Policies and Procedures

Montessori School of Miami Shores does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, hiring practices, or other school-administered programs and activities.

Montessori School of Miami Shores is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct. These Standards of Ethical Conduct are adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and the Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida. They apply to instructional personnel, educational support employees, school administrators, and other employees as applicable.

1. Ethical Principles

Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of responsible citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

2. Commitment to Students

Concern for the student requires that instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators:

• Make reasonable efforts to protect students from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
• Not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
• Not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
• Not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.
• Not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
• Not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.
• Not harass or discriminate against a student on the basis of any protected characteristic and shall make reasonable efforts to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.
• Not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
• Keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

3. Professional Conduct

Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, students, parents, and the community, employees of Montessori School of Miami Shores must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. Employees shall:

• Maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
• Not deny to a colleague professional benefits, advantages, or participation in any professional organization on the basis of a protected characteristic.
• Not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
• Not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual's professional or work responsibilities, the orderly processes of education, or creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and shall make reasonable efforts to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
• Not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

4. Training Requirement

All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators are required, as a condition of employment, to complete training on these Standards of Ethical Conduct. The School shall maintain documentation of required training.

5. Reporting Misconduct

All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report alleged misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators when such misconduct affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.

Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to, obscene or inappropriate language, drug or alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo or inappropriate relationships, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, inappropriate physical contact, and accepting or offering inappropriate favors.

Reports of misconduct by employees should be made to Lorena Tasker: ltasker@miamishoresmontessori.com or 305-756-7733.

Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida-certified educators will be reported to the Florida Department of Education Office of Professional Practices Services as required by law.

The School's policies and procedures for reporting misconduct affecting the health, safety, or welfare of a student, the designated reporting contacts, and the penalties for failure to report shall be posted in the school office and on the School's website as required by law.

6. Failure to Report Misconduct

Failure by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators to report known or alleged misconduct affecting the health, safety, or welfare of a student may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, and may result in additional consequences as provided by Florida law.

7. 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 in accordance with Florida law.

Reports may be made to the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) or through the Florida Department of Children and Families online reporting system.

An employee shall not rely solely on notifying a supervisor or administrator when Florida law requires a direct report to the appropriate state authority.

8. Recognizing Signs of Abuse or Neglect

Employees shall be trained to recognize warning signs of abuse and neglect. Examples may include:

• Physical Abuse: unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, burns, broken bones, fear of going home, withdrawal, depression, aggression, or avoidance of physical contact.
• Sexual Abuse: pain or injury in the genital area, difficulty walking or sitting, age-inappropriate sexual knowledge or behavior, fear of a particular person, or sudden behavioral or emotional changes.
• Neglect: unattended medical needs, lack of appropriate supervision, poor hygiene, frequent hunger or fatigue, inadequate clothing, or other unmet basic needs.

A single sign may not necessarily indicate abuse or neglect. A pattern of physical, behavioral, or emotional indicators may require immediate reporting.

9. Confidentiality Agreements and Employment References

Montessori School of Miami Shores shall not enter into a confidentiality agreement that would conceal misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, or school administrators who are terminated, dismissed, or resign based upon misconduct affecting the health, safety, or welfare of a student.

The School shall comply with applicable Florida law regarding disclosure of such misconduct when providing employment references or responding to inquiries from prospective employers.

10. 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 of Children and Families or any law-enforcement agency, is immune from civil or criminal liability to the extent provided by section 39.203, Florida Statutes.

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer, 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 was knowingly false or violated a civil right of the former or current employee protected under Florida law, consistent with section 768.095, Florida Statutes.