Who are we?
We are the Kindergarten through twelfth-grade teachers (K-12) of Zionsville Community Schools. We have chosen to unite into one group to work with our ZCS Board of Trustees and the ZCS Administration to keep our schools strong and to create a great place to work.
What does the ZEA do?
We look after and support each other in many different ways, from negotiating pay and benefits for all ZCS Teachers (that includes teachers who have not joined the ZEA) to having hundreds of us at your back when needed. We also work to influence decisions made at state, school board, school corporation, and school building levels for the benefit of our schools.
Salary and Wages
We bargain all salary and wages for all ZCS Teachers (even the ones who choose not to join the ZEA) with the ZCS Board of Trustees and the ZCS Administration every two years.
Health Care Insurance
We bargain all benefits for all ZCS Teachers. However, the Insurance Committee meets more often to keep up with the every-changing demands of the health care system.
Our Voice in Government
We speak and communicate to our State Representatives and Senators about ZCS. We also work with teachers all over the state and country for better public school policies.
Our Voice at Disciplinary Meetings
When one ZEA teacher represents another, they speak for hundreds of us. If needed, You also have legal representation and $1 million in professional liability coverage.
Our Voice in Discussions
We have a safe, protected space to voice our questions and concerns. We speak monthly to our administrators to discuss ZCS issues.
Our Voice in School Committees
All other committees have a majority of ZEA representatives. This includes the teacher handbook and evaluation committees which set our hours of work and general policies for teachers.
Attorney Referral Program
This allows members two free half-hour meetings with an attorney for non-work-related issues such as wills, estate planning, divorce, etc. If the member choses to continue with one of the attorneys on this list, they will do so at a reduced fee from the normal charges.
ISTA Retired
Active ISTA members, do you know about ISTA-Retired? If you are not a Life member of NEA and ISTA yet, consider joining now while our special one time Life Membership dues are low. Below is a link to our Retired newsletter “The Chalkboard.” We encourage every active teacher to join now so when you are ready to retire, you will have a seamless membership without losing any of your NEA/ISTA benefits when you retire.
Use the link below to read about the various activities of our retired members in the ISTA-Retired newsletter, The Chalkboard.
Read The Chalkboard.
For more information on ISTA-Retired, visit ista-in.org/retired.
Why Should I Join?
Without strong teacher voices, decisions can be made by only one person with power. It is easy for a person in power to dismiss one or even a few teacher voices, but we are also powerful when hundreds of us speak as one.
How Does the ZEA Work?
Nobody gets paid a wage to run the ZEA. It’s a volunteer organization. If we want to change something at ZCS, we do it ourselves. We back up each other. Our dues pay for services and insurance at the state and national levels.
How Much Does It Cost?
- Total cost per school year for a full-time teacher = $801 ($2.19 per day annually).
- Yes, that’s a lot of money. However, the benefits far outweigh the costs!
- Attempting to work alone can expose you to acts of retribution for speaking up.
- The State of Indiana is under heavy lobbying by groups with huge resources who are actively trying to kill our public school system. We choose to fight for our schools instead of just watching them get destroyed. Our state is now giving money that was previously going to regular public schools, like Zionsville Community Schools, to private schools and charter schools (which do not need to serve ALL of the children as we do).
How Can I Join the ZEA?
Resources
NEA Union Bulletin
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/nea-union-bulletin
Organizing Toolbox Generator
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/organizing-toolbox-generator
Union Posters and Videos
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/union-posters-and-videos