Okla. Admin. Code § 612:20-2-8

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 612:20-2-8 - Standards of conduct and performance for teachers

Teachers at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and Oklahoma School for the Blind are charged with the education of their students. In order to perform effectively, teachers must demonstrate a belief in the worth and dignity of each human being, recognizing the supreme importance of the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, and the nurture of democratic principles.

(1)Principle I - commitment to the students. The teacher must strive to help each student realize his or her potential as a worthy and effective member of society. The teacher must work to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals. In fulfillment of the obligation to the student, the teacher:

(A) shall not unreasonably restrain the student from independent action in the pursuit of learning;

(B) shall not unreasonably deny the student access to varying points of view;

(C) shall not deliberately suppress or distort subject matter relevant to the student's progress;

(D) shall make reasonable effort to protect students from conditions harmful to learning or to health and safety;

(E) shall not intentionally expose the student to embarrassment or disparagement;

(F) shall not on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin, marital status, disability, political or religious beliefs, family, social or cultural background, or sexual orientation, unfairly:

(i) exclude any student from participation in any program;

(ii) deny benefits to any students; or

(iii) grant any advantage to any student;

(G) shall not use professional relationships with students for private advantage; and

(H) shall not disclose information about students obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose and is permitted or required by law.

(2)Principle II - commitment to the profession. The teaching profession is vested by the public with a trust and responsibility requiring the highest ideals of professional service. In order to assure that the quality of the services of the teaching profession meets the expectations of the State and its citizens, the teacher shall exert every effort to raise professional standards, fulfill professional responsibilities with honor and integrity, promote a climate that encourages the exercise of professional judgment, achieve conditions which attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education, and assist in preventing the practice of the profession by unqualified persons. In fulfillment of the obligation to the profession, the educator:

(A) shall not in an application for a professional position deliberately make a false statement or fail to disclose a material fact related to competency and qualifications;

(B) shall not misrepresent his/her professional qualifications;

(C) shall not assist any entry into the profession of a person known to be unqualified in respect to character, education, or other relevant attribute;

(D) shall not knowingly make a false statement concerning the qualifications of a candidate for a professional position;

(E) shall not assist an unqualified person in unauthorized practice of the profession;

(F) shall not disclose information about colleagues obtained in the course of professional service unless disclosure serves a compelling professional purpose or is required by law;

(G) shall not knowingly make false or malicious statements about a colleague; and

(H) shall not accept any gratuity, gift or favor that might impair or appear to influence professional decisions or actions.

(3)Principle III.

(A) A career teacher may be dismissed or not re-employed for:

(i) willful neglect of duty;

(ii) repeated negligence in performance of duty;

(iii) mental or physical abuse to a child;

(iv) incompetency;

(v) instructional ineffectiveness;

(vi) unsatisfactory teaching performance; or

(vii) any reason involving moral turpitude.

(B) A probationary teacher may be dismissed or not re-employed for cause.

(C) A teacher shall be dismissed or not re-employed, unless a presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued, if during the term of employment such teacher is convicted in this state, the United States or another state of:

(i) Any sex offense subject to the Sex Offenders Registration Act in this state or subject to another state's or the federal sex offender registration provisions; or

(ii) Any felony offense.

(D) A teacher may be dismissed, refused employment or not reemployed after a finding that such person has engaged in criminal sexual activity or sexual misconduct that has impeded the effectiveness of the individual's performance of school duties. As used in this subsection:

(i) "Criminal sexual activity" means the commission of an act as defined in 21 O.S. § 886, which is the act of sodomy; and

(ii) "Sexual misconduct" means the soliciting or imposing of criminal sexual activity.

Okla. Admin. Code § 612:20-2-8

Added at 15 Ok Reg 1800, eff 7-1-98; Amended at 19 Ok Reg 1200, eff 7-1-02