Standard 7 - Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the                           community

 

It is essential that the educator has a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to codes of ethics and conduct in the teaching profession. A misinterpretation or lack of knowledge in this aspect of professionalism can have detrimental effects on the safety of the students as well as the career of the educator. Educators must apply their knowledge of the standard in order to work in the best interests of the students as well as uphold the values of the teacher profession (Silverman and Warnick, 2011).

 

Educators cannot act in the best interests of the child without building collaborative relationships with the child’s family. The parents/careers of the child can be a valuable source of information to educators when seeking background information about the child that is likely to support development or behavior related issues. Allocating time and pursuing these relationships is a way of showing families that you are committed to supporting the development of their child. Educators must develop strategies that accommodate for parents when sharing confidential information or concerns.

 

Parent involvement in their child’s education is critical to the success of the child. By developing a partnership with the child’s family the educator is creating a support network for the child, giving the child a sense of security. The formation of these networks benefits everyone involved, the student, the teacher, the parent and the wider school community (Chakraborty and Stone, 2011).