For more information, visit our website:
branhamchristian.org
About J.E. Branham Christian Academy
Kingdom Greetings,
My name is Shontia’ Branham. I have a Master’s Degree in Education. I have been in public education for over 25 years and have decided to open a Christian school in the Tampa Bay area where a lot of our elementary students are failing. J. E. Branham Christian Academy (BCA) is a 501(c)3 under Hope 4 2day Ministries and we are in the startup phase of our school. We desire to serve the Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay area by providing a Christian based education to those students and families who desire such.
We are looking to build tomorrow’s leaders to be the catalyst to change their immediate environment surrounding them. Our children will not only receive education in the area of academics, but we will also focus on character development. BCA will offer smaller classroom sizes, teacher regulation and the children will be educated about their Creator, God!
Our mission, at J. E. Branham Christian Academy, is to provide a superior Christian education to our students by assisting our families and our community to help develop each child’s individual and unique gift through academics, morals and a strong foundation in Christ Jesus, which brings honor and glory to God. We will also incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) as a variation of our curriculum as we look to prepare students for 21st century careers and entrepreneurship.
Our competitors are the public-school system who have our students in failing schools. The differences between the public schools and the private Christian schools are vast. The public-school system has too many schools that enroll students and treat them as if they were a number or dollar sign. They allow their teachers to become tenure, which secures the teachers position and regardless if she teaches or sits at her desk, she will be paid. We regulate teacher performance because we know that student performance is extremely important to the future of society.
The school system is receiving approximately $9,449 per student, which allows them to serve the child’s emergent need; however, the children are failing at alarming rates. The industry, in our opinion, is not fair in the private educational sector, the children receive their tuition through tax credits, which are approximately $6,920 per student, which is a significant deficit compared to public school educational funding. There are so many public schools that are allowing our children to fail when education is so important for their future.
We, here at J. E. Branham Christian Academy, believe that all children can learn regardless of disability, lack of experiences or culture. The emergence of individual growth varies with each child. Although most children benefit from group instruction, some children experience success with an emphasis on one modality, (i.e., kinesthetic, visual or auditory learning) which is identified and used to facilitate the acquiring of new skills.
The foundation of our school is not religious, but Bible based only. We speak where the Bible speaks and are silent where the Bible is silent. BCA’s philosophy and assessments will be implemented using teacher observations, standardized testing, small and large group instruction.
We are targeting the low-income and disenfranchised students of Hillsborough County, Tampa Bay area. We are developing more research on why students tend to fail in the public-school sector and what we can do to make learning more exciting. We are planning to enroll students from failing schools to give them the opportunity to engage in a smaller Christian learning environment with rigor, relevance and relationships.
We emphasize sensitivity to each child’s physical, intellectual, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual needs. Our focus will be on assisting with students learning to be humble, respectful and having a positive influence on the world around them. Healthy mental attitudes, self-esteem, and appropriate guidance techniques are fostered in the classroom, on the playground and on field trips.
Parents are required to volunteer in order for their child to remain enrolled because we believe that parental involvement is very vital to a child’s growth. Therefore, by being involved in going on field trips, volunteering in the classroom, etc. will create support to the child in many ways.
Our curriculum will serve the children’s needs by building self-esteem and courage towards learning by “chunking” lessons and allowing the children to correct mistakes (which creates learning) before submitting assignments.
BCA does not discriminate based on race or gender in evaluating student applicants. Church membership shall not be a determining factor in the admission decision. Branham Christian Academy is a private institution and reserves the right to accept or reject any applicants academic or behavior record in making decisions regarding admittance or retention.
A consideration of admission is for families and students not to take offense at the Christian nature and influence of Branham Christian Academy. Parents and students will be required to sign the Honor Code published in their handbook.
Throughout their time with us, we will ask the parents to fill out a survey to see if our school is a good fit for their child(ren). We will offer the parents and students a more individualized approach to learning by providing smaller classroom sizes in order to meet the individual educational needs of each student.
We are seeking partners in our quest to advance the Kingdom of God. We are looking to raise $250,000 by April 2021 to facilitate our start-up funds which include our lease of a building, furniture, curriculum, materials and starting teacher salaries. We will maintain funds using the Florida Tax Credit which does not disperse until the end of September.
Finally, we solicit your prayers for this Kingdom work. We recognize that without the body of Christ operating and working together that we cannot accomplish all that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has called us to do.
Thank you and may God Bless your Kingdom work!
Shontia’ Branham, Owner/Director
TO DONATE TO J.E. BRANHAM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CLICK THE LINK BELOW:
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MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: J. E. BRANHAM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
P.O. BOX 13 VALRICO, FL 33594
J.E. BRANHAM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
POLICY AND CODE OF ETHICS FOR TEACHERS & ADMINISTRATORS
Code of Ethics for Teachers & Administrators
1. The educator values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of
truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and the nurture of democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.
2. The educator’s primary professional concern will always be for the student and
for the development of the student’s potential. The educator will therefore strive for
professional growth and will seek to exercise the best professional judgment and integrity.
3. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of one’s
colleagues, of students, of parents, and of other members of the community, the
educator strives to achieve and sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.
Principles of Professional Conduct for Teachers & Administrators
1. The following disciplinary rule shall constitute the Principles of Professional
Conduct for J.E. Branham Christian Academy.
2. Violation of any of these principles shall subject the individual to
revocation or suspension of the individual educator’s certificate, or the
other penalties as provided by law.
3. Obligation to the student requires that the individual:
a. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions
harmful to learning and/or to the student’s mental and/or physical health and/or safety.
b. Shall not unreasonably restrain a student from independent action in pursuit of learning.
c. Shall not unreasonably deny a student access to diverse points of view.
d. Shall not intentionally suppress or distort subject matter relevant to a
student’s academic program.
e. Shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or
disparagement.
f. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student’s legal rights.
g. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race,
color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, marital
status, handicapping condition, sexual orientation, or social and family
background and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is
protected from harassment or discrimination.
h. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.
i. Shall keep in confidence personally identifiable information obtained in
the course of professional service, unless disclosure serves professional purposes or is required by law.
4. Obligation to the public requires that the individual:
a. Shall take reasonable precautions to distinguish between personal views
and those of any educational institution or organization with which the individual is
affiliated.
b. Shall not intentionally distort or misrepresent facts concerning an
educational matter in direct or indirect public expression.
c. Shall not use institutional privileges for personal gain or advantage.
d. Shall accept no gratuity, gift, or favor that might influence professional
judgment.
e. Shall offer no gratuity, gift, or favor to obtain special advantages.
5. Obligation to the profession of education requires that the individual:
a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.
b. Shall not on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin,
political beliefs, marital status, handicapping condition if otherwise qualified, or social
and family background deny to a colleague professional benefits or advantages or
participation in any professional organization.
c. Shall not interfere with a colleague’s exercise of political or civil rights
and responsibilities.
d. Shall not engage in harassment or discriminatory conduct which
unreasonably interferes with an individual’s performance of professional or work responsibilities or with the orderly processes of education or which creates a hostile, intimidating, abusive, offensive, or oppressive environment; and, further, shall make reasonable effort to assure that each individual is protected from such harassment or discrimination.
e. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.
f. Shall not use coercive means or promise special treatment to influence
professional judgments of colleagues.
g. Shall not misrepresent one’s own professional qualifications.
h. Shall not submit fraudulent information on any document in connection
with professional activities.
i. Shall not make any fraudulent statement or fail to disclose a material fact
in one’s own or another’s application for a professional position.
j. Shall not withhold information regarding a position from an applicant or
misrepresent an assignment or conditions of employment.
k. Shall provide upon the request of the certificated individual a written
statement of specific reason for recommendations that lead to the denial of
increments, significant changes in employment, or termination of
employment.
l. Shall not assist entry into or continuance in the profession of any person
known to be unqualified in accordance with these Principles of
Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida and other
applicable Florida Statutes and State Board of Education Rules.
m. Shall self-report within forty-eight (48) hours to appropriate authorities (as
determined by district) any arrests/charges involving the abuse of a child
or the sale and/or possession of a controlled substance. Such notice shall not be considered an admission of guilt nor shall such notice be admissible
for any purpose in any proceeding, civil or criminal, administrative or judicial, investigatory or adjudicatory. In addition, shall self-report any
conviction, finding of guilt, withholding of adjudication, commitment to a pretrial diversion program, or entering of a plea of guilty or
Nolo Contendre for any criminal offense other than a minor traffic violation within forty-eight (48) hours after the final judgment. When handling sealed and expunged records disclosed under this rule, school districts shall comply with the confidentiality provisions of Sections
943.0585(4)(c) and 943.059(4)(c), Florida Statutes.
n. Shall report to appropriate authorities any known allegation of a violation
of the Florida School Code or State Board of Education Rules as defined in
Section 1012.795(1), Florida Statutes.
o. Shall seek no reprisal against any individual who has reported any
allegation of a violation of the Florida School Code or State Board of
Education Rules as defined in Section 1012.795(1), Florida Statutes.
p. Shall comply with the conditions of an order of the Education Practices Commission.
q. Shall, as the supervising administrator, cooperate with the Education
Practices Commission in monitoring the probation of a subordinate.
Reporting Guidelines, Standards & Procedures
- Every teacher and administrator of J.E. Branham Christian Academy has the
obligation to report any employee or administrator misconduct that affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student.
2. Employee liability protections are provided under sections 29.203 and
768.095 of the Florida Statutes, a copy of which are attached to this policy.
3. Every teacher and administrator of J.E. Branham Christian Academy is
required to complete training on the School’s adopted Code of Ethics Policy.
4. Confidentiality agreements with teachers or administrators who are dismissed,
terminated, or resign are strictly prohibited.
5. Notices are to be posted in an area frequented by School employees that they
have a duty to report actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
6. A notice of the School’s policy and procedures for reporting misconduct of
school teachers and administrators which affects the health, safety or welfare
of a student must be posted at the school site and on the school website and
must include a contact person.
Reporting Misconduct & Abuse
Section 1006.061(1), Florida Statutes, requires each district school, charter school and private school that accepts scholarship students under ss. 220.187 or 1002.39, Florida Statutes, to post in a prominent place a notice that pursuant to chapter 39 all employees and agents of the district school board, charter school or private school have an affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
Section 1006.061(2), Florida Statutes, requires each district school, charter school and private school that accepts scholarship students to post at the school site and on the schools’ internet site (if available) the policies and procedures for reporting alleged misconduct by instructional personnel or school administrators which affects the health, safety or welfare of a student. The notices must include the contact person to whom the report is made and the penalties imposed on those instructional personnel or school administrators who fail to report suspected child abuse or misconduct by other instructional personnel or school administrators.
Section 1006.061, Florida Statutes, requires the Department to provide sample notices suitable for posting. The attached posters are provided as samples for district schools, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students under ss. 220.187 or 1002.39, Florida Statutes. The sample posters may be printed and used as is, may be used in a modified form, or may be used as inspiration to develop a unique poster. Each school or district may also develop its own poster that suits the needs of the school or district as desired.
Child Abuse
Dial 1-800-96-ABUSE
Signs of Physical Abuse
The child may have unexplained bruises, welts, cuts, or other injuries broken bones or burns
A child experiencing physical abuse may:
seem withdrawn or depressed
seem afraid to go home or may run away
shy away from physical contact
be aggressive
wear inappropriate clothing to hide injuries
Signs of Sexual Abuse
The child may have:
torn, stained or bloody underwear
trouble walking or sitting
pain or itching in genital area
a sexually transmitted disease
A child experiencing sexual abuse may:
have unusual knowledge of sex or act seductively
fear a particular person
seem withdrawn or depressed
gain or lose weight suddenly
shy away from physical contact
run away from home
Signs of Neglect
The child may have:
unattended medical needs
little or no supervision at home
poor hygiene
appear underweight
A child experiencing neglect may:
be frequently tired or hungry
steal food
appear overly needy for adult attention
Look for the Patterns
Serious abuse usually involves a combination of factors. While a single sign may not be significant, a pattern of physical or behavioral signs is a serious indicator and should be reported.
If a child tells YOU about abuse:
Be a good listener. Show that you understand and believe what the child tells you. Encourage, but don’t pressure him/her to talk. Ask open ended questions.
Be supportive. Tell the child he/she did the right thing by coming to you. Stress that he/she is not to blame. Let the child know that you want to help.
Don’t overreact. This can frighten the child or prevent him/her from telling you more. Do not talk negatively about the suspected abuser in front of the child.
Document and report it. Document your conversation as soon as you can. If possible, write down the child’s exact words.
Don’t delay. Never assume someone else will report the abuse. The sooner it’s reported, the sooner the child and their family can be helped.
WHO MUST REPORT ABUSE?
Doctors
Nurses
Social Workers
Police Officers
Child Care Workers
Any Witnesses
Any/All School Personnel
Call or Report it online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/
Florida Statutes s. 1006.061 states all employees and agents of the district school board, charter schools and private schools that accept scholarship students, have an obligation to report misconduct by an instructional personnel member or school administrator
Florida Statutes s. 1012.33 outlines disciplinary procedures regarding district employment contracts with instructional personnel staff, supervisors and school principals
Florida Statutes s. 1012.795 provides the Education Practices Commission the authority to issue disciplinary action against an individual’s Florida Educator certificate
Florida Statutes s. 1012.796 provides authority for the Department of Education to investigate and prosecute allegations of educator misconduct
Florida Statute s. 1012.01 defines public school instructional personnel, administrative personnel, school volunteers, education support employees and managers
State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.001 defines the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida
State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006 defines the Principals of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida
HOW TO REPORT
MISCONDUCT
Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by an instructional personnel member to your school administrator or district contact
Report allegations or suspicion of misconduct by your school administrator to your district contact
Document the activities or details of the event.
Secure evidence (if applicable)
If someone tells you about misconduct, be a LEADER:
Listen
Evaluate
Act immediately
Document
Encourage
Report
WHO SHOULD
REPORT MISCONDUCT?
All employees and agents of a district school board, charter school or private school have a duty to report misconduct.
If you are aware of or observe misconduct
REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY!
WHO SHOULD
YOU REPORT?
Classroom teachers
Paraprofessionals
Substitute teachers
Librarians, guidance counselors and social workers
Career specialists and school psychologists
Principals, Assistant Principals and Deans
“A teacher affects eternity…he can never tell where his influence stops.”
~Henry B. Adams
Failure to
Report
Misconduct
Possible penalties for instructional
personnel or site administrators who fail to report misconduct may include:
Written Reprimand
Suspension with or without pay
Termination of employment
Discipline/Sanctions on an educator’s certificate
The following behavior may be
indicative of misconduct that
should be reported:
being alone with a student in dark or closed room or secluded area
behaving in an overly friendly or familiar way or failing to maintain an appropriate professional boundary with a student
using forceful or unnecessary physical contact with a student
administering discipline not compliant with district policy
accepting or offering of gifts for return of a favor or privilege from students or colleagues
badgering or habitually teasing a student
mocking or belittling a student
chronically embarrassing a student
displaying prejudice or bigotry against a student
suspicion of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
failing to properly supervise students or to ensure student safety
cheating, falsifying information or testing violations
retaliating against a student or colleague for reporting misconduct
bantering or engaging in colloquial or slang communications with a student
directing or using profane, offensive, or explosive language in the presence of students
making lewd or suggestive comments or overtures toward a student or colleague
Apply the litmus test
1. If you feel uncomfortable
2. If you question the person’s motives or actions
3. If you are unsure
Protect the students and yourself and report.
Identifying and reporting Professional Misconduct
“By virtue of their leadership
capacity, teachers are traditionally
held to a high moral standard in a
community”
Adams v. State of Florida Professional Practices Council,
406 So 2nd 1170 Fla. 1st DCA 1981
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
CONTACT:
Florida Department of Education
Office of Professional Practices Services
Turlington Building
325 West Gaines Street
(850)245-0438
Hope 4 2Day Ministries 