HCEA FAQ
HCEA: - Questions about your local HCEA office.
Who is HCEA?
HCEA is over 5,000 of your colleagues: teachers, counselors, psychologists, pupil personnel workers, interpreters, therapists (speech, occupational, physical and school mental health therapists), school social workers, secretaries, clerks, registrars, assistants (instructional, media, special education, health, food service, security and student assistants), and central office technical , management and technical employees at the HCPSS central office.
HCEA is the professional association and also the exclusive representative in collective bargaining for all teachers and most education support professionals in Howard County.
How are my HCEA dues spent?
HCEA dues pays for member representation; contract negotiation and enforcement; advocacy with administrators, the Board of Education and elected officials; training and professional development and other HCEA programs. The greatest portion of HCEA local dues pays for local staff and maintenance of the HCEA office, which support these activities.
What does HCEA do for its members?
HCEA is a way for Howard County educators to work together to improve their professional life, their working conditions, their standard of living and the public schools. HCEA’s negotiated agreements guarantee certain rights for all teachers and education support professionals.You can find out more about what HCEA has done in the past from issues of the HCEA WORKS through this web site's "Publications" page.
This year we are particularly proud of the achievements we've made in improving educator pensions, enhancing salary for beginning teachers, supporting National Board Certification candidates, providing more professional development for Instructional Assistants (including preparation for the ParaPro Assessment) and helping HCPSS teaching and support staff speak out through HCEA's Job Satisfaction Survey.
Many of these achievements benefit both members and non-members. (That's why we urge EVERYONE to join HCEA!) HCEA members also receive HCEA support and representation on non-contractual job problems, discipline, discharge, child abuse accusations, job injuries and many other issues. Only HCEA members get regular information from HCEA, have a voice and a vote in their organization and are protected by educators liability and DUES-TAB insurance.
What is the HCEA Sick Leave Bank and how can I enroll?
The HCEA Sick Leave Bank provides sick leave to contributors/members after the member’s accumulated sick leave has been exhausted in cases of incapacitating personal illness. This leave may be used to cover illness or injury or emergency surgery. The current assessment is zero (0) sick days for current teachers, one (1) days for new enrollee teacher members, and one (1) day for current and new enrollee members of the ESP Sick Leave Bank.
Call Denise Palmisano at the HCEA office or download the HCEA Sick Leave Bank enrollment form to enroll after July 1. Deadline for teacher enrollment is October 1 of each year. ESPs' enrollment deadline is October 31.
Teacher Sick Leave Bank guidelines and the ESP Sick Leave Bank guidelines explain Sick Leave Bank details, application procedures and restrictions. As a Sick Leave Bank member, it is important to familiarize yourself with this information.
How can I place an ad in the HCEA Marketplace?
E-mail your ad to editor_marketplace@hceanea.org. Include your name and school in your e-mail – and make sure all text and telephone numbers are accurate.
You may also print the ad form from the HCEA website and send it to HCEA through the pony to arrive by the monthly deadline.
Marketplace deadlines are THURSDAYS in the middle of every other month (beginning September).
How can I find out who is my building rep?
Your HCEA Rep is your hands-on connection to HCEA. HCEA attempts to have each school elect an HCEA Representative for every 25 members at each work site and would like to have both teacher and ESP reps at each school.
If your HCEA Rep has not yet introduced him/herself, ask a colleague who your representative is. If your colleague doesn't know, just pick up the phone and contact HCEA (410-997-3440).
If your school could use more volunteers on its "rep team," … “How about you?”
How can I get more involved in HCEA?
HCEA invites you to be part of the HCEA team in your building and to take part in HCEA. HCEA committees and county-wide activities like the negotiation team, political action, and instructional and professional development.
We get a lot done – and we also enjoy having a good time with friends after hours. Getting involved with HCEA is easy! Talk to your building rep, call the HCEA office (410) 977-3440, or e-mail us at staff@hceanea.org.
How does HCEA communicate with its members?
HCEA's first line of communication is our building reps, who meet monthly and hold school meetings to keep members informed. Our newsletter, HCEA Works, highlights how HCEA is working for you. Articles include current events and activities, what's happening on instructional issues and issues that affect your rights as school employees. HCEA posters and bulletins are sent to reps each month for posting on HCEA bulletin boards. They highlight upcoming activities. See publications page.
This HCEA website provides basic information about HCEA. More in-depth information on certain current topics is also available there.
What are the HCEA committees?
Active standing HCEA committees are
- Professional Development - works on improving professional development and mentoring for teachers and ESP
- Membership - works on publicizing and expanding the benefits of HCEA membership
- Bylaws - makes recommendations for changes to HCEA governing documents and policies
- Nominations, Elections & Credentials - carries out HCEA elections for officers, board of director and delegates to MSEA and NEA conventions
- Contract (Teachers and ESP) - Advises the respective negotiating teams on issues that affect teachers and ESP
- Negotiations (Teachers and ESP) - re-negotiate working conditions, salary and benefits for teacher and ESP employee groups
- Sick Leave Bank (Teachers and ESP) - Review requests for use of the HCEA Teachers and ESP Sick Leave Banks
- Government Relations - Work to coordinate HCEA members participation in elections and lobbying
- Minority Affairs - addresses the concerns of minority educators
Ad Hoc committees function for events like the HCEA Crab Feast and other social events. Read more about what HCEA committees do.
Are there other ways I can participate in HCEA?
HCEA members are welcome to participate in all HCEA trainings and workshops. Serving as a building "rep" or as a part of an Association rep team at your worksite is another way to get involved. HCEA committes would welcome your participation. HCEA also asks members to serve on joint committees with and advisory committees to the school system. Watch the website and HCEA WORKS - or contact your building rep - to find out more. You can access the latest HCEA WORKS by clicking on "Publications" at the bottom of the home page.
Who is on the HCEA Board of Directors?
The HCEA Board of Directors is made up of the officers of HCEA:
- President Paul Lemle - Wilde Lake HS
(Paul is currently on release and serving full-time as HCEA president.)
- Vice-President Maleeta Kitchen - Running Brook ES
- Treasurer Colleen Morris - Guilford ES
- Secretary Danielle King - Mayfield Woods MS
and nine elected directors:
- Valerie Braswell Jones - Elkridge ES
- Teri Dennison - Central Office
- John Eckstrom - Folly Quarter MS
- Anna Gannon - Gorman Crossing ES
- Doug Lea - Deep Run ES
- Kelli Midgley - Wilde Lake HS
- Laura Mynaugh - Triadelphia Ridge ES
- Donna Schulze - Phelps Luck ES
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