Student Relationships
Student Relationships
The School encourages positive, meaningful relationships between students and teachers. At the same time, employees must ensure that they do not cross the boundaries of a professional teaching relationship. Employees must maintain appropriate boundaries between themselves and students to ensure that they avoid even the perception of inappropriate conduct.
Below is a list of examples of conduct that may involve inappropriate crossing of the boundaries of the professional relationship:
- Giving gifts to an individual student that are of a personal or intimate nature;
- Unnecessary physical contact with a student in either a public or private situation;
- Intentionally being alone with a student on campus or away from the School without supervisor permission;
- Making, or participating in sexually inappropriate comments;
- Sexual jokes, stories, or jokes/comments with sexual innuendo;
- Seeking emotional involvement with a student for an employee’s benefit;
- Discussing an employee’s own personal troubles or intimate issues with a student;
- Becoming involved with a student so that a reasonable person may suspect inappropriate behavior;
- Inappropriate use of social media with or about students;
- Excessive attention toward a particular student;
- Swearing or using inappropriate language around students;
- Sending emails, text messages or letters to students of a personal nature if the content is not about school activities; or
- Failing to keep parents and supervisors informed when a significant issue develops about a student.
Duty to Report
When any employee suspects another employee of crossing appropriate boundaries with a student, the employee must report the matter to the Head of School. In some circumstances, employees will also have the duty to report such conduct in accordance with mandated reporter requirements.