Fishers reader: support our educators

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Dear Editor:

As the 2024-2025 school year approaches (or has already begun, in some places), I want to remind the public in Hamilton County how valuable our educators are. We are so incredibly lucky in this community to have some of the best educators and staff. These world-class humans serve our students each and every day, helping to pave the path to a better future for each student they encounter.

However, especially in Hamilton Southeastern Schools, some educators are beginning the year with less joy and excitement than they have had in years past due to an Unfair Labor Dispute with district administration.

When the decision was made to fill vacant Special Education positions with teachers with appropriate credentials but who were currently teaching elsewhere in the district, clarity was asked for in the process. This process is outlined in the teacher handbook. However, from what I’ve seen pouring through the ULP, those requests were met with rudeness and lack of cooperation. A union and the district are at their best when they work together. It’s clear from the ULP and comments at the board meeting that members of this administration are not acting as though they are concerned with teachers, their working conditions, or their respect.

HSEA teachers have been showing up to school board meetings all summer long in large numbers. As a parent of current students, that is a clear indication to me that this situation matters to them, and they need our support. Asking teachers to disregard something that matters to them sure doesn’t impress our understanding of their worth. Teachers deserve supportive working environments and administrations who have their back.

They deserve a community who stands with them when they’re threatened, and who aren’t afraid to say, “this is unacceptable.” After all, that’s what unions have been doing for us in our nation’s history, and we all benefit by the results of those fights (if you like weekends and 40-hour work weeks, raise your hand!).

I was proud last year when HSEA and the district negotiated the return of a masters column. However, this meant that, understandably, we spent much more in salary last year, as we moved everybody with a masters to a new pay column. That is the main reason for the increase in salary expenditure this last year which has been cited in recent board meetings. That same increase will not be necessary in the future. It feels to me incredibly shameful that this “win” for our staff is now being blamed for funding issues.

Despite its attempts to be used in other ways, I stand by the phrase coined by Sharon McMahon, a well-known teacher on Instagram: “Educator Working Conditions are Student Learning Conditions.” We send our precious children to school for eight hours a day, and it is as much in our best interest as theirs to support a district that holds educators in the high esteem they deserve. I can only hope that the HSE administration, and the community at large, come together to do right by our educators.

Welcome back, educators in Hamilton County! We are so, SO grateful to have you, and we appreciate all you do every single day.

Alyssa Roberts
Fishers resident & HSE parent