacity in their district. Both
the superintendent and the
superintendent’s designee must hold
GAPSC certification.
Year
FY 2001
FY 2002
FY 2003
FY 2004
FY 2005
FY 2006
FY 2007
FY 2008
FY 2009
FY 2010
FY 2011
FY 2012
FY 2013
Denied
15
20
31
26
25
42
23
33
25
13
18
18
14
Revoked
58
44
62
57
93
72
76
54
71
67
58
92
86
Voluntary
Surrender
14
16
21
20
22
17
26
16
27
28
20
25
28
Total
87
80
114
103
140
131
125
103
123
108
96
135
128
Sanctions-June, 2012-June
2013
 Legal
compliance-36
 Conduct with Students-65
 Alcohol and Drugs-23
 Honesty-95
 Public Funds and Property-25
 Remunerative Conduct-1
 Confidential Information-2
91
Sanctions
 Abandonment
of Contract-5
 Required Reports-26
 Professional Conduct-32
 Testing-120
 Total-430
92
Regional Ethics Case Rates
RESA
2011 Cases
2011 # Certified
Educators per Case
2012 Cases
2012 # Certified
Educators per Case
CSRA
34
178
35
173
Chatt-Flint
63
72
51
88
Coastal Plains
32
134
35
123
First District
71
146
50
207
Griffin
56
146
64
128
Heart of Georgia
9
204
9
204
Metro
426
120
505
101
Middle Georgia
55
103
47
120
North Georgia
23
255
21
279
Northeast Georgia
29
214
40
155
Northwest Georgia
44
203
47
190
Oconee
14
91
24
53
Okefenokee
12
184
12
184
Pioneer
15
377
21
270
Southwest Georgia
58
76
34
130
West Georgia
31
162
30
167
State
Totals/Average
974 / 61
132
1025 / 64
129
Number of Certified Educators based on 2011 System Report Card, Georgia Department of
Education
ADVICE
 Take
testing seriously
 Be friendly to the students—you are not
their friend but their supervisor and role
model
 Honesty and Integrity are important
 Educators are held to higher standards
 Educators are mandated reporters if they
are aware of violations of Code of Ethics
94
Contact Information
 Paul
A. Shaw
 Email-paul.shaw@gapsc.com
 Phone #-404-232-2635