This document discusses why teachers should remain members of ISTA (Indiana State Teachers Association). It outlines accomplishments like ISTA filing a lawsuit against an unfavorable teacher contract imposed by the state and challenging an affidavit teachers were required to sign regarding ISTEP administration. It argues that without ISTA, teachers would not have advocacy and would be "on their own" in negotiations. The conclusion encourages growing membership to strengthen ISTA against those who want to weaken public education.

1. What ISTA Does
for You & Public
Education
Nate Schnellenberger,
ISTA President
TOGETHER WE CAN

2. Critical Question
• Is ISTA still able to contribute to
the well-being of its members and
should they remain members?
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3. The answer is . . . YES!
• Anyone who asks that question has
not stayed informed of the recent
successes and accomplishments of
ISTA on behalf of Hoosier educators
and the students they serve.
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4. What Accomplishments?
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5. IDOE Teacher Contract
• It was ISTA – not a group of non-
members or independent locals – that
took immediate action and filed a lawsuit
against the Department of Education after
it created and distributed a required
teacher contract that defined working days
and minimum hours and gave IDOE
unbridled control over your working
conditions.
TOGETHER WE CAN

6. The Judge Agreed
• And a new, non-draconian teacher
contract was ordered and issued.
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7. ISTEP Affidavit
• Last February, IDOE distributed an ISTEP
affidavit that it demanded all teachers who
administer ISTEP sign.
• That affidavit asked teachers to affirm a
laundry list of unreasonable promises.
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8. • Did a group of non-members or
independent locals respond to this
demand from IDOE and challenge it on
behalf of Indiana’s educators?
• No. It was ISTA who made that challenge
resulting in the Department of Education
rescinding the affidavit.
TOGETHER WE CAN

9. Privatizing Public Schools
• During the 2012 General Assembly, ISTA successfully
opposed a bill that would have greatly accelerated state
takeover of public schools by private management
companies.
• Also at ISTA’s urging, legislators created a Select
Commission of Education that will oversee rules and
proposals developed by the State Board of Education
and the IDOE regarding teacher evaluations and
licensure to make sure they are being interpreted and
administered as intended.
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10. ISTA. Your Voice.
• No other organization – no group of
non-members or independent locals –
provides the level of advocacy and
support to teachers and education
support professionals that ISTA does.
No one advocates for public educators
like ISTA does!
TOGETHER WE CAN

11. Another Reason to Join
• Legislation passed in 2011 removes the
requirement that ISTA must represent
non-members on all matters except
bargaining pay and fringe benefits.
• In other words, without ISTA, you’re on
your own. Once your local contract
ends, ISTA is NO LONGER required to
represent non-members. And we will not
represent them.
TOGETHER WE CAN

12. Why ‘Go It Alone?’
• In these changing and uneasy times, with
educators under incredible scrutiny, why would
any educator take the chance to “go it alone”
without the support and representation provided
by ISTA?
• Teacher unions are under attack because they
work for their members – effectively
representing them and their interests.
TOGETHER WE CAN

13. Numbers Matter.
• Now is not the time to leave ISTA. Now is not the time
to question the level of representation.
• Now is the time to grow our membership and make ISTA
an even stronger organization.
• During tough times, public education and public
educators need a powerful professional union.
• The opponents of public schools want to see ISTA
weakened so they can do whatever they want to
educators whenever they want.
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14. Testamonials
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15. ISTA
• ISTA remains a powerful and proud
organization.
• Working together, we have faced great obstacles
and have not given up – despite great
challenges.
• We have faced great resistance and not given in.
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16. 1854
• ISTA was founded by a group of teachers in
1854 to solve the great challenges that faced
them and Indiana’s public schools.
• That’s the reason ISTA is still alive and well
today. Times and our challenges have changed,
but the reasons educators need ISTA haven’t.
• By staying together and working together, we
can protect our schools and our profession.
TOGETHER WE CAN