United & Strong

A Message from HSEA President Tyler Zerbe

To the dedicated teachers of HSE and to our fantastic Fishers community:

It has been quite the week. We heard our teachers loud and clear. We released every proposal that HSEA brought to the bargaining table (transparency!). We revealed the real financial situation of the HSE Schools district (also transparency!). We leaned on each other when the reality of taking a pay cut really began to sink in. We refused to stand down, even in the face of adversity and divisiveness.

We navigated not ratifying our contract for the first time in HSE history.

And through it all, we showed up for our students. We taught our lessons, modeled our skills, transferred our knowledge, graded our assessments, planned our schedules, responded to emails, made our copies, smiled and remained present with our kids. Why? Because we are resilient. Because that's just what teachers do.

Now, we are going to ask you to do something that we know will be hard. We know it will be a tough adjustment and may feel uncomfortable. But, we also know it is the strongest action in showing our collective strength.

We are calling a work-to-rule action.

This means we work our contract hours. Period. If it requires us to show up outside of that, we don't. If it requires us to plan outside of that, we don't. If it requires us to grade, respond to emails, make copies, work outside of that: we don't.  

It is high-time for everyone to know this one, incontrovertible fact: our classrooms, these buildings, this district, do not run without us. And, HSE is certainly not highly successful without the extra time and effort that we put into our classrooms, our students, our jobs, every single day.

To every teacher of HSE: we are asking you to work to rule. We are asking you to reclaim your time and value. We are asking you to stand in solidarity with us as we continue to demand fair compensation at the bargaining table.

To our beautiful Hamilton Southeastern community: please know that this ask is not directed at you. Please know that this is not how we expected this to go. Please know that we will always love and be thankful for your never-ending support.

Please know that this ask comes from our deep commitment to doing what’s right, not to create difficulty.

Staff will continue to deliver high-quality instruction to students, as they always have.

Staff will continue to ensure that students feel safe and supported at school, as they always have.

Staff will continue to conduct themselves in a professional manner in their classrooms and buildings, as they always have.

But, as the old saying goes: enough is enough.

In our hardest act of solidarity yet within this contract fight, we are reaffirming the one truth that we have said over and over again: teachers are the backbone of HSE. Teachers are the foundation of this corporation. And, teachers will continue to secure the success of this district long after this contract is ratified.

It is an honor to be your President and to continue to work alongside you. Teachers, YOU, along with our amazing, incredible, fabulous students, are what make HSE the place that it is. YOU are what make HSE great.  

In solidarity,

Tyler Zerbe, HSEA President