Topic 3: College of Education Ethics Quiz

Carrie Barker

Multiple Choice

1. Ethics can be defined as

a. Someone’s opinion of another person’s behavior
b. Laws and policies that govern behavior
c. Moral principles that govern a person’s behavior
d. Guidelines to ensure successful behavior

2. Which of the following is not a principle of ethical leadership?

a. Personal courage
b. Self-interest
c. Sensitivity and understanding
d. Inclusiveness

3. Who should be the priority in decision-making for a school leader?

a. Parents
b. Staff
c. Superintendent
d. Students

4. To whom must a school administrator report information related to possible

unprofessional conduct involving a student?
a. District Office
b. State Board of Education
c. Local police
d. All of the above
e. None of the above

5. What is a possible consequence for failing to investigate a report of unprofessional

conduct by a school employee?
a. Warning by the human resources department
b. No consequences
c. Loss of administrative credential
d. An angry parent

6. What state-level entity receives reports of unprofessional conduct and conducts an

investigation?
a. Attorney General
b. Governor’s office
c. State Board of Education
d. Department of Education
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 7. Who is required to follow the mandatory reporting rules related to unprofessional
conduct?
a. Teachers
b. Administrators
c. Parents
d. All certificated school employees
e. All school employees

8. Which of the following is the most serious ethical violation for an educator?
a. Sharing test preparation materials you created
b. Dating a fellow teacher
c. Taking a sick day when you are not ill
d. Letting your opinion of a student affect their grades

9. Students are impacted by ethics in which of the following ways:

a. Grading practices
b. Student council elections
c. Student discipline practices
d. All of the above
e. None of the above

10. How are school policies related to ethics?

a. Policies dictate all ethical decisions
b. Policies describe ethics
c. Policies provide guidance for some ethical decisions
d. There is no relationship between policies and ethics

Short Answer: In 50 – 100 words, respond to the following statements. Be sure to use
appropriate sentence mechanics.

1. Describe one way a school administrator could take preventive action to avoid a staff
member committing unprofessional conduct.
a. A school administrator can be proactive by setting expectations at the
beginning of the school year for professional conduct. School administrators
should have a staff meeting at the beginning of the school year to review the
professional conduct of teachers. They should review the expectations of
appropriate interactions with students and parents, appropriate attire, the
use of technology and confidentiality, to name a few.

2. Describe the relationship between integrity and ethics.

Integrity provides the foundation for ethical behavior. Integrity involves
being honest, having strong moral values and consistently acting in

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 accordance with those values. Ethics guide our actions and decisions. When
someone acts with integrity, they are acting in accordance with ethical
principles, showing consistency between their beliefs and actions.

3. How would you briefly outline your definition of professionalism to your faculty?
Provide at least three examples to illustrate your definition.
a. Creating an effective educational environment requires teachers and staff
who understand the significant responsibility that comes with the education
process. To achieve this, it is essential to have people with high ideals and
integrity. All staff members must maintain high standards in their
interactions with students, colleagues, and community members, and act as
role models in their professional duties.
i. Protect students from any practice that may harm them. Make
decisions based on what is best for students.
ii. While using social media, personal and professional posts should be
separated. If you don’t want the administration to read your post
aloud at a board meeting, don’t post it!
iii. Communicate with parents respectfully and with transparency
4. Describe how a teacher might violate professional ethics in facilitating state-mandated
testing. What happens to a teacher who would be caught violating testing procedures?
a. A teacher could do several things to violate professional ethics while
facilitating a state test. They could provide an unfair advantage to some
students by giving them answers or allowing them more time or using
unauthorized resources. They could alter the students’ tests or encourage
cheating. They could not maintain the security or confidentiality of the test.
A teacher could force an internal investigation from the State Department of
Education, which could invalidate the testing, and the teacher could possibly
lose their job due to unethical behavior.
5. Which of the following areas of ethics might be the most complex for an educational
leader: staff relationships, procurement, student achievement, or community relations?
Explain your answer.
a. Staff relationships: I believe staff relationships can be complex due to the
diverse personalities involved. Building a strong sense of community and
culture among staff is also critical. It is also important to create a
professional learning environment within the school and create a
collaborative culture which requires Creating a collaborative culture within
the school is important to establish a professional learning environment by
ensuring that all staff are on the same page. staff to all be on the same page.
Scenarios

Respond to each of the following scenarios in a well-crafted paragraph of 100-150 words using
appropriate sentence mechanics.

Scenario 1:

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A parent reports that his daughter, a student at your school, has exchanged more than a dozen
personal emails over the last two months with her social studies teacher who is using his school-
issued computer. The latest email included an invitation for the student to have lunch with the
teacher on a Saturday. The parent is very concerned that an inappropriate relationship between
his daughter and the teacher is forming or has formed. What actions will you take based on this
report?
I will meet with the teacher to discuss the situation while also having the technology
department look at his school computer and investigate the emails he has sent to the
student. I will also have human resources be involved and any cabinet administration that
needs to be present. According to the Model Code of Ethics for Educators, an educator
must treat students with respect and maintain appropriate boundaries. At no point should
an educator have a romantic relationship with a student. If this is what is happening, the
educator must face consequences for their actions.

Scenario 2:
A salesperson from the company that provides your school’s copy paper invites you to join a
group that is going to spend Spring Break in Mexico, all expenses paid. You have vacation time
and are not required to report to work during Spring Break. Will you go on this trip? Why or why
not?
I would not go on the trip to Mexico. The salesperson and I have a working
relationship, which is strictly professional and not personal. It's important for me, as an
educational leader, to maintain clear boundaries and not use my position for personal gain
or any kind of misconduct.

Scenario 3:
A parent who frequently volunteers at your high school is asking you to give her sophomore
student a parking pass, even though sophomores are prohibited by school policy from receiving a
parking pass. What will you tell the parent and what will you do next?

I will let the parent know that unfortunately, I cannot give her student a parking
pass as it is prohibited by school policy. I would express my gratitude to her for
volunteering her time and let her know that her efforts are appreciated. However, it is not
possible for me to make a special exception for her child. By doing so, I would be unfair to
other sophomore students. As educators, we have a responsibility to treat all parents and
students equitably, so as to foster a sense of community within the school.

Scenario 4:
You are addressing the group of first-year teachers at your school on their first day of
employment. Some of these teachers graduated from a traditional teacher preparation program,
while others did not. What would you tell them about ethics, as it applies to their job as a teacher
so that all levels of experience and professional backgrounds are considered?

As educators, we have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of integrity

and ethics. As professionals, it is our duty to maintain strong moral values and

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accountability and consistently act in accordance with sound ethical principles, even when
faced with difficult decisions. We must demonstrate an unwavering commitment to do
what is right for the well-being of our students, regardless of personal gain or external
pressures. Ultimately, our focus must always be on doing what is best for our students.

Scenario 5:
You have been asked by a parent to review the final semester grade of a student in Algebra 1.
Dad believes that his son should have gotten an A, even though he was three points from the
minimum number of points needed for an A. You know the student and believes that he works
hard in his classes. What should you consider in reviewing the grade? What would you decide?

If faced with a situation where I need to consider changes to a student's grade, the
first thing I would do is speak with their teacher. While I may have some information
about the student, I do not have the full picture of their performance in class. The teacher
is the expert and I need to discuss with them before making any changes to a grade. I
would also ask the teacher about their relationship with the student to ensure that there is
no bias or favoritism involved. After discussing with the teacher and fully understanding
the situation, I would then be able to make an informed decision I would not change a
grade unless the student truly earned the missing points.

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