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.
CPT Professionalism and Responsibilities 2
A preschool teacher notices a colleague frequently arrives late, leaving children unsupervised.
What is the most professionally appropriate first step?