Healthy Boundaries

Pre-Employment Screening

Emma Willard School conducts a comprehensive background check for every new employee as a pre-condition of employment, including fingerprinting.

Healthy Boundaries Training

Emma Willard's employees also participate in a rigorous Healthy Boundaries training program as part of the process of joining the school community and this initial training is reinforced with an annual training program that all adults must complete. The initial and ongoing training programs include detailed descriptions of appropriate interactions and scenarios that help reinforce our community norms and standards of behavior.

Standards of Behavior for Employees

• Act as a role model to students and colleagues, being especially conscious of your actions and words at times and in places where students can observe you.
• Maintain only professional relationships with students, acting transparently and unambiguously.
• Act and communicate in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner with all Emma community members.
• Take responsibility to set and maintain clear and consistent boundaries with all Emma community members. Boundaries need to always be appropriate for the circumstances.
• Promote best outcomes for girls by acting always in accordance with the mission, values, and expectations of the school and in ways that reflect well on the school.
• Understand the imbalance of power that exists as a result of authority, whether that be between adults or between adults and students. The imbalance of power between adults and students is of particular importance in a school environment. Use your influence to promote healthy student development. Also understand this imbalance can often continue after the student has left Emma Willard School.
• Accept responsibility for the impact of your actions and words, regardless of your intent.
• Relay community concerns to appropriate people at school, including referring students in need of counseling or health services.

Reporting & Investigations

Emma Willard School maintains specific, up-to-date investigative processes in response to reports of discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct. All reports of a breach in Healthy Boundaries are investigated and each investigative response is specific to the incident reported.

These policies are codified in our Employee and Student Handbooks, which are reviewed and agreed-upon by all members of the Emma community each year. The school’s investigative response is specific to the incident reported, with a typical process outlined below.

While the exact structure of an investigation will differ according to the complaint made, an immediate review will be conducted by the school or the school's designated outside investigator in accordance with the following steps:

1. An individual can make a complaint to any trusted adult, supervisor, or Director of HR, depending on the situation.
2. The appropriate investigator (Director of HR, Associate Head of School or designee) initiates an investigation and may take interim actions (e.g. placing an employee on leave or a student on temporary suspension) as appropriate or needed.
3. All parties involved will be interviewed, including any relevant witnesses.
4. The investigator makes findings of fact and recommendations about sanctions in the specific case. An adult who engages in harassment may be subject to disciplinary consequences, including dismissal from the school. Any student who engages in harassment is in violation of our fundamental rules and is subject to disciplinary consequences, up to and including expulsion.

Mandated Reporting

Individuals who are legally required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment when, in their professional capacity, they are presented with reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment. New York State recognizes that certain professionals—including school officials, teachers, nurses, and counselors—are specially equipped to fulfill the important role of mandated reporter of child abuse or maltreatment.

According to New York State law, all Emma Willard School employees are considered mandated reporters and are provided training annually on mandated reporting guidelines. The Office of Children and Family Services maintains a summary guide for mandated reporters in New York State, including definitions and duties for applicable professional roles.