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Topic: The Inappropriate Educator/Student Relationship and Social Media. 

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Topic: The Inappropriate Educator/Student Relationship and Social Media

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Topic: The Inappropriate Educator/Student Relationship and Social Media

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As a former middle school teacher and current Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Coordinator, I have had the privilege of growing with my cohort of students from 6th grade until their graduation in 2024! However, with trust comes conversation, and I was shocked to learn about the inappropriate teacher behavior with students in the classroom and through social media.

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Understanding sexual harassment policies regarding inappropriate teacher-student relationships in the classroom and through social media is crucial for maintaining a safe, respectful, and professional learning environment. It helps prevent misconduct and ensures appropriate actions are taken when issues arise.

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Current News Articles: Social Media seen as Huge Driver of inappropriate teacher-student relationships.

Bacon-Blood, L. (2019). Social media seen as huge driver of inappropriate teacher-student relationships/education, Retrieved from
https://www.nola.com/news/education/social-media-seen-as-huge-driver-of-inappropriate-teacher-student-relationships/article_1117a504-0280-5fe3-acf7-82cf25f0a290.html

Social media gives teachers anytime, private access to students.

Students may be more likely to engage in inappropriate relationships with teachers online because they feel less inhibited and because they may not realize how inappropriate the relationship is until it's too late.

Parents should monitor their children's social media use.

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Terry Abbot small

Terry Abbott, a former top official in the U.S. Education Department, now chairman of a Houston-based public relations firm, Drive West Communications, tracked media reports of inappropriated teacher-student relationships in 2014.

Social media is a "huge driver" of inappropriate conduct between teachers and students, a former top official in the U.S. Education Department said Thursday. He said policymakers must pay more attention to the trend, and place further restrictions on electronic communications.

"The problem is that social media gives teachers anytime, completely private electronic access to children, and the parents know nothing about it," said Terry Abbott, whose Houston-based public relations firm tracks news media reports of inappropriate teacher-student conduct. "That needs to stop. School districts need to prohibit social media contact by teachers with individual students.

"If teachers want to send a group message on Facebook to everyone, or by email, fine. But no more secret messages to individual children; that's where so many of the problems start."

Abbott, whose comments came in an online chat with NOLA.com readers, was chief of staff to Education Secretary Rod Paige for 10 months during President George W. Bush's first term and previously worked as Paige's press secretary in the Houston Independent School District. Last year, his Drive West Communications tracked U.S. news reports of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students and compiled a database of 781 incidents. Louisiana had 23 reported cases, ranking it No. 3 among states on a per capita basis.

Some states, including Louisiana, already require that local public school systems have policies to regulate electronic communications between students and teachers. Abbott said the rules and consequences must be stronger.

"The best approach would be a policy that prohibits secret social media contact with individual students. Then when such contact does occur, school boards would have the authority to fire those teachers," he said.

In addition, he encouraged parents to monitor their children's social media habits, and lawmakers to increase minimum penalties for educators who violate the law. "These are serious crimes, and they shouldn't be greeted by the criminal justice system with a slap on the wrist," Abbott said.

Public school teachers, like many government employees, undergo a background check before they are hired. But Abbott said some school systems are starting to use more in-depth screens and are adding annual post-hiring checks

"Human resources experts are indeed developing more and more sophisticated screening tools all the time, and I believe we'll get to the point where tools will be available that can help school districts determine whether a candidate for a teaching job might be more pre-disposed to engage in this kind of activity," Abbott said. "That will help districts a great deal."

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Social media seen as 'huge driver' of inappropriate teacher-student relationships

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Slide #7: Texas Teacher Code of Ethics Statute

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Slide #7: Texas Teacher Code of Ethics Statute

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Texas Education Code (as of 2018). 21.501 Texas Teacher Code of Ethics https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.21.html

Texas Education Code 21.501 outlines Texas educators' ethical standards and expectations, focusing on professionalism, integrity, and protecting students' well-being and rights. It fosters a secure and courteous learning environment while establishing a framework for dealing with misconduct and upholding high professional standards.

·       Sexual contact with a pupil enrolled in the school where the teacher works is prohibited under Texas Education Code 21.501.

·       Educators must report any suspected misbehavior by coworkers that breaches the Code of Ethics. Non-reporting of such misbehavior may result in disciplinary action.

·       The statute emphasizes acceptable professional interactions, emphasizing the need for instructors not to engage in romantic or inappropriate relationships with students.

·       The statute emphasizes acceptable professional interactions, emphasizing the need for instructors not to engage in romantic or inappropriate relationships with students. They must keep acceptable boundaries.

·       Sexual contact is described as any touching of another person's anus, breast, or genitals with the goal to excite or gratify any person's sexual desire. A teacher who breaches this law faces criminal charges and up to 20 years in jail.

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Administrative Law - Reporting Requirements for Educators

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Administrative Law - Reporting Requirements for Educators

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Enforcement Actions and Guidelines, (Disciplinary Action by State Board for Educator Certification), 19 Tex. Admin. Code § 249.15.

https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=249&rl=15

The Texas Administrative Code Rule 19 TAC § 249.15 outlines specific laws and administrative rules that address inappropriate teacher/student relationships in school settings and the reporting requirements for educators.

·       This Texas Administrative Code rule mandates reporting requirements for educators regarding certain misconduct, including inappropriate relationships with students.

·       Educators are legally required to report to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) within seven days if they have knowledge of an inappropriate relationship between an educator and a student.

·       Failure to comply with this reporting requirement can result in disciplinary action against the educator's teaching certification.

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Slide 10: Local Round Rock School Board Policy

Round Rock Independent School District. (2023). Policy 105. Retrieved from

https://roundrockisd.org/about-rrisd/board-and-district-policies/

Round Rock Independent School District Policy 105 is one example of a local school board policy that addressed inappropriate teacher-student relationships. It forbids all sorts of sexual harassment and sexual misbehavior, including teacher-student relationships (Round Rock Independent School District, 2023).

·       Sexual harassment is defined under the policy as any unwanted sexual approaches, requests for sexual favors, or other sexually related verbal or physical behavior.

·       Any sexual interaction between a teacher and a pupil is considered sexual misconduct.

·       The policy compels all school district workers to report any suspected sexual harassment or sexual misconduct to their supervisor.

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Professional Standards Related to Legal and Ethical Principles

School counselors may encounter a variety of ethical dilemmas that will require coordination with other stakeholders to ensure that all decisions are ethical for all parties involved.
According to the American School Counseling Association's II-B-4j: Abilities and Skills (2019), "school counselors should continually seek consultation and supervision to guide legal and ethical decisionmaking and to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas."  School counselors need to seek advice when making legal or ethical choices.

Ethical Standards and Code of Ethics for Profession School Counselors

Following the ASCA Ethical Standards for School Counselors will be a vital guide to practice as a future school counselor. One standard that stands out to me states, "School counselors engage in professional roles and relationships with students and stakeholders that promote wellness and student success" (American School Counseling Association, 2022).

School counselors must maintain good connections and manage boundaries to guarantee that the counseling relationship is professional and ethical. It helps safeguard adolescents from exploitation and abuse when school counselors set clear boundaries. It also aids in shielding the school counselor from being sued or reprimanded.

American School Counselor Association. (2019). ASCA School Counselor professional standards & competencies. Alexandria, VA: Author

https://www.schoolcounselor.org/getmedia/a8d59c2c-51de-4ec3-a565-a3235f3b93c3/SC-Competencies.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2022). ASCA Ethical standards for school counselors. https://www.schoolcounselor.org/About-school-Counseling/Ethical-Responsibilities/ASCA-Ethical-Standards-for-School-Counselor

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Slide #12 Non-Law Source: Inappropriate student-teacher relationships: A resource for educators, parents, and students.

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Slide #12 Non-Law Source: Inappropriate student-teacher relationships: A resource for educators, parents, and students.

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Finkelhor, D. (2015). Inappropriate student-teacher relationships: A resource for educators, parents, and students. Routledge.

This is a valuable resource for professionals in education who want to learn about inappropriate teacher-student relationships and social media. It provides a comprehensive overview of the issue, including information on the prevalence, risk factors, and warning signs of inappropriate relationships. The book also discusses the impact of social media on inappropriate relationships and provides recommendations for prevention and intervention.

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Articles

Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016): CLEARvoz Journal

Kern High School District

Submitted

September 20, 2016

Published

2016-09-20

Abstract
Schools and colleges of education spend very little time on teacher ethics and morality, defaulting to mentor teachers in the hopes that candidates garner what is necessary from them, in order to be successful in the real-world classroom. At a time when the nation is reeling from teacher shortages, vigilance-not expediency-must be maintained as adults are placed into very challenging circumstances with teenagers. However, districts are resorting to creative credentialing, often relying only on state data-bank background checks, thereby placing students at risk. The facts are that lines are blurred today for a variety of reasons between teachers, students, and also coaches and athletes. Sometimes inappropriate behaviors emerge that lead to arrest and imprisonment for teachers, regardless the type of school. Specifically, secondary educators need professional development to assist them in their decision-making, so as to avoid career-ending and life-altering criminal, career, and even emotional and moral mistakes in their relationships with students.

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How to Cite

Zarra, III, E. J. (2016). Addressing Appropriate and Inappropriate Teacher-Student Relationships: A Secondary Education Professional Development Model. Journal for Leadership, Equity, and Research, 3(2). Retrieved from https://journals.sfu.ca/cvj/index.php/cvj/article/view/26

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Addressing Appropriate and Inappropriate Teacher-Student Relationships: A Secondary Education Professional Development Model

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Admin menu Main menu Articles Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016): CLEARvoz Journal Kern High School District Submitted September 20, 2016 Published 2016-09-20 Schools and colleges of education spend very little time on teacher ethics and morality, defaulting to mentor teachers in the hopes that candidates garner what is necessary from them, in order to be successful in the real-world classroom.

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Slide #4 Current News Article: Former teacher accused of inappropriate and damaging relationship with student.

Wilkinson-Jones, P. (2023, September 22). Former teacher accused of 'inappropriate and damaging relationship' with student. Worcester News [Worcester, England], NA. https://link-gale-com.easydb.angelo.edu/apps/doc/A766227288/STND?u=txshracd2485&sid=ebsco&xid=54a6b3bd

This article informs the current state of the topic of inappropriate teacher and student relationships in the following ways:

A former teacher at The River School has been accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a student.

The allegations were made by a former student and date back to "a period prior to 2014."

The teacher was arrested, but no criminal charges were brought.

The school has said that it is taking the allegations seriously and has contacted the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The school has also acknowledged the "pain and hurt" caused to the former student.

It shows that inappropriate teacher-student relationships can happen at any school, even at well-respected schools like The River School.

It highlights the importance of students reporting inappropriate behavior to a trusted adult.

It shows that schools are taking allegations of inappropriate behavior seriously and are working to protect students.

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Clear policies on inappropriate teacher-student relationships help prevent misconduct before it occurs. When teachers and students understand the boundaries and consequences, they are less likely to engage in inappropriate behavior online.

Student: Inappropriate relationships can harm students both emotionally and academically. Understanding these policies can empower students to recognize and report any concerning behavior, ensuring their safety.

Families: Inappropriate relationships can harm students both emotionally and academically. Understanding these policies can empower students to recognize and report any concerning behavior, ensuring their safety.

· Educators: Teachers are held to a high standard of professionalism, both in the classroom and online. Understanding these policies reinforces the expectation that teachers should always maintain appropriate boundaries with their students, even in virtual spaces.

Knowing the policies allows teachers and students to understand the proper channels for reporting inappropriate behavior. This ensures that concerns are addressed promptly and through the appropriate channels.

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 Federal Administrative Law: United States Department of Education regulations

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 Federal Administrative Law: United States Department of Education regulations

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Federal Administrative Law: United States Department of Education regulations

34 CFR Part 106

Regulations of the Offices of the Department of Education:  34 CFR Part 106

https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-34/subtitle-B/chapter-I/part-106?toc=1

Title IX laws outline how educational institutions, such as K-12 schools and colleges, must comply with Title IX. While these standards do not specifically address teacher-student interactions, they require schools to have policies and procedures to address and prevent sexual harassment and misconduct (34 CFR Part 106).

·       This can include inappropriate relationships between instructors and students.

·       In response to allegations about inappropriate relationships or other forms of sexual misconduct, educational institutions must undertake investigations and take appropriate measures.

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Doe v. Petaluma City School District

The court ruled in Doe v. Petaluma City School District, 54 F. Supp. 2d 1038 (N.D. Cal. 1999), on a sexual harassment case involving the Petaluma City School District in Northern California. The court ruled that a school district might be held accountable for a teacher's sexual harassment of a student, even if the district was unaware of the harassment. The court determined that the school district owed a duty to protect children from sexual harassment and failed to fulfill that obligation by prohibiting the teacher from harassing the student.

Doe v. Petaluma City School District, 54 F. Supp. 2d 1038, 1999

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp/830/1560/2292240/

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Slide #2 Summary of Topic: Inappropriate Teacher/Student Relationships

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Slide #2 Summary of Topic: Inappropriate Teacher/Student Relationships

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Inappropriate student-teacher relationships are critical in the realm of education because they have the potential to harm students and undermine educational institutions' credibility and integrity.

It is vital to safeguard kids against such wrongdoing, which can include sexual or romantic relationships between educators and their students.

This topic is significant in education because it not only raises issues about students' well-being but also has far-reaching implications for the reputation and legitimacy of schools and universities.

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An emerging issue related to inappropriate student-teacher relationships that educators should closely monitor is the challenge of underreporting and the politics surrounding these cases.

Many incidents may go unreported due to fear, coercion, or lack of awareness, making it difficult to address the issue.

Educators need to be attentive to evolving reporting mechanisms, changes in legislation, and the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws to create safer and more inclusive learning environments for all students.

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Slide #3 Professional Association: Code of Ethics for Educators

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Slide #3 Professional Association: Code of Ethics for Educators

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Organization: National Education Association (NEA)
Link: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/code-ethics-educators
The NEA Code of Ethics for Educators is a set of professional standards that guide educators in their interactions with students. It includes specific prohibitions against inappropriate teacher-student relationships, such as sexual harassment and sexual abuse. The code also requires educators to maintain appropriate boundaries with students and to report any suspected misconduct to their supervisor.

This resource is informative on the topic of inappropriate teacher-student relationships because:

It provides a clear and concise definition of inappropriate teacher-student relationships.

It outlines the specific responsibilities of educators to prevent and report inappropriate behavior.

It provides a framework for schools to develop and implement policies and procedures to protect students.

The NEA Code of Ethics for Educators is an important resource for all educators and school districts. It helps to ensure that students are safe and that they can learn in a supportive environment.

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It is crucial for school counselors to be well-informed about policies and procedures regarding inappropriate teacher/student relationships, both in person and through social media, for several important reasons:

1. Student Safety: The primary concern of any educational institution is the safety and well-being of its students. Inappropriate teacher/student relationships can harm students emotionally, psychologically, and even physically. Counselors need to be aware of policies and procedures to help prevent such relationships and intervene if they occur, ensuring students are protected from harm.

2. Legal and Ethical Obligations: School counselors have legal and ethical obligations to protect students from harm and provide a safe and supportive learning environment. Knowing the policies and procedures regarding inappropriate relationships helps counselors fulfill these obligations and avoid legal liabilities themselves.

3. Early Intervention: Being aware of these policies allows counselors to detect warning signs and intervene early if they suspect an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and a student. Early intervention can prevent the situation from escalating and causing further harm.

4. Support for Victims: If a counselor becomes aware of an inappropriate teacher/student relationship, they need to know how to provide support to the victim(s). This includes offering emotional support, connecting them with appropriate resources, and guiding them through the reporting process.

5. Reporting and Documentation: School counselors play a critical role in reporting suspected cases of inappropriate relationships to the school administration or relevant authorities. Understanding the reporting procedures and documentation requirements ensures that proper action is taken promptly and accurately.

6. Education and Awareness: Counselors can also contribute to the prevention of inappropriate relationships by educating students, teachers, and parents about the risks and consequences. Having a deep understanding of school policies and procedures allows counselors to effectively communicate these important issues.

7. Collaboration with Other Stakeholders: Counselors often collaborate with teachers, administrators, parents, and law enforcement when addressing inappropriate relationships. Being knowledgeable about the policies and procedures ensures that they can work effectively with these stakeholders to address and resolve the situation.

8. Professional Development: Continuous professional development is essential for school counselors. Staying updated on policies and procedures related to inappropriate relationships is part of their ongoing training to provide the best support to students and maintain their professional competence.

9. Maintaining Trust: Knowing that school counselors are well-versed in handling such sensitive issues can help build and maintain trust within the school community. Students, parents, and staff need to have confidence that counselors are capable of addressing these concerns appropriately.

In summary, school counselors play a vital role in creating a safe and supportive learning environment. Knowing the policies and procedures related to inappropriate teacher/student relationships is essential for fulfilling their responsibilities, protecting students, and promoting a culture of safety and trust within the school community.