PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT Educators licensed by the Wyoming Professional Teaching Standards Board are expected to practice in line with the Rules and Regulations of the Board. In addition, professional educators are to understand the sanctity of trust placed in them by the parents/guardians of the children of Wyoming. The following three sections - Professional Educator, Technology, and Healthy Boundaries - aim to guide educators to professional practice in order to proactively address certain areas where the professional choice may not be an obvious choice. While certainly not exhaustive, this professional code of conduct is intended to be used as a tool to help guide and orient the educator’s understanding of, respect for, and rofessional eaching P T responsibility to the profession. Violating this code of conduct is not an independent basis for Standards Board teacher discipline. Similarly, discipline may be imposed if a teacher violates the Board’s rules regardless of whether that violation is also a violation of this code.

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR

• Adhere to federal and state laws, • Protect students from any priate confidentiality with respect professional licensure require- practice that harms them or has to student information disclosed ments, and local school policies. the potential to harm them. by or to parents/guardians unless required by law. • Actively participate in and com- • Use developmentally appro- ply with Individualized Educa- priate assessments for the pur- • Enhance the professional growth tional Programs and 504 plans. pose and manner they have been and development of new educa- intended. tors by supporting effective and • Ensure the workplace is free of supervised field experiences, sexual harassment or harassment • Reflect on and assess your profes- mentoring, and induction activi- of any kind. Any type of harass- sional skills, content knowledge, ties across the career continuum. ment should be reported immedi- and competency on an ongoing ately. basis and commit to ongoing pro- • Recommend for employment fessional learning and develop- only those educational profes- • Respect colleagues as fellow ment. sionals who have demonstrated professionals and maintain civili- professional and ethical behavior. ty when differences arise; resolve • Maintain confidentiality. Dis- conflicts, whenever possible, closure of information to • Assign leadership roles equitably.

privately and respectfully and in persons who do not have both • Consider the implications and accordance with district policy. a right and a need to know is a possible ramifications of engag- violation of the law. Always ing in a personal or professional • Respect differences; plan and respect the privacy of stu- relationship with parents/guard- advocate for inclusive groupings dents and the need to hold in ians, student teachers, colleagues, for instruction and other school confidence certain forms of activities so that plentiful, eq- and supervisors. student communication, docu- uitable, and quality educational ments, or information obtained • Conduct financial business with opportunities are available for in the course of professional integrity and by honestly using all students regardless of race, practice such as: grades, test property, facilities, materials, and gender, family, social, or cultural scores, reports from related resources in accordance with lo- background, national origin, po- services personnel (school psy- cal policies and state and federal litical or religious beliefs, sexual chologist’s reports, nurse, etc.), laws. orientation, or disability. and information from community

agencies (Department of Family • Comply with inquiries regard- Services, police department, etc.). TECHNOLOGY ing investigations and hearings Sensitive information shared initiated by the Professional by family members to you is • Know your district’s policy on Teaching Standards Board. confidential. the use of technology and com- munication. • Provide truthful information on • Communicate with parents/guard- all documents when applying for ians in a timely and respectful • While using social media, or renewing licensure. manner while maintaining appro- maintain separate personal and professional virtual profiles, a professional relationship is with additional supports they may need keeping personal and profes- students inside and outside of — counseling, medical interven- sional lives separate and dis- school property or at extracurric- tions, etc. Understand your pro- tinct. Always monitor your ular activities. fessional limits and know when privacy/share settings as well to refer to another professional. as posts to-and-from contacts in • Use caution in the way you touch order to maintain professional- students. • Ensure that a chaperone is present ism. and available to students during • Going to parties or socializing off-campus school-sponsored ac- • Do not use your personal phone with students is inappropriate. tivities (male chaperone for male to text or call students. Loose, inappropriate boundar- students and a female chaperone ies set the stage for harassment for female students.) • School computers are to be used issues. only for school purposes at all • Model appropriate language for times. • Assigning or requesting students students. The use of profanity, to do errands to meet personal vulgarity, put downs, sarcasm, • Email students via your needs is inappropriate. hidden messages (e.g. sexual school-sponsored web site, innuendos), or name calling, computer, or email. Do not use • Inviting students to your home, whether verbal or non-verbal, is your personal email account. especially when no one else is inappropriate in the presence of Consider all emails public. present, is inappropriate. students.

• Do not download sexually • A pattern of writing passes, mak- • Students need to be super- explicit or any inappropriate or ing excuses, or providing rides vised at all times while in your questionable material on school home for a particular student or classroom. computers. students is inappropriate. • Dress professionally – regard-

• Exercise prudence in your posts. less of current trends. Dress in a • Respect students by taking into If you don’t want the Superinten- manner in which you can be account their age, gender, culture, dent reading it aloud to you in a actively involved in student setting, and socioeconomic con- meeting, don’t post it. learning and activities and in a text. way that aligns to the mission • Be aware that once you post and vision of the district. something, it may be there • Always consider the implication of accepting gifts from or giving forever without any future • Do not use, possess, be under the gifts to students. control by you. influence of, or encourage the use • Keep virtual work friendly. Do • Do not engage in, solicit, or of alcohol, illegal drugs, or the not use names of co-workers, consummate any inappropriate unauthorized use of drugs while bosses, or students in a negative written, verbal, or physical rela- on school property or at a school connotation. tionship with a student. It is never sponsored-activity. permissible to engage in roman- • Do not give out personal informa- tic or sexual relationships with a • Entering into an adult relation- tion. student. ship of any kind with a former student should be met with • Movies, TV programs, internet • Communicate to students with extreme caution. The profession- sites, reading material, etc., used transparency and in appropriate al educator never fosters an adult at school by you for students settings, such as leaving your relationship with any student needs to comply with school classroom door open during a while the student is currently district policy. private conversation. in school even if the educator is not or will never be the student’s • Affirm the helping nature of teacher. HEALTHY BOUNDARIES your relationship with students by assisting students obtain the • Maintain and communicate what What’s Next?

Please check the back of your certificate for renewal requirements.

Standard Teaching License Permit Renewal Requirements: Renewal Requirements: * Five (5) professional development credits * * Five (5) professional development credits *

Coaching Endorsement Native Language Permit Renewal Requirements: Renewal Requirements: * Current 1st Aid/CPR certification * * Written approval from the Tribal Council Committee * Head Coaching Permit * Verification of Employment form * Renewal Requirements: * Five (5) professional development credits * Professional, Industry, Careers (PIC) Permit * Current 1st Aid/CPR certification * Renewal Requirements: * Copy of each valid professional license if required * Assistant Coaching Permit * Progress Report of Plan for Renewal Requirements: Continued Professional Advancement * * Current 1st Aid/CPR certification * * Five (5) professional development credits *

A list of PTSB-approved workshops is available on the PTSB website at http://ptsb.state.wy.us. You can also look for professional development workshops through your school district or take college courses for renewal credits.

Substitute teachers - you may contact your local school district’s office for employment information

Online Account Registration Please visit http://ptsb.state.wy.us to register your online account. This account allows you to check the status of your license/permit, make changes to your contact information, and check to see how many renewal credits you have on file.

Please keep your certificate in a safe place!

Professional Teaching Standards Board 1920 Thomes Ave., Suite 400 Cheyenne, WY 82002 Office: (307) 777-7291 Fax: (307) 777-8718

http://ptsb.state.wy.us Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @wyoPTSB

(Updated 03/28/2018)