All St. Clement Academy 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.

Commitment to Students
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.

Ethical Responsibilities to Students
Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

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

Ethical Responsibilities to Colleagues and the School Community
Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, students, parents, and the community, employees of St. Clement Academy must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

• Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
• 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 a colleague professional benefits, advantages, or participation in any professional organization.
• Shall not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.
• Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s performance of professional or work responsibilities, disrupts the orderly process of education, or creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment. Further, reasonable efforts shall be made to ensure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
• 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 that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.
Examples of misconduct include but are not limited to:

• Obscene language
• Drug and alcohol use
• Disparaging comments
• Prejudice or bigotry
• Sexual innuendo
• Cheating or testing violations
• Physical aggression
• Accepting or offering favor

Reports of employee misconduct should be made to Semoun Habib at semounhabib@gmail.com. Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Semoun Habib at semounhabib@gmail.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 affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student are posted on stclementorlando.org.

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 at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/

Signs of Physical Abuse
A 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 run away
• Shy away from physical contact
• Be aggressive
• Wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries

Signs of Sexual Abuse
A child may have:

• Torn, stained, or bloody underwear
• Trouble walking or sitting
• Pain or itching in the genital area
• 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
• Run away from home

Signs of Neglect
A 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

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 that 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 was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under (F.S. Chapter 760). (F.S. 768.095).