PROFESSIONAL ETHICS

Teachers are expected to be in their places of assignment from 7:30 a.m. until 3:35 p.m. unless on special assigned duty. Any variation of working hours will be made through the principal’s office. All teachers must sign in and out at the office.

CONFERENCE / PREPARATION PERIOD

The conference/preparation period is scheduled to give the teacher opportunity to make lesson plans, grade papers, prepare materials and arrange conferences with parents of students who are having learning or behavior problems. Teachers are to be on campus and available during their assigned conference/preparation period. DO NOT leave campus without checking out through the campus office. The teacher MUST document all parent conferences. Leave a copy of the documentation in the Conference Documentation Notebook in the office.

LESSON PLANS

Each teacher is expected to develop weekly lesson plans, syllabi, six-weeks rubric and a curriculum calendar. At a minimum, these plans should reflect the daily objectives, procedures, the teaching activities, including remediation and enrichment activities, the materials used, and the correlation with the state assessment goals and the evaluation procedures. These plans need to be available to the campus Principal’s office each Monday by 8:00 a.m. All teachers are encouraged to utilize the Outlook software for digital lesson plans OR Class Server.

SUBSTITUTE FOLDERS

Teachers who find it necessary to request substitutes should notify the principal as soon as it is known a substitute is needed. It is the responsibility of the teacher who is absent to keep the principal’s office informed from day to day as to whether the substitute is to continue. The substitute will need:

1. Class roll 3. Lesson Materials (TAKS materials) - NO VIDEOS!

2. Class schedule 4. Explanations of special duties and activities.

These items should be easily accessible and available in a Substitute Folder in the teacher’s desk. Teachers will also maintain an updated Substitute Folder in the office in case of emergency.

CLASSROOM SUPERVISION

Students are not to be left in the classrooms unattended. Teachers should be at the door of the room when students enter. In case of an emergency and you have to leave your class, notify the principal immediately.

Each teacher is to come to the classroom door during the time the students are changing classes. When students are unattended, it is your responsibility to correct misbehavior at any time, even if students do not attend your class.

Know where your students are at all times. No student is to leave the classroom without teacher permission slip. Arp students must have a hall pass to leave the classroom. Hall passes will be given only for valid reasons.

NEW TEACHERS = MENTEES

All new teachers to the district will be required to attend two full days of inservice on district policies and procedures before the regular school year begins. (Agenda for this inservice) These two days will count toward the teachers continuing education & certification (See http://www.sbec.state.tx.us/certren/certren.htm )

All new teachers to the district will be assigned a MENTOR teacher by their principal. New teachers are required to observe their mentor at least twice during the first semester of their new year. The curriculum director has the Mentorship Observation Form that is to be turned into the principal after each observation. PDAS scores will reflect these observations.

MENTORS

Teachers assigned to be mentors for new teachers will gain significantly on PDAS scores if they maintain the documentation requested below:

Provide instructional support to the new teacher, Mentee
Assist the Mentee in maintaining a positive attitude throughout the year
Be an exemplary model of a continuous, life-long learner

Meet with your Mentee at least once a week and maintain documentation of the agenda you discuss
Assist Mentee in gaining skills in the campus programs (Gradebook, Email, etc.)
Schedule convenient times for mentee to observe you as a teacher -- record those dates & times
Assist the mentee in becoming knowledgeable of district policies and procedures

DISCIPLINE

Each teacher is responsible for the discipline in his/her classroom. It is important that each teacher follow the Discipline Management Plan for your campus. Many problems can be avoided by close supervision, organized planning and modeling a positive attitude. Be consistent in dealing with students and set the pace for the classroom atmosphere the first week of school by formulating, reviewing, and visibly posting classroom rules. Have no more than five classroom rules. Make your rules general ,as to cover all situations that may occur. An example of a list of possible classroom rules is (using the Character Counts! Curriculum):

Respect yourself and others.
Answer only when it is your turn.
Stay seated unless given permission to do otherwise.
Be prepared for class daily.
Be neat and do your best.

When problems develop, do not ignore them. Attempt to determine the cause and guide the student to correct the problem. Inappropriate behavior is often a warning sign that something else is amiss. Actual behaviors often have little to do with the real problem.

As instructors, it is our duty to promote the district, campus, and department instructional objectives. This requires allowing students opportunities to gain significant academic skills for achievement. Student placement in the classroom may be the first level of intervention for disruptive behavior. This also requires that academic skills, which the district, state, and federal governments require students to acquire, not be used as instruments of punishment (i.e. writing sentences, reports, extra math problems, etc.). As educators we desire students to embrace and excel in certain academic skills and these will not be used to mete out punishment in any classroom, lab or educational setting.

When attempts have been made to resolve the causes of misbehavior, and when counseling and other methods of punishment have been unsuccessful, paddling is in order. This may be administered by the disciplinarian or the teacher. Teachers are responsible for handling Level I behaviors (documented by the teacher). Level II, III, and IV behaviors must be referred to the principal. When corporal punishment is administered, the teacher must 1) have a certified teacher as a witness, 2) have the student state the offense to the witness, and 3) send a disciplinary report home to the parents. The size and age of the student must also be considered, along with the offense.

After corporal punishment is administered, a discipline slip must be sent home to the parents. A copy of the report must also be sent to the office. Anytime a student is sent to the disciplinarian’s office for an offense, a discipline slip must be filled out and must be sent to the office with the student. It is also necessary to document every instance of student counseling.

ASSIGNED DUTIES

Teachers assigned to halls, campus, or cafeteria duty should be prompt in reporting to their assignment. It is the responsibility of the teachers to see that students abide by the rules governing each area of the campus. Assigned personnel will be responsible for supervising students at breakfast and lunch until all students have finished and left the cafeteria.

TEACHERS LEAVING CAMPUS

Teachers shall keep to an absolute minimum the need for leaving the campus during the school day. If you do have to leave, however, the office must be consulted or word left with the secretary. This policy includes leaving campus during the conference/preparation period.

BUILDING AND FACILITIES RESPONSIBILITIES

Each teacher is responsible for the furniture and equipment in the rooms. Habits, which are destructive to school property, such as marking on or leaning back in desks or chairs, must not be allowed. Do not allow a class to leave the room or activity area (example: gym or play area) in a messy condition. This is your responsibility as much as teaching in your subject area.

Teachers can aid in keeping our building in good working condition of they will:

Check to see if exit door is locked when leaving at the end of the day.
Turn off the lights when the room in not in use.
Turn off the room heat/air systems at the end of the day or adjust thermostat in extreme weather.
Encourage students to keep paper picked up from the floor and out of desks during the day. It is your responsibility to see that is done at the end of the day.
Report all needed repairs to furniture or equipment to the building principal in writing.

It is also the responsibility of teachers to take a complete inventory of equipment and teaching materials at the end of each school year and turn it in to the building principal. This list will be checked again at the beginning of the new school year. Technical equipment will require inventory, maintenance, and updates through your campus technology coordinator. See District Technology Policy for details.

EVALUATION

Teachers shall be appraised using the state appraisal process as localized by Board policy. The evaluators will use the board approved modified state appraisal instrument.

REASSIGNMENT

All employees are subject to change in assignment if the administration is of the opinion that it would improve the overall program of the school system. Such assignments will be made insofar as is practical only after conferences with the employees.

TEMPORARY DISABILITY

The Board shall grant to a certified, full-time professional employee a leave of absence for temporary disability at any time the employee’s condition interferes with the performance of regular duties. The Board shall not terminate the employment of the employee during leave of absence for temporary disability. See Board policy DEC (LEGAL), DEC (LOCAL).

Temporary disability includes pregnancy. The employee shall submit to the superintendent a request for leave of absence for temporary disability. The request must be accompanied by a physician’s statement confirming the employee’s ability to work, the date upon which the employee has requested that leave begin, and the probable date of the employee’s return.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE

Any certified full-time professional employee may be granted a developmental leave of absence for study, research, travel, or other suitable purpose without pay. This leave must be approved by the superintendent and cannot exceed one school term.

PROFESSIONAL DRESS

Teachers are required to maintain an appropriate (as defined by your building principal) and professional dress code. Warm-up suites are not appropriate in the classroom. T- shirts that are not neat and tucked in are also to be avoided (except on designated days).

PROFESSIONAL GROWTH

Teachers are urged to keep abreast of current educational trends, including the infusion of successful technologies by attending workshops, inservices, and college classes. Professional growth is a factor in the evaluation process. The Arp school district has a staff development policy which can be referenced at: http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/District/Inservice/arpPolicy.htm

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

All teachers are encouraged to join and participate in their professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels. Payroll deductions are available for professional dues over a period of twelve months.

SALARY

The basic salary schedule for teachers in Arp I.S.D. shall be the state minimum salary for the pay grade and step determined by the preparation, experience level, and assignment of the teacher. The board on a year-to-year basis may approve additional supplemental pay. A new teacher's first pay check will be available on September 25 of the year you begin teaching.

GROUP INSURANCE

Group insurance is offered to employees through payroll deductions. These include cancer insurance, life insurance, salary protection plan and tax sheltered annuities. Detailed information about this coverage is given by representatives from the different companies during inservice and the first week of school.

Medical and dental coverage is provided by the District subject to approval by the Board on a year-to-year basis. Additional family/spouse coverage may be purchased at the expense of the employee.

TEACHING MATERIALS/PURCHASE ORDERS

Teachers must have an approved purchase order. (For details, consult your Teacher’s Resource Guide in your campus library.) All purchases must be pre-approved by the administration before ANY purchase is made!

Fill out a requisition form completely. Be prepared to justify purchases with student progress accountability.
Sign and return to the principal.
After principal approves requisition, the accounting office will check for proper approvals and determine if funds are available for purchase.
Purchase orders are issued by the business manager or accounting clerk.

TEXTBOOK ACCOUNTING

The principal is responsible for the care and distribution of all state owned textbooks within the school. The teacher is responsible for books issued to them and should see that all books are covered, and make regular inspections as to proper use. Books that have been lost or damaged to the point of not being usable must be paid for in full. The money is deposited in the principal’s office and turned in to the textbook custodian at the end of the school year.

Teachers are required to maintain accurate documentation as to student name and textbook number for each textbook distributed.

LIBRARY

You are encouraged to take advantage of the library, but the following guidelines will help the library serve all teachers and students effectively. When you foresee a need to take a class to the library, check in advance with the librarian. You may request the librarian to arrange for media materials, place books on reserve, or help in a way that will better prepare your students for an activity in the library. No more than two students per class at a time should be allowed to go the library during class time. Students going to the library must have a valid hall pass, or they will be sent back to the classroom.

USE OF VCR’S/TV’S

CONTRACT

All VCR’s and TV’s will be kept in a secured location. You may gain access to TV/VCR by filling out the contract (click on "contract" above). All movie titles must also be approved by the principal, pertain to teaching and learning, and be utilized according to copy right laws.

TELEPHONES

Except in cases of emergencies and school-sponsored business, students are not to use the telephone. What determines an "emergency" is left to the discretion of the principal. Students using the telephone for school business will do so only under the direct supervision of their sponsor. Teachers’ use of the telephone should be limited to Arp Elementary School business calls.

SOLICITING/FUND RAISING

There shall be no distribution of circulars, advertising materials, or solicitations in the classroom. All salesmen or requests must go through the principal’s office. Any materials, equipment, or other items purchased as using funds raised by Arp students or in the Arp school district name belong to the district. These items do not become personal property under any circumstance.

TOBACCO

Arp I.S.D. follows the Drug-Free Policies of the state and federal governments. There will be no use of tobacco in school buildings or in the presence of students.

FIELD TRIPS

All field trips must have prior approval of the building principal. Teachers are responsible for field trip permission slips and bus requests. Bus requests must be approved by the building principal. No student shall be allowed to leave the campus without documentation of parent permission.

PUPIL ACCOUNTING

All teachers must maintain an accurate accounting of both student attendance and grades. Attendance must be checked soon after the class period starts and must be documented online. See attendance policy at: http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/District/Policies/Attendance%20Procedure%20Manual.doc

GRADING AND REPORTING

Students will receive report cards on the following Thursday after the end of each six weeks grading period. Three weeks progress reports will be sent to parents of students whose progress in any subject is not satisfactory. Numerical grades are used where applicable, and below 70 is failing. Grades posted on permanent records will be numerical where applicable. Promotion and retention policies are in accordance with TEA guidelines and school board policy and are on file in each principal’s office or at: http://www.arp.sprnet.org/default/District/Promotion.htm

Grading Policies: A minimum of ten grades is required to compute six weeks grades. Students with excused absence will be allowed to make up missed work. Depending on the discretion of the teacher and the nature of the work, the student shall have from one to three days after returning to school to make up missed work. See assessment policy at: http://www.arp.sprnet.org/curric/Instr_Assess/testing.htm

WITHDRAWALS

In case a student withdraws from school, the student must return the textbooks. The secretary fills out the withdrawal notice and notifies the classroom teacher. The student must have the librarian and cafeteria supervisor sign the withdrawal notice to verify a clear library and lunch record. The withdrawal slips must come from the office and must be signed by the principal before the student leaves school.

FREE OR REDUCED MEALS

Applications for free or reduced meals will be given to each student the first day of school. Students wishing to participate in the program must return the form signed by a parent or guardian as soon as possible. The applications will be processed the two-week period for processing applications. The cafeteria manager will have a list of those students.

SCHOOL INSURANCE AND ACCIDENTS

School accident insurance if available to the student body after the Administration has selected a specific company and made the insurance available. Insurance forms will be sent home by students for parents to decide if they want the policy, but the program is completely voluntary. A record should be kept of students enrolling in the insurance plan.

In case of a serious accident or serious illness of a student at school, the parents or other designated person should be called immediately. See Crisis Management Plan for procedures in case of accident, illness, or emergencies of any kind. An Emergency Care Form (See Teacher’s Resource Manual) should be signed by a parent or guardian and turned in the first week of school. In case of an accident the teacher should report with the principal and document using an Accident/Illness Report Form (See Teacher’s Resource Manual.)

FIRE DRILLS

A plan for leaving the building is to be posted near the door of each room. Teachers should familiarize themselves with their exit and position and review periodically with students the following instructions:

Fire drill—3 bells
Tornado drill—5 bells
Halt—1 bell
Return to class—2 bells