NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

46 6. Become more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors such as substance abuse, promiscuity, reckless driving, and suicide attempts in adolescents 7. Become focused on the loss Students should be offered additional supports, such as tutoring or participation in mentoring programs to assist them in maintaining their academic progress before academic failure occurs, which would represent an additional stressor. What Teachers Can Do: 1. Listen – to what students want to share with you. It may be difficult but just listening can be a powerful healing force. 2. Protect – students from becoming re-traumatized. Sometimes other students may ridicule or bully students who are highly emotional or cry. 3. Connect – with students who have suffered a loss by asking how they are doing; checking in with them on a regular basis; letting them know that you are available to listen; or giving them positive feedback about their attendance or classroom work. 4. Model – adult behavior that shows them how responsible adults react to loss and respond to a crisis. Adults may grieve, but they continue to act with consideration and maintain calm routines at school. 5. Teach – Crisis counselors can teach students about the normal signs and symptoms of grief and/or trauma so that students can assess and understand their own behavior and learn new ways of coping. PART 4: OVER-ARCHING POLICIES APPENDICES Appendix A: CODE OF ETHICS OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION OF FLORIDA 6B-1.001 Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida (1) The educator 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) The educator's primary professional concern will always be for the student and for the development of the student's potential. The educator will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.