Privacy policy

Your privacy matters

TeachersConnect is a network of educators that provides safe, trusted access to mentorship, collaboration, and instructional resources. We take the words "safe" and "trusted" very seriously. This policy outlines how we collect, use, share, and protect your data when you use our platform.

1. Information we collect

As you use our network, TeachersConnect collects the following information:

• Personal information: Your name, email address, district, school name, position (e.g., teacher, grade level, and subject(s)).
• Usage data: Contributions to discussions, uploaded files, activity on the site, and engagement with resources.
• Demographic information: This is shared with teacher preparation programs to assist them in assessing and improving their services.

2. How we use your information

Your data is used for the following purposes:

• To provide you with easy access to tools and people that help you grow as an educator.
• To enhance the user experience on our platform and offer tailored resources.
• To create de-identified reports for institutions and companies (our partners) to improve their offerings for teachers. No teacher action is attributed to a specific individual in these reports.
• To share basic demographic information with teacher preparation programs, assisting them in evaluating their success and offering continued growth opportunities for graduates.

3. Data sharing

• We may share de-identified, aggregated data with our partners, including teacher preparation programs, school districts, and curriculum providers, for programmatic feedback, curriculum review, teacher support, and research purposes.
• We share basic identifying information (e.g., name, email, district, school, position, grade level, and subject) only with teacher preparation programs for the purpose of tracking alumni progress and providing support.
• Data Selling: In certain circumstances, we may sell de-identified data to third parties for marketing, research, or business development purposes. We will not sell sensitive personal information that directly identifies you without your explicit consent. Your email address, name, or place of employment may be shared.

4. Frequently asked privacy questions

Who sees my information and in what form do they see it?

When another member views your profile, they can see your name, profile picture, and other details you've entered, except for your email and password. Your contributions to discussions and uploaded files are visible to the community.

Will my employer or supervisor have access to my posts on the platform?

Posts are attributed to their authors by default, and, based on where they are posted, may be accessible to the community. You have the option to send direct messages or post anonymously.

Do you share my personal information with anyone?

The only personally identifiable information we share is listed above and is accessible only to your Teacher Preparation Program.

5. Opt-Out option for data sharing and selling

Users can opt-out of having their data shared or sold by TeachersConnect. To do so, please contact us at admin@teachersconnect.com

6. User rights

You have the right to:

• Access, correct, or delete your personal data.
• Withdraw consent for data processing.
• Opt-out of data sharing and selling activities.

7. Data security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your data from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, while we strive to protect your data, no method of transmission over the internet is entirely secure.

8. Cookies and tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to track activity on our platform to enhance user experience. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser.

9. Data retention

We retain your information as long as necessary to provide our services and for the purposes outlined in this policy. Any information stored may be retained indefinitely unless otherwise requested.

10. Publication of content

Content published within our community is inaccessible to the general public. Occasionally, we may share questions or excerpts of conversations on our social media channels without including personally identifiable information.

11. Changes to the privacy policy

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices. We will notify you of significant changes via email or through our platform.

12. Contact information

For privacy inquiries or to exercise your rights, contact us at admin@teachersconnect.com

13. Legal basis for processing (for EU/EEA users)

For users in the European Union or European Economic Area, we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: Where you have given us explicit consent to process your data for specific purposes.
• Contractual necessity: To fulfill our contractual obligations to you as a user of our platform.
• Legitimate interests: Where processing is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party, and these interests are not overridden by your data protection rights.

14. International data transfers

If we transfer your data outside your country of residence, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your data, in compliance with applicable data protection laws.

15. Age restriction and user eligibility

Our platform is not intended for individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18 years of age. By using our platform, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old. If we discover that we have collected personal information from an individual under 18, we will promptly delete that information. If you believe we might have any information from or about a user under 18, please contact us immediately at admin@teachersconnect.com

16. Third-Party links and services

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

17. Data breach notification

In the event of a data breach that may compromise your personal information, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as required by applicable laws.

18. Your California privacy rights

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect about you and the right to request deletion of your personal information.

19. Educator verification

To ensure the integrity of our platform and the safety of our users, we may implement measures to verify the educator status of our users. This may include checking professional credentials or affiliations with educational institutions. We will handle any information collected for verification purposes in accordance with this privacy policy.

20. Professional development and certification

If our platform offers professional development courses or certifications, we may collect and retain information related to your participation, progress, and completion of these programs. This information will be used to provide you with relevant certificates or credentials and may be shared with your educational institution or employer upon your request.