CPT Professionalism and Responsibilities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A preschool teacher notices a colleague frequently arrives late, leaving children unsupervised. What is the most professionally appropriate first step?
- Ignore it and supervise both groups yourself
- Address the concern directly with the colleague in private (Correct answer)
- Immediately report the colleague to administration
- Post a note on the classroom door about tardiness
Correct answer: Address the concern directly with the colleague in private
Addressing concerns directly with a colleague in private is the professional first step before escalating to administration.
Question 2: Under NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct, what is a teacher's PRIMARY ethical responsibility?
- To the employing institution
- To families of children in the program
- To children above all others (Correct answer)
- To the broader society and profession
Correct answer: To children above all others
NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct establishes that the first and highest responsibility is to children's well-being.
Question 3: A parent asks a preschool teacher to share another child's diagnosis with them so they can 'help' their child understand differences. The teacher should:
- Share the information since the parent's intent is positive
- Decline and explain that all children's information is confidential (Correct answer)
- Ask the child's parent first, then decide
- Direct the parent to the school psychologist
Correct answer: Decline and explain that all children's information is confidential
FERPA and professional ethics require confidentiality of all children's personal and medical information regardless of the requestor's intentions.
Question 4: Which action best demonstrates a preschool teacher's commitment to ongoing professional development?
- Attending the same annual training required by licensing
- Participating in a professional learning community and pursuing additional certifications (Correct answer)
- Reading one article per year on early childhood education
- Reviewing lesson plans from the previous school year
Correct answer: Participating in a professional learning community and pursuing additional certifications
Active participation in professional learning communities and pursuing certifications reflects genuine commitment to continuous growth.
Question 5: A preschool teacher suspects a child is experiencing neglect at home. The child's parent is a close personal friend. The teacher should:
- Talk to the parent privately before involving authorities
- Report the suspicion to the appropriate child protective services (Correct answer)
- Wait to see if signs worsen before taking action
- Consult other teachers but take no formal action
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to the appropriate child protective services
Mandated reporter laws require teachers to report suspected abuse or neglect regardless of personal relationships.
Question 6: When writing anecdotal records about a child's behavior, a professional preschool teacher should:
- Include interpretations and possible causes of behavior
- Record only objective, observable facts without judgment (Correct answer)
- Focus primarily on negative behaviors for documentation purposes
- Write records from memory at the end of the week
Correct answer: Record only objective, observable facts without judgment
Anecdotal records must be objective and factual, recording exactly what is observed without interpretation or judgment.
Question 7: A preschool teacher receives a gift worth $75 from a family at the holiday season. The program's policy prohibits gifts over $25. The teacher should:
- Accept the gift since it was given with good intentions
- Return the gift and explain the program's policy to the family (Correct answer)
- Keep the gift but not tell administration
- Donate the gift to the classroom on the child's behalf
Correct answer: Return the gift and explain the program's policy to the family
Professional ethics require following program policies, which means returning the gift and explaining the policy respectfully.
