WTS 9 page 1 of 7

Hedtke’s Code of Ethics

Tate J. Hedtke

Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota

School of Graduate and Professional Programs

Portfolio for Wisconsin Teaching Standard 9

Education 695- Ethics and Issues in Education

Kathi Stebbins- Hintz- Instructor

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Selected Wisconsin Teacher Standard Descriptors

Wisconsin Teacher Standard (WTS) #9:

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effect of his or her

choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and

others, and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally

Knowledge.

The teacher understands critical frameworks for reflecting on teaching practice

Dispositions.

The teacher is committed to reflection, assessment, and learning as an ongoing

process.

Performances.

The teacher uses classroom observation, information about students, cultural,

social, and philosophical frameworks, and research as sources for evaluating the

outcomes of teaching and learning and as a basis for reflecting on, and revising

practice.

Danielson Domains.

Domain 4: Professional Responsibilities

4a: Reflecting on Teaching

Principle I The Teacher is Responsible to their Students

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The teachers utmost responsibility is to their students. Every decision a teacher makes while

engaged in their profession should always begin with the question “what is best for kids?” This

at times means putting students needs before one’s own.

1. The student in the classroom is the reason a teacher is in their profession.

a. When a teacher begins to lose sight of this, they may need to rethink their career

choice.

b. Although students do learn through extracurricular activities and can benefit from

other types of interactions with teachers, the student-teacher relationship is the

most important that exists in a school.

2. Teachers must love their students.

a. Teachers need to genuinely care about the success of their students and yearn for

their success in life.

b. Teachers need to care about the mental well being of their students.

3. Teachers must love the subjects they teach.

a. Or be really good at faking it. Students will not love learning a subject if you do

not convince them you love teaching it.

4. Every student has the desire to learn.

a. It is every educator’s responsibility to understand this, and help the student

explore positive and constructive means to learn and engage in required material.

b. A teacher must have a positive attitude towards education and students learning

outside of the classroom as well. A teacher needs to understand that everything a

student learns will not necessarily be dictated by the teacher or curriculum in their

formative years.
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c. Not every student is going to want to learn what you need to teach them, it is your

responsibility and duty to make that material obtainable, and accessible to

students.

5. Not every student has the same schema.

a. Students come from diverse experiences, cultures and values. It is the duty of a

teacher to respect these differences and to help students understand that

differences are what make a community stronger, not something that should

divide them.

6. The teacher never has any personal gain from a relationship with the student

a. Being a teacher is a selfless profession. A teacher should never bargain with a

student, blackmail them, or engage in any extraneous relations other than the

student-teacher relationship.

b. A teacher teaches because bringing the passion of learning and helping students

realizing the heights of their capabilities brings the teacher personal satisfaction.

7. Teachers will stay up to date on their material in order to teach students the most relevant

information in order to help the students succeed after school

8. Teachers will stay up to date with the most effective teaching practices in order to

instruct students in the most effective manner in order to help students succeed after

school.

a. Once a teacher stops moving forward with their own education, they start sliding

backwards.

Principle II The Teacher is Responsible to their Peers

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1. The teacher never lets personal relationships with peers affect their ability to teach

students.

a. Not everyone will get along all of the time, and teachers must put those

differences aside to understand they have the same goal, helping students achieve

to the maximum level of their capabilities.

2. Teachers will engage one another in a professional manner in front of students.

3. Teachers will not attempt to sway the opinions students have of other teachers.

4. Teachers will maintain positive professional relationships with their peers.

a. Students can feel negativity and pessimism and it makes them defensive, this

affects their learning

Principle III The Teacher is Responsible to their Community

1. The ethical teacher understands that their opinions and views may not be supported by

the community at large, and it is not their duty to “win” others to their sides.

a. Teachers need to be flexible, and delicate when sharing their opinions on sensitive

subjects as to not portray a sense of indoctrination with politics, religions, and

other cultural views.

b. Communities have the ability to decide educational outcomes of the individuals in

their school.

2. The teacher should conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner outside of

school grounds.

a. The things that happen outside of school hours do not go unnoticed by students

and their families, no matter how careful an individual is. Teachers need to
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understand that when in public, they are never free from the scrutiny of the public

as a whole.

b. This includes their digital imprint with social media, social networking, and the

internet as a whole.

3. The teacher should engage in the community as a professional.

a. Teachers need to share their experiences, knowledge, and passions with their

community in order to help improve the situations for the families in their

communities.

b. Teachers should become involved with committees, organizations, volunteer,

coach extracurriculars, and otherwise become involved with activities to better the

world around their communities.

4. The teacher is an effective communicator with the families of their children.

a. Understanding begins with effective communication and can stave most negative

situations.

Principle IV The Teacher is Responsible to Themselves

1. The teacher needs to do what is best for them.

a. With everything that has been stated, a teacher needs to do what is best for them.

i. If everything a teacher is doing is what is best for the student, it should be

enough to intrinsically motivate the professional educator and create

satisfaction in their job.

2. The teacher needs to take time away from the profession for themselves.

a. If a teacher is not satisfied in their personal life outside of school, it is difficult to

portray a happy, and motivated individual within the school walls.

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3. The teacher needs to share their own personal interests with students

a. Students need to realize teachers have lives outside of school, and that those

interests can transcend all ages and help facilitate positive student-teacher

relationships.