Social Networking and Use of Other Electronic Media Employees In
Social Networking and Use of Other Electronic Media Employees in a public school system are responsible for modeling and teaching high standards of decency and civic values. District employees must model the character they are expected to teach, both on and off the work site. This applies to material which is posted on personal web sites (including blogs), and social networking sites, such as Facebook or Twitter, or which is transmitted through personal email accounts or by use of portable electronic devices including, but not limited to smart phones, Internet-enabled devices, etc. An employee’s online behavior should reflect the same standards of honesty, respect, and consideration that he/she uses face-to- face. Employees must comply with federal and state law, board policy, and the Code of Ethics and Standard Practices for Texas Educators. Failure to comply with this policy could result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination from employment. Social media is defined as any form of online publication or presence that allows interactive communication among people in which they create, share, and exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Examples of social media include, but are not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, LinkedIn, Tumblr, Instagram, Ning, Second Life, and Flickr. Employees shall be held to the same professional standards in his or her public use of social media as for any other public conduct. If an employee posts messages or pictures which diminish the employee’s professionalism or discredit the employee’s capacity to maintain the respect of students and parents, the employee’s ability to perform effectively his or her job may be impaired.
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