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. This type of material includes, but is not limited to, text or pictures involving hate speech, nudity, obscenity, vulgarity, conduct illegal for a minor, or sexually explicit content and also includes text messages between an employee and a student or minor which are romantic, flirtatious, or sexual in nature. This impairment constitutes grounds for termination or other disciplinary action. The District recognizes the importance of online social media as a communication and e-learning tool. Public social media networks may be used to communicate with currently enrolled students by authorized employees, campuses, departments, or school sponsored organizations upon written approval of the Superintendent or his/her designee. Employees who maintain or use personal social networking sites, web sites (including blogs), or email accounts shall not share the sites or email addresses with students. Only certified and licensed employees will be authorized to maintain or use district-approved social network sites for the purpose of teaching or communicating with students on matters within the scope of the employee’s professional responsibilities. All other staff including, but not limited to, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, janitors, secretaries, uncertified administrators, etc., are prohibited from communicating with students by telephone, text messaging, email, Internet, or any other social media network. If a student is a minor, the certified or licensed employee must obtain parental permission before the student is allowed access to the site or otherwise communicated with through the site or accounts. Both the parent and student must be given access to the site. 3033 Permission slips must be maintained in accordance with the District’s records retention schedule. In addition, the site should be kept private so that only school officials and specific students and their parents have access. Source: Local Approved: 07-20-2010 Revised: 10-22-2013 Reviewed: 3033-1 .

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