Reporting Misconduct

Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrator

All employees, educational support employees, and administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel 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 should be made to Nena Schutter, Chief Administrator, at 407-214-4201 or nena@rcastallions.com

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 that affect the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted in office break rooms and on our website at www.RevelationChristianAcademy.com

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. Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online HERE.

● 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 A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn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 the 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fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy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 serious abuse usually involve 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 employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current

employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)

Failure to Report Misconduct

Possible penalties for instructional personnel or site administrators who fail to report misconduct

may include:

● Written Reprimand

● Suspension with or without pay

● Termination of employment

● Discipline/Sanctions on an educator’s certificate

Denuncia de mala conducta por parte del personal docente y los administradores

Todos los empleados, empleados de apoyo educativo y administradores tienen la obligación de

denunciar la mala conducta del personal de instrucción y los administradores escolares que

afecte la salud, la seguridad o el bienestar de un estudiante. Los ejemplos de mala conducta

incluyen lenguaje obsceno, uso de drogas y alcohol, comentarios despectivos, prejuicios o

intolerancia, insinuaciones sexuales, trampas o infracciones en las pruebas, agresión física y

aceptación u ofrecimiento de favores. Los informes de mala conducta por parte de la

facultad/personal deben hacerse a la Sra. Brooke Adams, Directora de Recursos Humanos al

352-729-5981 o brooke.adams@mdcacademy.org. Los informes de mala conducta cometidos por

administradores deben enviarse al Dr. Brian Mast, presidente, al 352-729-5988 o

brian.mast@mdcacademy.org.

Las denuncias legalmente suficientes de mala conducta por parte de educadores certificados de

Florida se informarán a la Oficina de Servicios de Prácticas Profesionales. Las políticas y los

procedimientos para denunciar malas conductas por parte del personal de instrucción o

administradores escolares que afecten la salud, la seguridad o el bienestar de un estudiante se

publican en las salas de descanso de la oficina y en nuestro sitio web en www.mdcacademy.org.

Denuncia de abuso, abandono o negligencia infantil

Todos los empleados y agentes tienen el deber afirmativo de denunciar todos los casos reales o

sospechados de abuso, abandono o negligencia infantil. Llame al 1-800-96-ABUSE o informe en

línea en https://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report

● Signos de abuso físico: el niño puede tener moretones, ronchas, cortes u otras lesiones

sin explicación; huesos rotos; o quemaduras. Un niño que sufre abuso físico puede

parecer retraído o deprimido, tener miedo de ir a casa o puede huir, rehuir el contacto

físico, ser agresivo o usar ropa inapropiada para ocultar las lesiones.

● Signos de abuso sexual: El niño puede tener ropa interior rasgada, manchada o

ensangrentada, dificultad para caminar o sentarse, dolor o picazón en el área genital o

una enfermedad de transmisión sexual. Un niño que sufre abuso sexual puede tener un

conocimiento inusual del sexo o actuar de manera seductora, temer a una persona en

particular, parecer retraído o deprimido, aumentar o perder peso repentinamente, rehuir el

contacto físico o huir de casa.

● Signos de negligencia: el niño puede tener necesidades médicas desatendidas, poca o

ninguna supervisión en el hogar, mala higiene o apariencia de bajo peso. Un niño que

experimenta negligencia puede estar cansado o hambriento con frecuencia, robar comida

o parecer demasiado necesitado de la atención de un adulto.

● Los patrones de abuso grave generalmente involucran una combinación de factores. Si

bien un solo signo puede no ser significativo, un patrón de signos físicos o de

comportamiento es un indicador serio y debe informarse.

Protecciones de responsabilidad

Cualquier persona, funcionario o institución que participe de buena fe en cualquier acto

autorizado o exigido por la ley, o que informe de buena fe cualquier instancia de abuso,

abandono o negligencia infantil al departamento o a cualquier organismo encargado del

cumplimiento de la ley, será inmune a cualquier acción civil o responsabilidad penal que de otro

modo podría derivarse de dicha acción. (F.S. 39.203)

Un empleador que divulgue información sobre un empleado anterior o actual a un posible

empleador del empleado anterior o actual a pedido del empleador potencial o del empleado

anterior o actual es inmune a la responsabilidad civil por dicha divulgación o sus consecuencias,

a menos que se demuestre mediante Evidencia clara y convincente de que la información

divulgada por el empleador anterior o actual era falsa a sabiendas o violaba cualquier derecho

civil del empleado anterior o actual protegido por F.S. Capítulo 760. (F.S. 768.095)

Falta de Reporte de Mala Conducta

Las posibles sanciones para el personal de instrucción o los administradores del sitio que no

informen la mala conducta pueden incluir:

• Amonestación por escrito

• Suspensión con o sin goce de sueldo

• Terminación del empleo

• Disciplina/Sanciones en el certificado de un educador

Reporting Misconduct

FLORIDA STATUTES AND RULES

Florida Statutes s. 1006.061 states all employees and agents of the district school board, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students, have an obligation to report misconduct by an instructional personnel member or school administrator .

Florida Statutes s. 1012.33 outlines disciplinary procedures regarding district  employment contracts with instructional personnel staff, supervisors and school principals. 

Florida Statutes s. 1012.795 provides the Education Practices Commission the authority to issue disciplinary action against an individual’s Florida Educator certificate.

Florida Statutes s. 1012.796 provides authority for the Department of Education to investigate and prosecute allegations of educator misconduct. 

Florida Statute s. 1012.01 defines public school instructional personnel, administrative personnel, school volunteers, education support employees and managers.

State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.001 defines the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida.

State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006 defines the Principals of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida.

REPORTING MISCONDUCT & ABUSE


Section 1006.061(1), Florida Statutes, requires each district school, charter school and private school that accepts scholarship students under ss. 220.187 or 1002.39, Florida Statutes, to post in a prominent place a notice that pursuant to chapter 39 all employees and agents of the district school board, charter school or private school have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.


Section 1006.061(2), Florida Statutes, requires each district school, charter school and private school that accepts scholarship students to post at the school site and on the schools' internet site (if available) the policies and procedures for reporting alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety or welfare of a student. The notices must include the contact person to whom the report is made and the penalties imposed on those instructional personnel or school administrators who fail to report suspected child abuse or misconduct by other instructional personnel or school administrators.


Section 1006.061, Florida Statutes, requires the Department to provide sample notices suitable for posting. The attached posters are provided as samples for district schools, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students under ss. 220.187 or 1002.39, Florida Statutes. The sample posters may be printed and used as is, may be used in a modified form, or may be used as inspiration to develop a unique poster. Each school or district may also develop its own poster that suits the needs of the school or district as desired.

How to Report Misconduct

•    Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by an instructional personnel member to your school administrator or district contact
•    Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by your school administrator to your district contact
•    Document the activities or details of the event.
•    Secure evidence (if applicable)

If someone tells you about misconduct, be a LEADER:
Listen
Evaluate
Act immediately
Document
Encourage
Report

Who Should Report Misconduct?
All employees and agents of a district school board, charter school or private school have a duty to report misconduct.  If you are aware of or observe misconduct REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY!

Who Should You Report?
•    Classroom teachers
•    Paraprofessionals
•    Substitute teachers
•    Librarians, guidance counselors and social workers
•    Career specialists and school psychologists
•    Principals, Assistant Principals and Deans

Failure to Report Misconduct
Possible penalties for instructional personnel or site administrators who fail to report misconduct may include:
•    Written Reprimand
•    Suspension with or without pay
•    Termination of employment
•    Discipline/Sanctions on an educator’s certificate

  • •Being alone with a student in dark or closed room or secluded area

    • Behaving in an overly friendly or familiar way or failing to maintain an appropriate professional boundary with a student

    •Using forceful or unnecessary physical contact with a student

    •Administering discipline not compliant with district policy

    •Accepting or offering of gifts for return of a favor or privilege from students or colleagues

    •Badgering or habitually teasing a student

    •Mocking or belittling a student

    •Chronically embarrassing a student

    •Displaying prejudice or bigotry against a student

    •Suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol

    •Failing to properly supervise students or to ensure student safety

    •Cheating, falsifying information or testing violations

    •Retaliating against a student or colleague for reporting misconduct

    •Bantering or engaging in colloquial or slang communications with a student

    •Directing or using profane, offensive, or explosive language in the presence of students

    •Making lewd or suggestive comments or overtures toward a student or colleague

  • • If you feel uncomfortable

    • If you question the person’s motives or actions

    • If you are unsure

CHILD ABUSE - Look for the Patterns

  • 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.

  • If a child tells YOU about abuse:

  • Be a good listener. Show that you understand and believe what the child tells you. Encourage, but don’t pressure him/her to talk. Ask open ended questions.

  • Be supportive. Tell the child he/she did the right thing by coming to you. Stress that he/she is not to blame. Let the child know that you want to help.

  • Don’t overreact. This can frighten the child or prevent him/her from telling you more. Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child.

  • Document and report it. Document your conversation as soon as you can. If possible, write down the child’s exact words.

  • Don’t delay. Never assume someone else will report the abuse. The sooner it’s reported, the sooner the child and their family can be helped.

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

  • run away from home

Signs of Neglect

The child may have:

  • unattended medical needs

  • little or no supervision at home

  • poor hygiene

  • appear underweight

A child experiencing neglect may:

  • be frequently tired or hungry

  • steal food

  • appear overly needy for adult attention

Signs of Physical Abuse

The child may have unexplained:

  • bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries

  • broken bones

  • 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

  • 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

  • a sexually transmitted disease

  • •Doctors

    •Nurses

    •Social Workers

    •Police Officers

    •Child Care Workers

    •Any Witnesses

    •Any/All School Personnel

    Call or Report it online at: www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Seminole County District

400 East Lake Mary Blvd. Sanford, FL 32773-7127
Main Number: 407-320-0000

Walt Griffin, Superintendent
Phone: 407-320-0006
Fax: 407-320-0281
E-mail: walt_griffin@scps.k12.fl.us
Main Number: (407) 320-0006

Florida Department of Education
Office of Professional Practices Services
Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
(850)245-0438
www.myfloridateacher.com