Employment Policies

OUR MISSION: (Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.)

Lions Christian Academy, as a ministry of Turning Point Church of God, is a faith-based school. Our desire is to offer a program that addresses the entire child by building strong relationships with families in the community by sharing God’s truth and love. It is our mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment that will inspire a love for learning so children can develop and grow academically and spiritually. The school will provide a faith-based curriculum taught by certified teachers. As a provider of a creative learning environment, it is our mission to instill confidence, self-worth, and Christian morals in every child, so that each child will be prepared for academic success.

PHILOSOPHY AND CURRICULUM (2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.)

We believe:

▪ In a Biblical worldview and our program is designed to teach about God.

▪ In the importance of our staff modeling Christ-like behavior to show how to love Him and our neighbor, and ultimately, to learn how to live according to His plan.

▪ Children should be given the opportunity to grow and learn in a safe and caring environment.

▪ Each child is an image of Christ, and as a result, a unique gift of God.

▪ Together with parents, it is necessary to develop a loving and respectful relationship with each child.

▪ Each child is competent and has the ability to grow and learn.

PROFESSIONALISM (Titus 2:7–8 (ESV) 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.)

(Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida)

· Respond to others with patience and respect.

· Must be prompt, flexible, and reliable with a Godly attitude.

· Observe and respond to children’s needs, emergencies and conflicts that might occur.

· Determine needs of children and to communicate both in writing and verbally, openly and productively, in the English language at a level that the parents and other staff can understand and respond.

· Handle the stress, tension, and exasperation that contact with many children and parents brings every day with the grace and the love of Christ.

· Embrace teamwork and strive for excellence.-Love one another.

· Be respectful and supportive of families. Paychecks come from parents; everything said should reflect how you would ask to be treated. Be always respectful and courteous. Reponses should always reflect love for the child.

· Represent Lions Christian Academy in a professional manner both within the facility and in the community.

· Abide by the guidelines established by State of Florida Department of Education and the Word of God:

1. Our school values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential. Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.

3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student's mental and/or physical health and/or safety.

b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.

c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.

d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a student's academic program.

e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.

f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.

g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from harassment or discrimination.

h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.

i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.

4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.

b. Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or participation in any professional organization.

c. Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities. d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which unreasonably interferes with an individual's performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.

e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these standards of ethical conduct.

WE are mandatory reporters of any suspected child abuse or neglect.

Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment, or Neglect:

· All employees and agents have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect. 

Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

·  Signs of Physical Abuse The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries; broken bones; or burns. A child experiencing physical abuse may seem withdrawn or depressed, seem afraid to go home or may run away, shy away from physical contact, be aggressive, or wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries.

· Signs of Sexual Abuse The child may have torn, stained or bloody underwear, trouble walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, or a sexually transmitted disease. A child experiencing sexual abuse may have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively, fear a particular person, seem withdrawn or depressed, gain or lose weight suddenly, shy away from physical contact, or run away from home.

· Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

· Patterns of Abuse: Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.

Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S. 39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)

Reporting Misconduct by Instructional Personnel and Administrators:

· All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.

· Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical aggression, and accepting or offering favors.

· Reports of misconduct of employees should be made to Pastor Troy Ezell at tpchurchofGod@gmail.com or (863) 983-7555.

· Reports of misconduct committed by administrators should be made to Pastor Thomas Odom of Church of God Association of Christian Schools at Thomas Odom <director@cgacs.org>

HIRING REQUIREMENTS (Matthew 25:15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey )

Must meet at least one of the following criteria:

· 3 years or more of public or private school teaching

· Special skills, knowledge, or expertise which qualifies to provide instruction.

· Baccalaureate Degree or higher education