Association of Texas Professional Educators
 
 

Legal Responsibilities

You never know what type of legal issues will arise in your profession. To ensure you’re protected, we suggest you join a professional association that offers you a variety of legal services concerning employment issues such as appraisals, summative conferences, resignations, contract issues, certification, alleged TAKS violations, student discipline and student removal.

Your Legal Responsibilities
Be aware of your legal responsibilities to administrators, colleagues and students. Read your contract, teacher handbook and all memos thoroughly and follow the guidelines set forth in them.

Respect the privacy of your colleagues by not discussing personnel matters with anyone except the appropriate administrator; and take serious concerns to your supervisor. Your colleagues don’t have the authority to help you.

Respect your students’ privacy and do not discuss them except for educationally relevant purposes. Do not socialize with students, except as part of a district-approved extracurricular activity, and avoid touching students unnecessarily in or outside of the classroom. Make sure you have been given the relevant portions of all students’ Individual Education Plans, if applicable, and that you understand their requirements.