
Adult and Pediatric Rehabilitation Center
Phone 727.954.5635 Fax 727.914.6904 admin@becauseyoucanllc.com
Locations in St. Petersburg and Ft. Myers
Standards of Ethical Conduct Because You Can Learn
(Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles
of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida)
1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion
to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship.
Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and
the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.
2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the students potential.
Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best
professional judgment and integrity.
3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:
a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to
learning and/or to the students mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of
learning.
c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's
academic program.
e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or
disparagement.
f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a students legal rights.
g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color,
religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status,
handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and
shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from
harassment or discrimination.
h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the
course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is
required by law.
4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of
students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the
highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:
a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
b. Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin,
political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or
social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or
advantages or participation in any professional organization.
c. Shall not interfere with a colleagues exercise of political or civil rights and
responsibilities.
d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably
interferes with an individuals performance of professional or work
responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a
hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further,
shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such
harassment or discrimination.
e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and
administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these
standards of ethical conduct.
Reporting Misconduct All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and
school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel,
educational support employees and school administrators which affects the health, safety,
or welfare of a student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and
alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or
testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors. Reports of
misconduct of employees should be made to Jennifer Ferreira, PhD. Reports of
misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Jennifer Ferreira, PhD.
Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be
reported to the
Office of Professional Practices Services. Policies and procedures for reporting
misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health,
safety, or welfare of a student are posted in our office and on our Web site at
Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an
affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or
neglect. Call1-800- 96-ABUSE or report online at:
http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.
Signs of Physical Abuse The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other
injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem
withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from
physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.
Signs of Sexual Abuse The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble
walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A
child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively,
fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy
away from physical contact, or run away from home.
Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at
home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be
frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.
Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a
single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious
indicator and should be reported.
Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in
any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child
abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall
be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of
such action. (F.S. 39.203)
An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a
prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective
employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such
disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that
the information disclosed by the former or current employee was knowingly false or
violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)