Standards of Conduct with Students

We are committed to helping students thrive, and keeping them safe. As an adult working in an environment of vulnerable children and young adults, you must understand the gravity of maintaining a safe environment for students. Failure to abide by these Standards of Conduct with Students will result in disciplinary action. Disciplinary action may result in the early end to your placement; reduced access to future jobs with Zen; or termination from Zen. In addition, such behaviours may result in loss of teaching credentials or criminal charges.

The No Touching Policy

You must avoid physical contact with students at all times. This protects the child from the risk of physical, sexual, emotional, and other harms. It also protects you against the appearance of causing harm.

For example, you must never:

• Hug a student
• Grab a fleeing student by the arm
• Push a student
• Break up a fight between students
• Give a student a “leg up” to help climb something
• Having a child sit on your lap

The only exceptions to this rule are as follows:

• If you are working as a 1:1 SPED Paraprofessional Aide performing a very specific task as requested and overseen by the classroom teacher or another staff member, which you have been specifically trained to do and you are comfortable performing. For example this could include changing a diaper or assisting a student into a wheelchair.
• If you have been trained in Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) Training, and a crisis situation arises that requires a CPI-related hold for the safety of the child or for others.

Additional Must-Not List

In addition to the above, as a Zen Educator, you must not...

• Give gifts to individual students
• Give excessive attention towards a particular student (unless in the context of your work as a 1:1 aide)
• Fraternize with a student - students are not your friends, and relationships must be kept professional
• Attempt to or carry on with friendships and relationships with students outside of the school setting
• Communicate with students through calling, texting, social media, or other technology; during or outside of school hours
• Intentionally be alone with a student
• Make or participate in any sexually inappropriate comments, advances, innuendos, stares, gestures, or other behaviors towards students or other staff members
• Use profane, sexual, or violent language with students
• Yell at a student
• Threaten violence to a student