Coach Stocks Case Study

Scottie Stocks is a basketball coach at a large urban high school located in the Catawba County Schools district. Scottie has 12 team members. Coach Stocks routinely communicates with his team members via text message and Twitter from his devices. Sometimes, these messages and posts are group messages. In other instances, he sends the players messages individually. Coach Stocks is forbidden by Catawba County policy by communicating with his players by text message or by social media. The policy states, “Except as otherwise provided herein, employees are prohibited from communicating or making contact with students through any form of electronic communication” (Board Policy 7.1600, 2017, p. 2). The exceptions to the rule relate to the use of a school system-provided platform such as school email. The handful of exceptions related to the use of social media or personal devices involves emergency situations, communication with relatives, or …show more content…
First and foremost, Stocks is in violation of school board policy. The policy advises that disciplinary actions, including dismissal, could be an option for violation of this policy. Additionally, any staff member that possesses knowledge of a violation of this rule can face disciplinary action as well. The board policy lays out specific restrictions related to this communication, so just cause for termination is established. Also, as referenced previously, there is a strong case that Stocks is in violation of the Code of Ethics since Catawba County has already established that in their eyes, this communication does not constitute an appropriate relationship. Lastly, Coach Stocks is opening himself up to liability in the event of a texting while driving accident by a player, an acquisition of confidential information, or by receiving inappropriate messages or photos from his players. Needless to say, Coach Stocks is taking an unnecessary professional