All staff members at TIPS are expected to follow our Phone and Social Media Policy, which sets clear boundaries for the use of personal devices and online interactions. This policy, below, is designed to protect student privacy, maintain professional conduct, and support a safe learning environment.
TIPS recognizes that teachers, staff, students, and parents engage with social media applications daily. Social media are websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. These applications include but are not limited to, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, X, TikTok, blogs and other online tools.
Staff members do not accept students as “friends” on their social network sites or interact with students on social networking sites. Staff members do not post photos on their social media personal accounts in which current students are recognizable. Online interaction between TIPS staff and students must occur only in an educational context. For example, teachers who are sponsoring an extracurricular activity will need to contact students by cell phone. Staff members are asked to NOT accept parents of current students as friends on personal social media sites. The lines between public and private, personal and professional are blurred in the online world. If staff members identify themselves online as affiliated with TIPS, they need to be aware that their posts represent the entire school community. Staff should ensure that the content associated with them is consistent with their work at the school and the school’s values.
TIPS acknowledges that technology changes rapidly. If any member of the TIPS staff has a concern or question about the use of social media, this should be directed to the principal.