As we contemplate on the ethical and moral state of our public schools, we began to consider the ethical and moral state of its leaders, including myself.
While almost every profession has a code of ethics who purpose is to guide the actions within the profession and ensure integrity for all that have the privilege to serve within the profession, we can’t help but think that these codes are just that, “secret codes” that everyone prescribes to, but very few professionals internalize, live, and promote in others.Just like the “law is for the lawless”, “ethics are for the unethical”, and “morals are for the immoral.”
Don’t you DARE act as though lawless, unethical, and immoral people do not walk the halls, sit in the desks, make the announcements, sit on the board, and instruct our children every day. While there are many upstanding educators and administrators, there are those that are not so competent in all settings as well. They have no ethics or morals and as a result, have nothing meaningful to instill in our children.
To provide education without ethical or moral foundations is like creating a monster without restraint or concern for others. (I will NOT mention any names, I will NOT mention any names, I will NOT mention any names…whew!)
The American Association of School Administrators (AASA) is an organization that felt the need for ethical guidelines in order to promote the integrity of school administrators so strongly that they adopted their own code of ethics that I have found to be exceptional. 
Code of Ethics
AASA’s Statement of Ethics for Educational Leaders
An educational leader’s professional conduct must conform to an ethical code of behavior, and the code must set high standards for all educational leaders. The educational leader provides professional leadership across the district and also across the community. This responsibility requires the leader to maintain standards of exemplary professional conduct while recognizing that his or her actions will be viewed and appraised by the community, professional associates and students.
The educational leader acknowledges that he or she serves the schools and community by providing equal educational opportunities to each and every child. The work of the leader must emphasize accountability and results, increased student achievement, and high expectations for each and every student.
To these ends, the educational leader subscribes to the following statements of standards.
The educational leader:
- Makes the education and well-being of students the fundamental value of all decision making.
- Fulfills all professional duties with honesty and integrity and always acts in a trustworthy and responsible manner.
- Supports the principle of due process and protects the civil and human rights of all individuals.
- Implements local, state and national laws.
- Advises the school board and implements the board’s policies and administrative rules and regulations.
- Pursues appropriate measures to correct those laws, policies, and regulations that are not consistent with sound educational goals or that are not in the best interest of children.
- Avoids using his/her position for personal gain through political, social, religious, economic or other influences.
- Accepts academic degrees or professional certification only from accredited institutions.
- Maintains the standards and seeks to improve the effectiveness of the profession through research and continuing professional development.
- Honors all contracts until fulfillment, release or dissolution mutually agreed upon by all parties.
- Accepts responsibility and accountability for one’s own actions and behaviors.
- Commits to serving others above self.
— Adopted by the AASA Governing Board, March 1, 2007 ***************************************** AASA, you hit the nail on the head with this code! Thank you for establishing an ethical standard of excellence for all of us to wholeheartedly strive toward for our children. The challenge: What is your ethical core? or even better yet, Do you have an ethical core?
