Tutor, Teacher & Buddy Code of Conduct

Florida Star Academy

This Code of Conduct sets the professional, educational, privacy, and child safety standards required of all adults working with children through Florida Star Academy.

 

Important: This Code applies to all teachers, tutors, Buddies, mentors, staff members, contractors, volunteers, interns, assistants, and any other adults who interact with children through Florida Star Academy.

Core standard: Every adult must protect children’s safety, privacy, dignity, emotional wellbeing, and right to learn in a respectful environment.

1. Purpose of This Code

The purpose of this Tutor, Teacher & Buddy Code of Conduct is to define the behavior, boundaries, responsibilities, and professional standards expected of adults who work with children through Florida Star Academy.

This Code is designed to support child safety, professional integrity, educational quality, respectful communication, and parent trust.

2. Who Must Follow This Code

This Code applies to all adults who provide, support, observe, manage, or assist with Florida Star Academy programs, including:

• teachers;
• tutors;
• Buddies;
• mentors;
• coaches;
• contractors;
• volunteers;
• interns;
• program assistants;
• administrators;
• staff members;
• any other adult approved to interact with children through Florida Star Academy.

3. Educational Role

Adults working with children through Florida Star Academy provide educational and developmental support only.

Adults may support English speaking practice, communication development, storytelling, public speaking practice, confidence-building activities, group participation, and related learning exercises.

Adults may not present themselves as providing therapy, diagnosis, medical treatment, mental health counseling, speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, or clinical intervention unless separately licensed and expressly authorized in writing by Florida Star Academy for that role.

4. Professional Boundaries With Children

Adults must maintain clear, appropriate, and professional boundaries with children at all times.

Adults must not:

• contact children through personal phone numbers, private email accounts, social media, gaming platforms, messaging apps, or unauthorized channels;
• meet with a child outside approved program activities;
• ask a child to keep secrets from parents, guardians, or Florida Star Academy;
• request private photos, videos, home addresses, social media handles, or unnecessary personal information from a child;
• give personal gifts to a child without written approval from Florida Star Academy and the parent or guardian;
• share personal emotional problems or adult matters with a child;
• use romantic, sexual, suggestive, humiliating, threatening, discriminatory, or abusive language;
• engage in favoritism that creates emotional dependency or exclusion;
• continue contact with a child after program participation ends unless expressly approved through official channels.

Payments may be processed by third-party payment providers. Florida Star Academy does not intentionally store full credit card numbers on its own systems.

5. Approved Communication

Program communication must take place through Florida Star Academy-approved channels.

Parents and legal guardians are the primary point of contact for scheduling, payments, consent, program updates, safety concerns, and student participation matters.

Adults may communicate with children only as necessary for approved educational activities and only within authorized program settings.

6. Respectful Teaching Standards

Adults must create a learning environment that is respectful, age-appropriate, inclusive, and supportive.

Adults should:

• treat each child with dignity and patience;
• encourage participation without pressure, shame, or humiliation;
• use age-appropriate language, examples, and materials;
• respect a child’s communication pace and readiness;
• support effort, practice, and progress;
• avoid negative comparisons between children;
• protect children from bullying or ridicule during sessions;
• adapt activities when a child is visibly overwhelmed, distressed, or uncomfortable;
• notify Florida Star Academy leadership of concerns involving safety, wellbeing, or professional boundaries.

7. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is prohibited:

• bullying, intimidation, shaming, ridicule, or emotional manipulation;
• physical punishment or threats;
• sexual, romantic, suggestive, or inappropriate communication with or about a child;
• discriminatory or hateful language based on race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, disability, gender, sexual orientation, family background, language level, or other protected characteristics;
• sharing inappropriate images, links, files, jokes, videos, or online content;
• using alcohol, drugs, or impairing substances during or immediately before program activities;
• appearing in online sessions in an inappropriate setting or state of dress;
• recording, photographing, screenshotting, or sharing student content without authorization;
• using student information for personal purposes;
• violating Florida Star Academy privacy, safety, or communication policies.

8. Online Session Conduct

During online sessions, adults must follow professional online safety standards.

Adults must:

• use approved platforms and approved session links;
• begin and end sessions at scheduled times unless otherwise approved;
• conduct sessions from a professional, appropriate environment;
• avoid visible inappropriate materials, images, or distractions in the background;
• use respectful audio, video, chat, and screen-sharing practices;
• prevent unauthorized persons from entering or observing sessions;
• report technical, behavioral, or safety concerns promptly;
• follow recording and monitoring rules when applicable.

All adults working with children are expected to follow Florida Star Academy’s child safety standards and confidentiality obligations.

9. Confidentiality and Student Privacy

Adults may receive access to limited student information only as necessary to perform their educational role.

Adults must protect student privacy and may not disclose student information except as authorized by Florida Star Academy, required for program delivery, or required by law.

Student information includes names, ages, contact details, learning needs, attendance, class participation, progress notes, parent communications, recordings, images, and any other information that identifies or relates to a child.

10. Recording, Photos, Screenshots, and Media

Adults may not record, photograph, screenshot, download, publish, or share any child, class, message, recording, document, or student work unless expressly authorized by Florida Star Academy and, where required, by the parent or legal guardian.

Student images, voices, testimonials, work, or recordings may not be used for marketing, social media, training, or public communication without proper authorization.

11. Gifts, Favors, and Personal Relationships

Adults must avoid conduct that could create favoritism, dependency, secrecy, or confusion about professional boundaries.

Adults may not give or receive personal gifts, money, favors, private services, or personal invitations involving a child or family unless approved by Florida Star Academy.

12. Buddy-Specific Standards

Buddies have a supportive educational role. A Buddy may assist with encouragement, participation, peer-style modeling, speaking practice, and emotional ease within the educational setting.

Buddies must:

• follow all professional boundaries in this Code;
• work only through approved program structures;
• avoid private contact with children outside approved channels;
• encourage participation without pressure;
• report concerns to teachers or program leadership;
• avoid acting as a therapist, counselor, clinician, or personal advisor;
• respect the child’s pace, privacy, and dignity.

13. Reporting Concerns

Adults must promptly report concerns involving child safety, inappropriate communication, privacy, boundary violations, misconduct, bullying, discrimination, suspected abuse, or any situation that may place a child at risk.

Reports should be sent to: office@learnandworkflorida.com.

If a child appears to be in immediate danger, adults should contact emergency services or the appropriate authority as required by law and circumstances.

14. Mandatory Reporting and Legal Duties

Adults working with children must follow applicable child protection laws and reporting obligations.

Nothing in this Code prevents any person from contacting law enforcement, child protective services, emergency services, or another appropriate authority when they believe a child may be at risk.

Florida Star Academy may take steps to report concerns to appropriate authorities where required or appropriate.

15. Conflicts of Interest

Adults must disclose any relationship, outside arrangement, financial interest, or personal circumstance that may affect their professional role with a child or family.

Adults may not use Florida Star Academy programs to privately solicit students, families, payments, services, endorsements, employment, or business opportunities without written approval.

16. Compliance With Policies

Adults must comply with Florida Star Academy policies, including but not limited to:

• Child Safety Policy;
• Children’s Privacy / COPPA Notice;
• Privacy Policy;
• Terms & Conditions;
• Background Check Policy;
• No Private Contact Policy;
• Recording & Monitoring Policy;
• Incident Reporting Policy;
• program-specific instructions and safety standards.

17. Violations of This Code

Violations of this Code may result in corrective action, additional training, suspension, removal from child-facing activities, termination of contract or employment, restriction from future participation, notification to parents, preservation of records, or reporting to appropriate authorities when required or appropriate.

Florida Star Academy may take immediate action when child safety, privacy, or professional boundaries may be at risk.

18. Acknowledgment

By signing or electronically acknowledging this Code, I confirm that:

• I have read and understood this Tutor, Teacher & Buddy Code of Conduct;
• I agree to follow Florida Star Academy’s child safety and professional standards;
• I understand that private contact with children outside approved channels is prohibited;
• I agree to protect student privacy and confidentiality;
• I understand that violations may result in removal, termination, or reporting where required or appropriate.

Electronic signatures, typed names, checkbox confirmations, or online acknowledgments may be accepted where permitted by law and by Florida Star Academy’s internal process.

19. Contact Us

For questions about this Code of Conduct or to report a concern, contact:

Florida Star Academy
Email: office@learnandworkflorida.com
Website: https://floridastaracademy.com