The Nebraska Professional Practices Commission has established a Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession (February, 1996).  This Code, adopted by the Nebraska Board of Education, consists of a set of five standards for public school certificate holders in Nebraska with respect to ethical and professional conduct and are, therefore declared to be the criteria of ethical and professional performance adopted pursuant to the provisions of Section 79-1282 R.R.S. for holders of Nebraska public school certificates.  The same high moral and personal standards as required by certified teachers by the laws of the State of Nebraska must be met by Wayne State College teacher education students.  Violation of institutional and/or Board of Trustees policies or regulations can be sufficient cause for denial of retention in the teacher education program.  Teacher education students must also be free from any impairments such as those that would cause revocation of a teaching certificate by the State Board of Education.

All Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy (NENTA) students at Wayne State College will receive and must review the State of Nebraska Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession pamphlet.  This material will be presented during the NENTA Retreat in August.  If NENTA students have not received or do not understand any part of that pamphlet, they should contact either of the NENTA Project Coordinators for clarification.

Principle I of the State of Nebraska Code of Ethics for the Teaching Profession deals with the individual's commitment as a Professional Educator.  The opening paragraph reads "Fundamental to the pursuit of high educational standards is the maintenance of a profession possessed of individuals with high skills, intellect, integrity, wisdom, and compassion.  THE EDUCATOR SHALL EXHIBIT GOOD MORAL CHARACTER, MAINTAIN HIGH STANDARDS OF PERFORMANCE, AND PROMOTE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY."

With this in mind, following is the "Student Code of Ethics" of the Wayne State College Education Division.   It is the expectation of the NENTA Project that NENTA students will uphold this code throughout their substitute teaching experience.

We, the students of the Division of Education, affirm and accept our responsibility to complete our professional preparation according to the highest ethical standards.

We will exert every effort to raise educational standards, to improve our service, and to achieve conditions which attract persons worthy of trust.

Aware of the value of united effort, we will contribute actively to the development and growth of our intellectual and moral capacities. In fulfilling these obligations to the profession, we:
1. recognize that a profession must accept responsibility for the conduct of its members.
2. understand that our own conduct may be regarded as representative of the profession.
3. participate in the development and implementation of policies affecting our education.
4. accord just and equitable treatment to all members of the profession in the exercise of their professional rights and responsibilities.
5. interpret and use research with intellectual honesty.
6. keep the trust under which confidential information is exchanged.
7. refrain from commenting unprofessionally about a pupil, fellow student, teacher, or associate in an academic situation.
8. respect the rules and regulations of the schools as agencies to which we are assigned for field experience purposes.

Failure to comply with any portion of the Code of Ethics may result in dismissal from the Northeast Nebraska Teacher Academy Project.