All of our teachers are parent volunteers and come with a variety of educational and professional experiences. Many of our teachers do have a teaching degree but others do not. They have a bachelor's degree or higher, three or more years of K-12th grade teaching experience or special skills, knowledge or expertise that qualifies them. In all cases, we seek to get to know a parent’s interest and skills before inviting them to teach. Additionally, when one becomes a teacher, they are given a professionally developed curriculum and are trained in how to implement it in their classroom. Our teachers approach their teaching roles the same as paid teachers would, engaging in research and outside development on their own accord, lesson planning, maintaining grade reports, conducting parent-teacher conferences, etc. They do all of this in the professional manner that you would expect from a traditional teaching staff. The Head of School provides classroom management training and support the teachers in their role. The state of Florida recognizes us as a private school.

No. There are many roles, besides teacher, that make up our school staff and we seek to align the skills each parent brings with the needs of the school. All staff take turns serving as emergency substitute when a teacher is sick or has sick children. This can mean any staff person may need to do some instruction on occasion. We desire that every family at our school be willing to serve in any role out of a servant’s heart and support of our parent-led model.

Trace Academy is a parent-involved school, which allows each family to contribute to their child’s education by serving in a staff role 2 days a week. The decision-making leadership of Trace Academy has 4 components. The Board of Directors, consisting of Trace parents, provides oversight in the direction and philosophy of all aspects of the school. The Management Team, also consisting of Trace parents, serves in the day to day operations of the school. The Head of School (HoS) and Dean of Students (DoS) are the only hired positions and are on campus each weekday. The HoS leads the Management Team and the DoS oversees student behavior and academics. All other positions at the school: teachers, office staff, assistants, etc, are filled by parents.

Yes, we administer the Stanford 10 Achievement Test. This test is one of the ways the school evaluates our achievement of the goal of teaching with academic excellence. Parents will receive a copy of their child’s individual results. Other ways we seek academic excellence include: small class sizes, positive student-teacher relationships, classroom management, teacher professional development, and professionally developed curriculum.

Yes, every Friday, our student body gathers in the auditorium for an assembly. These assemblies provide students an opportunity to culminate student learning in the classroom, practice public speaking, worship, recognize student birthdays and be encouraged in the year’s school theme. In addition, some Fridays the students will participate in “Buddy Time.” This activity encourages students to build relationships across the grade levels. Students are matched up with a buddy of the same gender, but of a different age, to engage in activities such as playing board games or outdoor games, doing an art project, or discussing questions.

Yes. Each classroom contains a copy of the Emergency Procedures Manual which includes emergency procedure protocols for severe weather, lock down, intruder, and fire evacuation. Periodic practice evacuations of the school building are conducted. Additionally, our doors are kept locked at all times during school hours. The building is also equipped with security cameras and monitors.

Uniforms: (costs vary depending on selection). Our uniform provider is Sir Walter Uniforms located at 500 S. Plumosa Street, Merritt Island, FL 32952. The web address is https://store.sirwalteruniforms.com/schools/trace-academy.html

Each student will also need a Friday t-shirt and a field trip t-shirt.

Field Trips: Our students go on a field trip roughly once a month. 7th & 8th Graders go to Tallahassee and Washington, DC on alternating years

Special Events: Camping Trip, Thanksgiving Feast, and Anomalous Day - a school-wide field trip in the Spring.

No. Due to our shortened school day, we are limited in our ability to offer special classes like music, art and PE. While our integral curriculum regularly provides art and music opportunities, we do not offer classes in these subjects. Parents are encouraged to provide these opportunities for their children outside of school hours. That being said, our 4th-8th graders participate in a weekly team building activity which encourages collaboration and problem solving. In addition, our 7th-8th graders have a weekly music lesson which introduces them to playing the ukulele and gives them opportunities to help lead worship at our annual camping trip.

No. We do not have a computer lab nor do we have computers in the classroom. We desire to give technology its proper place for the student: in the home and under the direction and supervision of parents. In addition, we desire to create an environment of enriched literacy and students thrive in a world stocked with raw materials. We also desire that young learners engage with God’s created world as much as possible, rather than mediated and artificially rendered via technology. In 1st-8th grades we offer opportunities to learn typing at home and for the middle-school aged student, through homework, we begin to introduce them to educational platforms in preparation for high school (Power Point, Google Classroom).

Due to the nature of our parent-led school, Trace is limited in having the resources needed to help students with behavioral and/or learning disabilities. We do our best to assess student needs on a case by case basis and cater to different learning styles. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) we do not offer all of the special education and related services that a student would receive if enrolled in a public school (Florida Statutes 1002.421(1)(j).

(Adapted from the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession in Florida and Principles of

Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida)

1. Our school 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

2. Our primary concern is the student and the development of the student's potential.

Employees will therefore strive for professional growth and will seek to exercise the best

professional judgment and integrity.

3. Concern for the student requires that our instructional personnel:

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 intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.

d. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student's legal rights.

e. Shall not harass or discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color, national or

ethnic origin and shall make reasonable effort to assure that each student is protected from

harassment or discrimination.

f. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage.

4. Aware of the importance of maintaining the respect and confidence of colleagues, of

students, of parents, and of the community, employees of our school must display the highest

degree of ethical conduct. This commitment requires that our employees:

a. Shall maintain honesty in all professional dealings.

b. Shall not interfere with a colleague's exercise of political or civil rights and responsibilities.

c.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.

d. Shall not make malicious or intentionally false statements about a colleague.

Training Requirement All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and

administrators are required as a condition of employment to complete training on these

standards of ethical conduct.

Reporting Misconduct All instructional personnel, educational support employees, and school

administrators have an obligation to report misconduct by instructional personnel, educational

support employees and school administrators which affects the health, safety, or welfare of a

student. Examples of misconduct include obscene language, drug and alcohol use, disparaging

comments, prejudice or bigotry, sexual innuendo, cheating or testing violations, physical

aggression, and accepting or offering favors. Reports of misconduct of employees should be

made to Shari Hepner at Shari.hepner@traceacademy.org Reports of misconduct committed

by administrators should be made to Shari Hepner at Shari.hepner@traceacademy.org.

Legally sufficient allegations of misconduct by Florida certified educators will be reported to the

Office of Professional Practices Services. Policies and procedures for reporting misconduct by

instructional personnel or school administrators which affect the health, safety, or welfare of a

student are posted in bathrooms and work room.

Reporting Child Abuse, Abandonment or Neglect All employees and agents have an

affirmative duty to report all actual or suspected cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.

Call 1-800-96-ABUSE or report online at: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/.

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, or 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, or 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, or

run away from home.

Signs of Neglect The child may have unattended medical needs, little or no supervision at

home, poor hygiene, or appear underweight. A child experiencing neglect may be frequently

tired or hungry, steal food, or appear overly needy for adult attention.

Patterns of Abuse: 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.

Liability Protections Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in any act

authorized or required by law, or reporting in good faith any instance of child abuse,

abandonment, or neglect to the department or any law enforcement agency, shall be immune

from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise result by reason of such action. (F.S.

39.203)

An employer who discloses information about a former or current employee to a prospective

employer of the former or current employee upon request of the prospective employer or of the

former or current employee is immune from civil liability for such disclosure or its consequences

unless it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the information disclosed by the former

or current employer was knowingly false or violated any civil right of the former or current

employee protected under F.S. Chapter 760. (F.S. 768.095)

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