Teachers will NOT:

• Use corporal or physical punishment at any time.
• Use shame, fear, or humiliation as a tool for education or discipline.
• Utilize punishment in the form of negative reactions or stimuli to reduce unwanted behavior.
• Have unreasonable expectations from children.
• Utilize class time for personal matters such as writing emails or posting on social media, taking personal calls or answering text and other messages, or allowing visitors in class.

Teachers will:

• Use professional classroom management strategies backed by research to provide quality education for all his/her students.
• Build loving relationships, promote open discussion, and set firm but loving boundaries with each student.
• Create a healthy rhythm within the classroom in order to facilitate predictability and a peaceful environment for the students.
• Set a positive example respecting students, colleagues, the classroom, and materials.
• Expect respect from the children for their teachers, parents, peers, school volunteers, the classroom and materials.
• Use natural consequences as a tool for education and discipline when necessary.
• Give warnings and specific reasons for disciplinary actions.
• Positively reinforce behaviors that are devotional and conducive to a peaceful classroom.
• Have open and honest discussions with children about behavior and how it impacts our school environment.
• Arrive at the classroom and have the classroom unlocked, clean and set up for students at least 10 minutes in advance of the class start time, which is 5:30 p.m.
• Commit to teaching a block of 8 weeks of classes.
• It is acceptable for a teacher to request a sub anytime he or she is sick. To do this, the teacher must reach out to the Sunday School Secretary, Bhaktin Koumudi Kammari, trying their best to give this notice at least 24 hours in advance of the class.
• For other reasons besides illness, for continuity of teaching, it is only acceptable for a teacher to request for a sub for a maximum of 1 class in the block (which consists of 8 weeks). The teacher must inform the Sunday School Secretary, Bhaktin Koumudi Kammari as soon as the need for a sub is known.
• It is the teacher’s responsibility to inform the students and parents that there will be a substitute teacher. This can be done in person, via WhatsApp or Email.
• Stay in communication with parents during the entire length of the block they are teaching. This can take the form of blogs, phone calls and class updates via WhatsApp or email.
• Try to build a loving, spiritual relationship with the students by interacting with them in a Krishna-conscious manner even outside of the 1 hour weekly class.
• Allow drop-ins, i.e., allow those who are not registered students, but are in the right age band to come to class on an occasional basis, such as during festivals or visits by Sannyasis.
• Complete an ISKCON Volunteer Application Form and agree to a one-time background check including criminal record check, reference check, and CPO Clearance. This is not repeated annually. Alternatively, if the teacher has a recent (within 12 months) background check from their employer, that can be provided.
• Annually complete Department of Children and Family Services Mandatory Reporter Training online and provide certificate of completion to Sunday School Committee.
• Attend the annual mandatory Child Protection Training organized by the Child Protection Team.