School district sets guidelines for teacher-student interactions on social media

This browser does not support the video element.

By Jason Kelly

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Local school districts will remind teachers to remain professional in their interactions with students outside the classroom ahead of the new school year.

At least five Central Florida teachers have been arrested for sexual crimes involving students in the last year.

Investigators said teachers contacted children through cellphones or social media in each case.

Brevard County school district officials said the First Amendment prevents them from telling staff members how to interact with students and what they may discuss with them.

[ Read: Deputies: Teacher, Universal worker among 14 arrested in online child-sex sting ]

[ Read: Florida teacher accused of having sex in car with former student ]

But to prevent the blurring of lines between professional and personal relationships, the district requires teachers to sign a form outlining the district's social media policy. Once signed, the document is included in a teacher's file.

The guidelines ask teachers to receive parental consent before uploading photographs of students. Teachers are also asked to use their full names on social media.

Educators are asked to "maintain an appropriate employee-student relationship" in-person and online.

[ Read: FBI: Lake County middle school teacher wanted to have sex with 12-year-old ]

[ Read: OCPS: 2 Ocoee High School teachers accused of sexual activity with teen student ]

"If it's inappropriate to have a relationship or interact with a student in person in a certain way, it's certainly inappropriate to do that on social media," Brevard County Schools spokesman Matt Reed said.

But officials said some teachers have run into trouble.

[ Brevard County high school teacher Charles Krininger was accused of asking a student to send him sexual videos earlier this year. ]

[ Former Lake Nona Middle School teacher Scott Peters in June was accused of using FaceTime with a student while he was showering. ]

[ Read: Deputies: Teacher busted in Volusia County park sex sting ]

[ Read: Teacher accused of sex with 4 students, including 2 at same time, now faces 21 charges ]

[ A Lake Minneola High School student accused then-band director Jon North of seeking a sexual relationship through text messages. North was arrested. ]

Former teacher Barbara Hare, who has three school-age sons, said she disapproves of any teacher-student interactions on social media.

[ Read: Teacher accused of sexual contact with 3 students ]

"I don't think that any teachers and students -- or even parents of students at schools -- should have Facebook interaction," she said.

Lake County Schools officials said the school district is developing a social media policy.

[ Read: Teacher gets 90 days in jail for sex with student on his 16th birthday ]