Principles of Good Practice: Secondary School Educators

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Preamble: The following principles provide common ground for interaction between independent school professionals and their many constituents (parents, students, colleagues at other schools, and the public). The NAIS Principles of Good Practice for member schools define high standards and ethical behavior in key areas of school operations to guide schools in becoming the best education communities they can be, to embed the expectation of professionalism, and to further our sector’s core values of transparency, excellence, and inclusivity. Accordingly, membership in NAIS is contingent upon agreement to abide by the spirit of the PGPs.

Overview: Secondary school educators are committed to helping their students move from adolescence to young adulthood.

Principles of Good Practice:

1. Secondary school educators help students become passionate, serious scholars capable of effective communication, sustained work, independent thought, meaningful collaboration, and original expression.
2. Secondary school educators use their training and knowledge of their disciplines to design programs appropriate to the developmental characteristics of this age.
3. Secondary school educators employ a range of teaching and assessment strategies that invite students to learn and to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways.
4. Secondary school educators teach to the learning styles, abilities, and life experiences of their students.
5. Secondary school educators develop and sustain relationships with colleagues that benefit their students and further their own professional growth.
6. Secondary school educators develop and sustain relationships with parents that support each student’s well-being and increasing autonomy.
7. Secondary school educators take responsibility for being role models.
8. Secondary school educators affirm and defend the dignity and worth of each member of the community and maintain an environment that fosters respect.
9. Secondary school educators help students take more and more responsibility for themselves and the multiple communities in which they live.
10. Secondary school educators prepare students to take advantage of subsequent opportunities for learning and to take their places as members of a democratic society and the global community.