Las Vegas Sun

March 18, 2024

Bill would create code of conduct for Nevada teachers

CARSON CITY — A Las Vegas lawmaker is proposing a bill to create a professional code of conduct for Nevada public school teachers.

Under the bill sponsored by Democratic Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz, a 12-member advisory panel of educators, parents and State Board of Education members would develop standards for the Nevada Model Code of Educator Ethics.

The code would clearly state guidelines for interpersonal relationships between school employees and students from pre-kindergarten through high school.

“There are many professions in different fields that have ethics as standards, but teachers in our state have no such parameters established,” Diaz said Wednesday before the Assembly Committee on Education.

Teacher-student relationship researcher Troy Hutchings said that without a written code, teachers are left to rely on personal morality and life experiences to set boundaries, putting them at risk to make mistakes.

“Everybody is vulnerable to missteps and we need to understand that,” said Hutchings, whose research has included studies in at least seven states. “Sometimes the teachers most at risk are those who care the most.”

Those testifying in favor of Assembly Bill 124 included Clark County School District lobbyist Theo Small, Washoe County School District lobbyist Lindsay Anderson and Nevada Association of School Boards representative Jessica Ferrato. No one spoke against the bill.

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