The faculty and support staff of St. Paul Lutheran School come from divergent backgrounds but they all share a common goal of nurturing spirits, engaging minds, and equipping children to transform their community.
The elementary and middle school faculty is made up of trained educators, certified by the state of Florida. Faculty members in the Pre-Kindergarten program all have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree. Staff members in our Early Childhood Enrichment Center (ECEC) meet all the standards of the state of Florida and make the ECEC a learning center, not simply child care.
Many faculty members have been trained specifically to educate children in a Lutheran school setting. One frequent comment by parents about our faculty is that there is no doubt that the children are loved unconditionally and are treated with respect. We also are known for having high expectations for children as learners and as citizens in a Christian setting.
Our teachers blend innovative practices with the best of traditional methodologies. All classrooms in our Pre-Kindergarten, elementary school and middle school feature interactive whiteboards which allows a high degree of technology integration. All elementary and middle school classes also make use of our two student computer labs to allow students to do active research and produce quality work.
On-going training is provided for all faculty to hone skills and develop new techniques.
The support staff includes the administration, the admissions counselor, office personnel, finance personnel, teacher aides, lunch room staff and a host of others. In particular, the administrators and the admissions counselor are anxious to provide information about our school and answer any questions.
All personnel have cleared background screenings meeting the requirements of Florida state law for child care facilities and for schools.
Teacher and Staff Ethics and Reporting
All employees and agents of St. Paul Lutheran School have an obligation and legal responsibility to report misconduct by instructional personnel and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a student. Teachers and staff are regularly informed of their responsibilities. in this regard.
Behaviors considered to be educator misconduct:
Obscene language
Drug and Alcohol Use
Disparaging comments
Prejudice or bigotry
Sexual Innuendo
Cheating
Testing Violations
Physical Aggression
Accept or offer inappropriate favors
Report suspected educator misconduct to the principal of St. Paul Lutheran School.
Ethics in Education
St. Paul Lutheran School, its teachers, and its staff have a moral obligation to function under the guidance of the Ten Commandments, as well as basic ethical principles of the Christian faith, Judeo-Christian culture and the American legal system.
In simple terms, that means that St. Paul Lutheran School teachers and staff will:
Love God and Love People – We function as people motivated by these two great principles of the Ten Commandments.
Set an Example – As people who are forgiven and empowered by God, we strive to set an example of Christian living in a fallen world.
Value Each Person – We honor each student, parent, co-worker or other individual as a special creation of God and as one bought with the sacrifice of the Savior.
Treat All People Equally – We respect each person as unique and of equal value in God’s reckoning, and therefore in ours. We do this understanding that in education fairness means providing each person what he or she needs to be successful.
Be Knowledgeable and Accurate – Faculty and staff at St. Paul Lutheran School strive to present information accurately and completely, based on the developmental level of each child and informed by a Christian world view.
Be Truthful While Protecting Privacy – Recognizing that we function with honor and with integrity, we are discrete in sharing information and avoid conversation that would be harmful or hurtful. We respect privacy, in particular when it comes to information about student and worker health, job or school performance and any disciplinary matter.
Evaluate Students Accurately and Fairly – Evaluation of student work, grades and other assessments are done using primarily objective standards and with the goal of accurately reporting student progress and challenges. This is done with the goal of rewarding accomplishment and directing towards improvement.
Apply Law and Gospel – Teachers and staff commit to applying the principles of God’s Law (rules and their natural consequences) and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (sharing God’s forgiveness and restoration) at the appropriate time and in the most effective way.
Pray – We commit to praying for students, their parents, and anyone connected to this ministry as well as praying that the Lord’s work will be accomplished through the faculty and staff.
Relationship – Our interactions with students, parents and others will be guided by the understanding that the most effective foundation for working together is the building of positive relationships.
Care – The life of anyone connected to St. Paul Lutheran School is more than just the time spent on campus. We commit to genuinely caring about the life circumstances of each person and taking appropriate action while respecting privacy.