PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE FOR
PROFESSIONAL AND ACTIVE LIFE MEMBERS

Effective February 1, 2007, ITEA Professional and Active Life Members may purchase $1,000,000 Professional Liability Insurance coverage for an annual premium of only $99.

Some exposures that are covered are:
* Injuries to students under your supervision
* Improper placement of students
* Improper methods employed in instruction, counseling, research design, etc.
* Defamation
* Hiring unqualified people
* Failure to educate
* Failure to promote students or grant credit
* Violation of student civil rights
* Suits from employees you supervise regarding covered personnel matters (90% of your defense costs up to $5,000 after $100 deductible).

Members who purchase the upgraded coverage will also receive an important additional job protection benefit. If threatened with termination, suspension, reassignment or demotion, the plan will pay up to $250 for your initial consultation with an attorney and up to $750 of the cost of having an attorney represent you at a formal hearing of a school board or other authority. If you decide to sue because of termination, suspension, reassignment or demotion, you’ll receive up to $4,000 for legal fees, subject to a $100 deductible, provided the suit is resolved in your favor. Of that $4,000, $750 is available to you regardless of the suit’s outcome.

What is Professional Liability?
Professional Liability is incurred when certain standards of performance are not met or when services are rendered by a person with specialized training or experience in a particular area, and the person receiving those services has been damaged in some way. For educators, this can be when a student is injured in the classroom or on a field trip, a student feels he has been defamed by something the educator said, or a student is improperly disciplined. While the educational institution probably has some insurance that may cover these situations, it is important that the educator realize it is his or her personal assets – home, savings account, and retirement fund – that are on the line.

There are further benefits available relating to suits for non-pecuniary relief, sexual abuse, and suit for corporal punishment. Additional information be found at the administrator’s web site www.ftj.com. You can review common questions and answers, go over the Certificate of Insurance, and complete a form to upgrade your coverage, all online. If you wish to speak with someone about the policy, please call 1-800-821-7303 ext. 123 during normal business hours.