HSEA - What's Up?
Like Us....Love Us....Build Us
****IMPORTANT - See Below for TAX INFORMATION!****
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR VERY OWN PRESIDENT...JANET CHANDLER!
HSEA works to connect teachers with teachers while advancing the profession of teaching.
February 2016.....We LOVE our members! Here we go!
Words From Our President...
Pins and needles! Have you heard the expression, "I'm on pins and needles."? What does that mean? My literal mind would be a feeling of discomfort to be sitting on pins and needles!
Pins and needles also may evoke other images. For me, it reminds me of 8th grade sewing. I had a polka-dot sewing basket for the class. (It was really cute.) Inside, I equipped it with the requisite tape measure, thread, scissors, and a strawberry pin cushion for my pins and needles.
Pins and needles! Of course, 8th grade sewing conjures memories of the dress I "constructed." It had a yoke with eight pieces of material coming together (or not). Thank goodness for my seamstress aunt. My mom and I definitely struggled. In fact, I was certainly on pins and needles waiting for the completion of that project.
Pins and needles! In fact, this sewing debacle worsened as my classmate who cut my dress to be hemmed forgot to factor in the required two-inch hem. Thus, my dress was a wee bit short for the fashion show. Once again, sewing put me on pins and needles until that fashion parade terminated, and I (or my aunt) could let out the hem to make it the "appropriate" length in the mini-skirt era.
Pins and needles! How does my sewing disaster relate to us today? Right now teachers, support staff and administrators are on pins and needles about the upcoming referendum. What will be the outcome? We have received factual information of the outcome of both scenarios. Thus, we wait on pins and needles.
Pins and needles! For teachers, we have language in the teacher handbook detailing the process if the referendum fails. State law indicates your effectiveness category would be the threshold. We would consider certification. Most likely, we will have lots of folks "tied" as effective with the same certification. The next tie breaker would be the hire date by the board.
Pins and needles! Though this scenario lacks comfort, please be sensitive that impact on jobs translates to impact on people. Let's use this as an opportunity to be supportive of each other and do our best to lessen potential pain from waiting on pins and needles.
AR MEETING DAY CHANGE! NEW DATE: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16TH, 4:15-5:15 P.M.
Ben Yoder, VP of Political Action, has been working for over a month trying to reach out to Senator Kenley so that we could have both he and his challenger, Scott Willis at our March Representative Council meeting.
For this to happen, we need to change our meeting date as the legislature was still in session during the earlier date.
Each candidate will have 5 minutes to speak and 5 minutes to answer questions. We will then have 25 minutes to address other matters.
Please cancel our March 9 meeting.
Please re-schedule to March 16 from 4:15 – 5:00 PM.
Thanks for your patience and understanding! :)
HSEA OFFICERS 2015-2016
President - Janet Chandler
Executive Vice-President - Karin Foster
Vice-President Membership & Elections - Deb Jackson
Vice-President Politcal Action - Ben Yoder
Vice-President Communications & Public Relations - Leslie Brown
Treasurer - Mary Carson
Secretary - Terri Zabonick
Delgates, delegates, delegates......WE NEED YOU!
Get involved!
We are still in need of delegates to the ISTA Representative Assembly on April 23rd! If you are interested in helping to shape the policies of ISTA, be a delegate!
We are also seeking delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly in Washington, DC in July.
If you are interested in either of these awesome opportunities, please contact Deb Jackson - djackson@hse.k12.in.us
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Another awesome perk of being a member of our teacher's association: NEA Click & Save!
This exclusive shopping service offers savings on brand name merchandise from hundreds of top retailers, online stores, and local merchants. Save on clothing, electronics, restaurants, jewelry, movie tickets and more! Click the words below and START SAVING!
Health and Insurance Updates.......
Health Center News....
YODER'S YAPS....Everything You Need To Know About Politics and Political Action!
Lobby Days
The most effective method of influencing policymaking is to lobby our legislators. ISTA will host several "Lobby Days" from Jan. - March to advance ISTA's legislative priority, which will address the teacher shortage by promoting professional respect, retaining experienced teachers and recruiting new professionals. The 2016 lobby days are scheduled for February 23rd (see photo below) and March 8.
THANK YOU to the following members! They will be lobbying on the dates shown!
- March 8- Robin Kearns and Erin Domokos
WAY to be our voice for the HSEA!
Mary Bougher & Bob Rice at ISTA Lobby Day, waiting to go speak to Senators Kenley, Merritt, & Schneider! Thank you Bob & Mary!
HSEA MEMBER(S) HIGHLIGHT!
Riverside Junior High....Brad Jackson!
Hello!! My name is Brad Jackson, and I am currently teaching 8th grade Social Studies at Riverside Junior High. I have joined the association each year for many years. I don't know when I first joined, but it was in the late 1970s when I was teaching in a small rural school near New Castle, Indiana. Back then one of our concerns was that the state might order our economically challenged school to be closed and consolidated with that of the nearby "big city." What would become of us? Today we face different issues, but still we need to protect our profession to insure that the absolute BEST education can be delivered to our students. Many of those first little sixth graders of mine are now grandparents, and I hope their grandchildren will have the same great education that we, as a group, were privileged to deliver...way back when!!
(The picture is of fellow teacher and association member Mary Carson and me on a mission trip at the school kitchen construction site in Guatemala in the summer of 2104. We go back this summer!!)
NEA Today Magazine:
Most of you should have already received the NEA Today magazine in the mail. In the middle, there is be a ballot and an envelope for voting for state NEA delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly this summer. HSEA does have some members running for election. They are in random order. Here are specifics on how to vote along with the name and number of our HSEA candidates. You will be able to vote for up to 32 spots. However, you are also allowed to engage in bullet voting to vote for just a few. Of course, you may vote for whomever you select. That is the beauty of democracy. J
Here are delegates with their official ballot name followed by their order and number listed on the ballot.
HSEA Delegates
Kimberly Ann Kennedy (1)
Deborah Joy Jackson (17)
Robert Joe Rice (29)
Janet K. Chandler (33)
Connie S. LaRocco (34)
Michelle Marie Feeney (46)
Friends of HSEA who would appreciate your vote:
Megan N. Ewing (42)—former HSEA member now teaching in Warren Township
John Joseph Feeney (40)—husband of our own Shelley Feeney
Debra Leigh Marcum (19)—Noblesville President
There is the official ballot plus two envelopes and directions. Fill out your ballot. Fold the ballot and place it in the small envelope marked, “Delegate Ballot.” Place that sealed envelope inside the larger envelope addressed to ISTA. Be sure to place your name and return address on the large envelope in order to validate your ballot. No postage is required. Ballots must be postmarked by March 2!
If you have not received the magazine or ballot, please e-mail Brenda Reed, breed@ista-in.org Most likely, newer members will not yet have received a magazine, but all members are entitled to vote.
This is YOUR newsletter too!
In the coming newsletters, remember, anyone who is a HSEA member is welcome to make a submission, or send information that you would like to see in the newsletter!
We will also be continuing to do the "member spotlight," so, if you'd like to nominate a member, or want to write something yourself, please let us know!
Send any submission, articles, etc. to: hseateachers@yahoo.com
Look for our next newsletter before our Winter break!