According to the Code of Ethics and Standards Practices for Texas Educators, which question is most important to determine whether a student-PE teacher communication is inappropriate?

• A. Was an attempt made to conceal the communication?
• B. Was the communication made during a scheduled class?
• C. Was the communication about a grade or assignment?
• D. Was the communication about a non-academic topic?

Answer: (A)

Maintaining professional boundaries and transparency in teacher–student communications is the key idea. The most important question is whether there was an attempt to conceal the communication. Secrecy signals a deliberate move to avoid oversight and blur boundaries, which is a strong red flag for inappropriate or exploitative interactions. When a teacher tries to hide messages from a student, it undermines trust, safety, and the ethical standards that govern professional conduct.

Context helps: communications that happen during class, or about grades or non-academic topics, can be legitimate in many situations if they stay professional and appropriate. But secrecy directly points to intent to bypass appropriate channels and boundaries, making it the clearest indicator of potential impropriety.