Bullying & Harassment

It is the policy of the Teague Middle School and Seminole County School Board that all of its students, school district employees and school district volunteers have an educational setting that is safe, secure and free from harassment and bullying of any kind. The School Board will not tolerate bullying and harassment of any type. Conduct that constitutes bullying and harassment, as defined herein, is prohibited. Any behavior that applies to the definition for bullying or harassment should be reported to the school, and policy protocol will be followed. 

Bullying means systemically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. Bullying includes instances of cyberbullying, as defined in Section 1006.147(3)(b), F.S. Bullying may include, but is not limited to, repetitive instances of teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, harassment, public or private humiliation, or destruction of property. If the physical harm or psychological distress is not the result of systematic or chronic behavior, evaluate for Harassment.

Harassment means any threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct that places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits, or has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school, including any course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress in such a person and serves no legitimate purpose. Instances of Harassment that are chronic or repeated in nature should be evaluated for Bullying or Bullying-related.

Bullying and Harassment includes cyber stalking which means engaging in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose, as defined by Florida Statute 784.048(1)(d). Cases of cyber stalking will be reported to law enforcement. 

The Seminole County School Board requires that students, school district employees, and school district volunteers conduct themselves appropriately for their respective level of development and maturity, and demonstrate capabilities with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other students, school district employees and school district volunteers as otherwise set forth in School Board policies. 

Click here to review the entire Seminole County Bullying and Harassment Policy

NOTE: If after a complete investigation and follow up of a reported bullying or harassment offense, the investigator determines that there is not enough evidence to substantiate that the incident meets the criteria of a prohibited act under the definition of bullying or harassment as listed in the Jeffery Johnston Stand Up for all Students Act, the unsubstantiated bullying or harassment allegation will be reported to SESIR (section 1006. 147, F. S.).

Note: A knowingly false accusation of an act of bullying or harassment and retaliation against a student for asserting or reporting bullying or harassment will result in disciplinary actions.

Student conduct, which is considered to be a violation of the Student Conduct and Discipline Code, is defined and described in The Matrix of Infractions and Consequences and in the Definitions of Offenses and Misconduct.