Ethics Project; My Ethical Code

By (Betsy) Elizabeth Compton

Dallas Baptist University

EDAD 6315:

School Finance

Summer 2015

(Betsy) Elizabeth Compton

Personal Code of Ethics
1. I will abide by all laws and policies set forth by the federal government,
the state of Texas, my school district, and my campus.

2. I will use all federal, state, district, and campus funds appropriately and
never solicit money or goods for my personal advantage.

3. I will accurately report data on all official documents and never forge or
falsify information, nor encourage others to do so.

4. I will communicate honestly and respectfully in all circumstances, with all

people.

5. I will exhibit Christian morals and positive character traits at all times.

6. I will put the physical and emotional safety of the students above all else.

7. I will treat all people equally and actively discourage discrimination of any
kind.

8. I will not interfere with the privacy and due process of others.

9. I will hold all of my supervisees to the same standards set forth here for
myself.

10. I will continue my own education so that I can best serve my educational
duties to others.

Philosophies & Rationales

1. I will abide by all laws and policies set forth by the federal government,
the state of Texas, my school district, and my campus.
2. I will use all federal, state, district, and campus funds appropriately and
never solicit money or goods for my personal advantage.
3. I will accurately report data on all official documents and never forge or
falsify information, nor encourage others to do so.
Mark 10:19 states, You know the commandments: You shall not
steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud (Holy
Bible, New International Version). I will uphold these principles and be
true to my heart and my position. I will follow the rules and procedures
in all circumstances. I will also be transparent in all financial dealings
and strive to be fiscally responsible as I plan and implement the
campus budget(s). Lastly, I will be honest in all reporting related to my
school, my position, and myself. These three ethical codes stand as
separate points, but are bound together in philosophy.

4. I will communicate effectively, honestly and respectfully in all

circumstances, with all people.
Effective communication is absolutely essential for effective learning.
Saying the right thing at the wrong time or in the wrong way can be

just as detrimental as saying the wrong thing at the right time. The
book, Crucial Conversations, focuses on communicating effectively in
high-stakes situations. Although it is not geared toward education, the
skills are universal. The authors state, At the core of every successful
conversation lies the free flow of relevant information. People openly
and honestly express their opinions, share their feelings, and articulate
their theories. They willingly and capably share their views, even when
their ideas are controversial or unpopular (Patterson). I hope to lead a
school in which this is always possible. I will strive to effectively
communicate by educating myself about each situation as much as
possible and remaining honest and respectful at all times.

5. I will exhibit Christian morals and positive character traits at all times and
encourage others to do the same.
6. I will treat all people equally and actively discourage discrimination of any
kind.
7. I will put the physical and emotional safety of the students above all else.

In lecture four of EDAD 6315, Professor Curry quoted Mark 1:17, Jesus
said, Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. I hope to

inspire and lead my faculty members and fellow administrators in solid

Christian values and educationally ethical principles. For example, I
will strive to treat all people equally and not judge others in any
circumstance. I will also pursue the well-being and security of every
individual, helping each feel valued and secure. Just as I lead by
example for my faculty, my faculty should lead by example for the
students. This will create a positive culture within the school. In
addition to leading by example, I will utilize our new campus incentive
program to reward individual students and staff members for exhibiting
positive character traits and embodying our International Leadership of
Texas motto Others Before Self.

8. I will not interfere with the privacy and due process of others.
The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, created in 1974 protects
the privacy of student records. It outlines the ten acceptable uses for
private records and protects the privacy of families by keeping
personal information concealed from the general public. (Walsh) As an
administrator, I will keep all records confidential and follow the law for
privacy in all instances. When a student or staff members feels his or
her right to privacy, or any other granted right, has been violated, I will
support substantial due process in resolving the matter. I will inform all

parties of their constitutional rights and refer them to our school

lawyer for clarification and council if necessary.

9. I will hold all of my supervisees to the same standards set forth here for
myself.
Research shows that laws and policies that are not followed and
enforced by administrators may not be followed by others. Unless top
ranking faculty and administrators opt to exemplify ethical behavior,
the act of encoding ethical rules may turn out to be perfunctory rather
than meaningful (Bray 80). Ethical decision-making is imperative to
quality education. I will value my code of ethics and vow to live it daily.
I will set high expectations for all of my supervisees to also follow
these guidelines.

10. I will continue my own education so that I can best serve my educational
duties to others.
The importance of life-long learning has been long understood. For
example, Socrates said, Education is the kindling of the flame, not the
filling of a vessel. And, Einstein said, Intellectual growth should
commence at birth and cease only at death. As a teacher, I pursued

professional development opportunities for my content areas every

year. As an administrator, I vow to continue my education through
higher education courses and professional development opportunities,
so that I am constantly abreast of the newest and best ideas in the
field.

References
Bray, Molina, and Swecter. 2012. Chapter 8: Organizational Constraints
and Possibilities Regarding Codes of Conduct, New Directions for Higher
Education. Winter, Vol. 2012 Issue 160, p73-87. 15p.

Curry. June 8, 2015. Lecture 4, EDAD 6315: School Finance.

Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler. 2012. Crucial Conversations:

Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High. New York, NY: McGraw Hill.

Walsh, Kemerer, and Maniotis. 2014. The Educators Guide to Texas Public
School Law, 8th Edition. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press.