Professionalism

Contents

Professionalism

The CECE strives to model early education as a profession and maintains a core value of professionalism:

We recognize, value, and support the educators at Fort Hill as professionals. The teachers maintain a deep, research-based knowledge of child development, teaching, and learning in collaboration with researchers and educators in the field of early childhood education. The educators assume significant responsibility and maintain professional standards, qualifications, and best practices. We value a professional work environment and culture of continuous learning and development with many varied opportunities for professional engagement and time out of the classroom to plan, reflect, prepare, and communicate with colleagues and families. The professionalism of the educators and their dedication to children and families provides the foundation for our program.

 

Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care Licensing Regulations

The Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licenses the program – the program number is 2911756. The EEC may be reached at:

1441 Main Street, Suite 230
Springfield, MA 01103
Phone: (413) 788-8401
Fax: (413) 784-1227
Directions to EEC Springfield Office  pdf format of Directions to EEC Springfield Office docx format of Directions to EEC Springfield Office

All teachers are responsible for meeting all EEC regulations. The licensing regulations are available here. The program is licensed every three years; the EEC may choose to conduct an inspection at anytime. Please see the EEC Observation Record for a list of items the EEC considers in a licensing visit.

Please see the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment.

Confidentiality – Information Regarding Children

Information regarding children and their families must be held in strict confidence and discussed only with other appropriate staff members in the context of providing an appropriate environment and care for children. This information should never be discussed in the presence of children. If parents want to discuss their children’s functioning in the program or related issues when they pick up their children at dismissal time, please ask them to contact the supervising teacher to arrange a specific other time to do so. It is appropriate to discuss the children’s activities of the day with parents and children and to pass on general information.

The EEC regulation states:
“Information pertaining to children and their families is privileged and confidential. No licensee or educator may distribute or release information about a child or his/her family to any unauthorized person, or discuss with any unauthorized person information about a child or his/her family without the written consent of the child’s parent. (606 CMR 7.00)”

No Personal Identifiable Information used by outside public – Personal Identifying Information must remain in the building.

If a family asks to photograph children at the CECE, please remind them that to protect the privacy of the children and their families, photographs are allowed only for personal use. 

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) of CECE students may only be used for CECE purposes, never for personal use without the permission of CECE and the parents/guardians. Whenever PII is disclosed to a vendor or other third party, the parents should be given a timely option to opt out and the CECE should be extra careful in confirming safeguards used by the third party.

Personal Relationships with Families

College policy (below) strictly prohibits employees from interacting with families outside of the requirements of their job.

Staff talk about individual children only with the child’s parents, and never in the presence of other families. Staff refrain from talking about children in front of children unless they are included in the conversation.

5) Limitations on Gifts and Interactions

Faculty, staff, students and volunteers are strictly prohibited from:

  • giving gifts as individuals to minors or vulnerable adults or their families outside of the specific requirements of the program or the specific requirements of their job,

  • meeting with minors or vulnerable adults individually or with their families outside of the specific requirements of the program or the specific requirements of their job, or

  • interacting with minors or vulnerable adults individually or with their families through electronic communications such as email or on personal social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or other similar sites outside of the specific requirements of the program or the specific requirements of their job.

Personal Babysitting and Child Care Services

Regular employees and long-term substitutes should not provide child care outside of the program for families who are enrolled in the program. Although developing appropriate personal relationships with the children and their families is an important part of creating a responsive environment, we also respect the professional nature of these relationships. As we strive to maintain a balance between the personal and professional, we have found that direct involvement with families outside the program has the potential for disrupting this balance. We believe it is in the best interest of staff, children and families to uphold this policy.

The office coordinator maintains a record of Smith College students who have worked at Fort Hill and are interested in babysitting.

Birthday Parties

The balance between a professional and a personal relationship with families can be disrupted when staff members attend children’s birthday parties. We ask that regular employees and long-term substitutes refrain from accepting invitations to children’s birthday parties. This policy is also detailed in the Parent Handbook and is intended to protect both children and teachers. It is likely that teachers will not be able to accept every invitation and we would like to eliminate the possibility that a child is disappointed because a teacher attended one child’s party and not another’s. The policy also ensures that teachers do not feel pressure to attend school-related functions on personal time. The policy prevents the perception that some teachers are more accessible, caring or involved than other teachers because of how they choose to spend their personal time.

Social Media

The CECE maintains department social media accounts, which are maintained by identified individuals and follow College guidelines for communications.

All staff follow College guidelines for their personal social media accounts and do not post any information related to their professional work at CECE, including photos or information about children or staff. Staff are strongly discouraged from maintaining relationships on social media with families in order to maintain professional boundaries. 

“At all times, and in all media (including personal social media), the release of confidential information—including proprietary information about Smith students, prospective students, faculty, staff or alumnae—is strictly prohibited by the Smith College Code of Conduct.”

Smoking

No smoking is allowed on the Fort Hill campus grounds and buildings. Many children, families and staff members are allergic to smoke and we ask that employees refrain from smoking before and during work hours because smoke odors linger on clothing.

Cell Phones

Teachers and student workers refrain from using their cell phones whenever they are responsible for children or in a setting with the children present. All cell phones are either:

  • stored outside of the classroom and on “silent” mode; or,
  • powered off, if the phone is in the classroom or carried on the individual.

If a teacher has an unusual circumstance and must check for a call repeatedly (e.g., an emergency such as a sick child), she may give the caller the office telephone number (413-585-3290) or briefly check her cell phone when she is away from children or on a break. 

Dress

Please dress appropriately for the responsibilities associated with the position you hold. Certain kinds of clothing (e.g., short shorts, ripped jeans, mini skirts, midriff shirts) are not appropriate for a program that tries to convey to others that we are professionals. Clothing with commercial or provocative slogans are not appropriate.

Other kinds of clothing and accessories (e.g., spiked heels, certain kinds of jewelry, clothing that doesn’t allow for easy movement) may interfere with your job performance and/or be unsafe. 

Casual outfits and footwear that are comfortable and allow for easy movement are appropriate. Teachers wear shoes at all times; many teachers keep a pair of “indoor shoes” or slippers available.

Out of respect for children and adults who have respiratory problems (asthma, etc.), we encourage staff not to wear strong perfumes or colognes.

Eating in Classrooms

Please model appropriate and courteous eating habits for children. Staff members join children for snack and/or lunch and eat at the tables. If classrooms have an open snack procedure, staff may join children at the tables and may not eat standing up or walking around, or eat at times that children are not allowed to eat. Please model professional behavior for students and visitors and courteous behavior for children by refraining from eating while working in the classroom except in these circumstances. The teachers’ workroom is available during breaks. Because families are requested to send nutritious food for their children, we ask staff to eat only healthful food in the classroom.

Teachers should only eat in classrooms when they are seated with children. This policy is intended to model appropriate eating habits and to allow all teachers to be actively engaged with children while they are in the classroom. If you have a particular dietary need that requires you to eat elsewhere, please work with your team to plan a break.

Reporting to Parents and EEC

State law mandates conditions under which reports must be made to the EEC or to parents.

  • Parents must be notified:
    • Immediately of any injury which requires any medical care beyond minor first aid or of any emergency administration of non-prescription medication
    • Immediately of any allegation of abuse or neglect involving their children while in the care and custody of the licensee
    • whenever a communicable disease or condition has been identified in the program
    • prior to or as soon as possible following any change in educators
    • at the end of the day regarding any minor first aid administered
    • whenever special problems and significant developments arise, as provided at
    • in writing seven days prior to the implementation of any change in program policy or procedures
    • prior to the introduction of any pets into the program
    • of the use of any herbicides or pesticides, prior to their use whenever possible;
    • whenever the program deviates from the planned menu.

Communication and Staff Relationships

Communication among staff is a critical element of a successful program. Although different staff positions entail different responsibilities, all staff members work as a cooperative team to provide the best possible environment for children and families. Supervising teachers are responsible for managing classrooms and teaching teams.

If you have a conflict or a concern at work, please first discuss the problem with those who are directly involved. If the issue is not resolved, please talk with your supervisor, the director or the assistant director. If the problem cannot be resolved within the CECE, please refer to the College Handbook for appropriate steps to take.