Standards and Ethics

Violations to the TAC Chapter 247 have and will continue to occur due to the mindset that rules do not apply or the denial of the fact that the administrator could be caught in one of these violations.  First, an administrator who accepts a bribe or a promise of services or kickbacks when hiring for an open position would be in direct violation of Standard 1.5.  These offers of favors could potentially cloud professional judgment or make the administrator feel beholden to an individual or group.  Another example of a violation that could occur would be an administrator who forges service records that could result in that administrator being placed on a higher pay scale.  This would be a violation of Standards 1.1 and 1.6.  Finally, a violation of Standards 1. 2 and 1.3 would occur if administrators were to ask for companies to provide receipts showing fraudulent charges or misrepresented items that allow for the administrator to be reimbursed for money not spent or allows them to have those items for personal use paid for by the district’s monies. 

In Section 2, Ethical Conduct Towards Professional Colleagues, an administrator would be in violation of Standard 2.1 by divulging confidential health information about a colleague in order to better their chances at an open position or promotion.  A second violation could occur if an administrator were to pass over an applicant based on the fact that he did not believe the candidate could control disciplinary issues because the candidate was a female or did not hire a candidate that had different religious or political views.  This would be in direct violation of Standard 2.5.

If an administrator violates Standard 1.5 and is exposed for doing so will have all decisions that have previously been made called into question.  The doubt that would be in the minds of the school’s stakeholders would severely limit the administrator’s ability to lead a district.  The administrator could also face being fired due to this lapse in judgment.  The administrator should always model and promote the highest standard of conduct, ethical principles, and integrity in decision making, actions, and behaviors.  To help prevent this from happening, there should be a chain of command in the hiring process with input being provided by all the interviewers. 

Possible results to an educator violating Standards 1.2 and 1.3 could include being required to repay any money, being fired and even jail time.  Administrators should be very clear about receipts turned in and any items purchased that will be used for personal use.  To prevent this possibility from occurring, a multi-level accounting system should be in place that would have a system of checks done by more than one set of eyes. 

An administrator that is guilty of violating Standard 2.5 could open the door for former applicants to file claims of prejudice or discrimination.  He could face reprimand or even being fired.  Questionnaires and employment applications should be consistent.  Again, interviews should be done by more than one person to prevent one administrators bias from preventing quality applicants from being hired.