PSEA is a community of education professionals who make a difference in the lives of students every day.
PSEA established a Professional Rights and Responsibilities Commission to provide members with resources to foster positive, productive workplaces and local associations. The Commission is committed to promoting professional conduct, administering the PSEA Code of Ethics of the Education Profession, assisting in the reduction of member conflicts, and guaranteeing Association due process rights.
The educator measures his/her success by the progress of each student toward realization of his/her potential as a worthy and effective citizen. The educator, therefore, works to stimulate the spirit of inquiry, the acquisition of knowledge and understanding, and the thoughtful formulation of worthy goals.
The educator believes that patriotism in its highest form requires dedication to the principles of our democratic heritage. He/she shares with all other citizens the responsibility for the development of sound public policy and assumes full political and citizenship responsibilities. The educator bears particular responsibility for the development of policy relating to the extension of educational opportunities for all and for interpreting educational programs and policies to the public.
The educator believes that the quality of the services of the education profession directly influences the nation and its citizens. He/she, therefore, exerts every effort to raise professional standards, to improve his/her service, to promote a climate in which the exercise of professional judgment is encouraged, and to achieve conditions which attract persons worthy of the trust to careers in education. Aware of the value of united effort, he/she contributes actively to the support, planning and programs of professional organizations.
The educator regards the employment agreement as a pledge to be executed both in spirit and in fact, in a manner consistent with the highest ideals of professional service. He/she believes that sound professional personnel relationships with governing boards are built upon personal integrity, dignity and mutual respect. The educator discourages the practice of his/her profession by unqualified persons.
Appropriate conduct of an occupational group, related to performance of duty, use of power, privileges, resources, funds or trust, advanced and agreed to by the majority of the members of the group.
To protect the interest of the profession in its relationship with the student, the public, the profession and the employer. (See the four principles of the Code adopted by the PSEA House of Delegates in 1968 and revised in 1972.)
Each member of the group through individual commitment to the code provisions, and all members of the group through the adoption, advocacy and interpretation of ethical principles. PSEA Bylaws, Article IX, Section 8, requires local associations to adopt the PSEA Code of Ethics as a standard for member conduct.
Through membership education programs and leadership training, and by strict adherence to the association’s ethics complaint and hearing due process procedures. PSEA Bylaws: Article IV, 4. Powers; Article X,C. Due Process Guarantees; Article XI, 3. Duties and PR&R Guidelines for Local Associations, provide the authority for promoting and encouraging professional conduct commensurate with the high standards set forth in the Code of Ethics.
Members who seek to prosecute ethical charges or members who are respondents to such charges go directly to the local association Professional Rights & Responsibilities (PR&R) representative for procedural rights and responsibilities advice and assistance. Local association executive committees refer ethics charges to the State Commission on PR&R for the conduct of a due process hearing before a panel of peers. The Commission may, on the basis of the hearing panel’s report, recommend remedial action to conduct found to be unethical. The PSEA Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of the Commission, will consider censure, suspension or expulsion of members who are subject to discipline action for unethical conduct. (PSEA Bylaws Article X - Remedies, Section C - Member Discipline P 1 & 2.)
Membership disputes can have a negative impact on job performance and hurt your local association.
To assist members with disputes, PSEA offers the Conflict Resolution Through Collaboration (CRTC) program. The CRTC program is a confidential, individualized approach to resolve member-to-member disputes while eliminating the need to file formal ethics charges. It is an internal service provided for PSEA members by PSEA members.
CRTC is:
CRTC is not:
