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.
For more information on these topics, see our Protection section. |
