Crosspoint Academy Code of Ethics
At Crosspoint Academy, we believe that every person is created in the image of God and is therefore worthy of love, dignity, and respect. We are committed to pursuing truth through the lens of Scripture, encouraging excellence in all things, fostering a lifelong love of learning, and developing servant leaders who positively impact their communities. We strive to create a Christ-centered environment where students are known, valued, challenged, and equipped to fulfill God's purpose for their lives.
Our primary concern is the student and the development of each student’s full potential. Employees of Crosspoint Academy will strive for professional growth and will exercise sound professional judgment, integrity, and ethical conduct.
Concern for students requires that all instructional personnel:
- Make reasonable efforts to protect students from conditions harmful to learning, mental health, physical health, or safety.
- Not unreasonably restrain students from independent action in the pursuit of learning.
- Not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student’s academic program.
- Not intentionally expose students to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.
- Not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.
- Not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, disability, or social and family background, and will make reasonable efforts to protect students from harassment or discrimination.
- Not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
- Keep confidential personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
Employees of Crosspoint Academy recognize the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, students, parents, and the community. Therefore, employees must display the highest degree of ethical conduct by:
- Maintaining honesty in all professional dealings.
- Not denying professional benefits, advantages, or participation in any professional organization to a colleague on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, disability if otherwise qualified, or social and family background.
- Not engaging in harassment or discriminatory conduct that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s professional or work responsibilities, disrupts the orderly processes of education, or creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment.
- Making reasonable efforts to ensure that each individual is protected from harassment or discrimination.
- Not making 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 by Instructional Personnel and Administrators
All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student
For teacher and staff misconduct please contact Holly Neighbours, Director of Crosspoint Academy or Kathy Trawick, Director of Crosspoint Academies and Kids at 850-678-4411
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: The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.
Signs of Sexual Abuse: The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or 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, or run away from home.
Signs of Neglect: The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or 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 which 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 by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095
