Maintaining Appropriate Staff/Student Boundaries By Nancy Link

What are your boundaries with students ? In the Classroom On the playground In the cafeteria Sharing of personal information When using the internet at school & home at school & home Computer games including the internet the internet Calling students on phone, text-messaging, pictures text-messaging, pictures Extra-curricular activities Transporting students Physical contact

What is your emotional payback for this relationship? Analyze your motives Analyze your motives Are they safe for you and the student? Are they safe for you and the student? Consult a colleague Consult a colleague Is this in your and Is this in your and your students’ best your students’ best interest? interest?

What is inappropriate? Interactions that cross the boundaries that keep students separate from adult needs & Creates a relationship that becomes a peer-to-peer rather than adult-to-child vs vs

Examples Playing video games with students on the internet Playing video games with students on the internet Conversing with students via electronic media ie. text-messaging, , phone, blogs, myspace, facebook, twitter, etc. Conversing with students via electronic media ie. text-messaging, , phone, blogs, myspace, facebook, twitter, etc. Shoulder massages, lingering touches, covering for students who have broken a rule Shoulder massages, lingering touches, covering for students who have broken a rule Failure to notify administration if suspects student has romantic feeling toward a staff member Failure to notify administration if suspects student has romantic feeling toward a staff member Conversations with students that disclose personal information & confidential information, making the adult the focus Conversations with students that disclose personal information & confidential information, making the adult the focus

are those that create a safe environment in which students may grow, learn, seek help solving problems and conflicts, and develop social skills Appropriate Interactions

Examples Maintains appropriate personal space Maintains appropriate personal space Conversations are student focused not adult focused Conversations are student focused not adult focused Staff/student relationship centered on academics, school events and activities Staff/student relationship centered on academics, school events and activities Referring serious student problems to appropriately trained professionals Referring serious student problems to appropriately trained professionals Limits electronic communication with student to only that which is necessary for educational purposes and/or school- sponsored extracurricular activities Limits electronic communication with student to only that which is necessary for educational purposes and/or school- sponsored extracurricular activities Exercising good judgment on whether to touch a student and under which circumstances – always sensitive to individual and cultural norms Exercising good judgment on whether to touch a student and under which circumstances – always sensitive to individual and cultural norms

Hints for staying within Appropriate Boundaries with Students 1. Establish the boundaries & nature of the relationship 2. Understand your own emotional needs 3. Understand propriety issues related to helping relationships (power balance) 4. Be prepared to develop a specific plan with a team approach (never alone) 5. Understand the emotional and physical development of students

Words of Wisdom Staff members should be aware of their own emotional needs and those needs might affect the staff/student relationship Professional & personal boundaries become blurred when staff members take students to lunch off-campus, write and receive personal notes or make physical contact Students who believe no one listens to them often transfer feelings of affection to the staff member. Refer students to the school counselor or administrator.