News

BROOKSVILLE, FL -- August 29, 2025

This Labor Day, HCTA wants to take a moment to reflect on what this day truly represents—not just a long weekend, but a powerful tribute to the dignity of work and the strength of collective action.

For us, Labor Day is a celebration of every educator who shows up with passion, resilience, and commitment. It’s a reminder that our work matters—not only in the classroom, but in shaping the future of our communities. It’s also a time to honor the generations of workers who fought for the rights we now defend: fair wages, safe working conditions, and the right to organize.

As your union, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We continue their legacy by advocating for respect, fair treatment and the resources we need to thrive—not just survive. Whether you're a longtime member or just joining us, know this: our strength lies in our unity. Together, we amplify our voices and protect the profession we love.

This Labor Day weekend, let’s celebrate not just the work we do, but the power we hold when we stand together. Thank you for everything you do—for your students, your colleagues, and your community.

Deadline is April 7th, 2025!

Any member with a child or children graduating high school in 2025 may submit an application.

In order for your child/children to qualify you must have been a member of HCTA from January 2024.

Scholarship documents may be downloaded here:

• /sites/default/files/media/documents/2025/HCTA_2025_SCHOLARSHIP_APPLICATION_FORM.pdf
• /sites/default/files/media/documents/2025/HCTA%20Scholarship%20Resume%20Template_.pdf
• /sites/default/files/media/documents/2025/HCTA%20SCHOLARSHIP%20RUBRIC%202025.pdf

Applications can either be mailed to the HCTA office at the address supplied on the

This December HCTA was excited to be able to distribute Hurricane Relief funds from the National Education Association and Florida Education Association to individuals that responded to calls to assit members signfigantly impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Additionally, members of HCTA made donations to a solidarity fund which were distriuted directly to their HCTA colleagues immediately after the storms. We are excited to be able to help our members in their time of need. Happy New Year from HCTA!

This year’s ballot will put Hernando voters’ commitment to public education to the test. Not only will we see new school board members elected, but a number of ballot initiatives and referenda will shape the operations of our schools for years to come. 

In the August 20th primary, EVERY voter—regardless of party affiliation—will weigh in on school board District 4. Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association vetted all candidates for school board and has endorsed Gregg Laskoski.

The November 5th general election puts both Hernando school funding referenda in front of voters alongside the local referendum which seeks to move Hernando to an elected Superintendent and the statewide constitutional amendment to move school board races from nonpartisan to partisan contests beginning in 2026. 

To say that this year’s election is of great consequence to our community would certainly be an understatement! It won’t be enough to simply ensure HCTA members are informed and participate in this election cycle; we must take steps to ensure all of Hernando’s public schools’ supporters are informed and participating!

HCTA's Government Relations Committee is seeking volunteers to participate in voter outreach and member-to-member GOTV activities. Please reach out to Adam Maternowski or Jason Daly for more information.

The 2024 HCTA Scholarship Application window is now open!

Deadline to submit your child's scholarship packet is April 1st, 2024.

Any member with a child/children graduating high school in 2024 may submit an application.

In order for your child/children to qualify you must have been a member of HCTA from January 2023.

Scholarship documents may be downloaded here:

• Scholarship Application
   (
  PDF
  )
• Resume Template
• Scoring Rubric

Applications can either be mailed to the HCTA office at the address supplied on the Scholarship Application or dropped off at the HCTA office. If no one is present at the office, there is a mail slot in the door you can slide the application through.

Member parent will be notified via email that the application has been received.

Scholarships are awarded based on the Scoring Rubric tabulations by the HCTA Scholarship Committee.

Our Union is strong because of YOU, the members of Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association.

Together -- through collective bargaining, advocacy, and organizing -- we're making a real difference in the lives of educators in Hernando County Schools. A look back over the 2024-25 school year reveals that, as our organization celebrated its 50th Anniversary, we are a union that is not simply surviving, OUR UNION IS THRIVING!

• We rallied our community around the renewal of both local school funding referendums and proved that Hernando County voters understand the value of public schools and are willing to invest in them.
• Our dedicated bargaining team brought bigger, more open, more transparent bargaining to HCTA members with continuous communication, detailed surveys, super-majority site representatives included in the bargaining committee, and focus group discussions encouraging any member with an interest in key issues identified through surveys to be part of developing proposals to improve working conditions.
• Our bargaining unit ratified an economic agreement that provided raises focused on experience and years in Hernando Schools to address salary compression created by state mandates.
• Thanks to the hard work of our HCTA Worksite Leaders, our membership density exceeded the state's required 60% and we collected near 1,000 state-required membership authorization forms in time for our 2025 registration renewal with the Public Employees Relations Commission.
• And we concluded the 2024-25 school year with an amazing turnout for the mail ballot election triggered by our 2024 renewal--sending a clear message that could LEAVE NO DOUBT: Hernando teachers want their union!

Perhaps the best part is that, by extension, we are actively improving public education for students in classrooms across Hernando County. Our efforts to improve teacher working conditions are shaping student learning conditions -- supporting recruitment and retention of quality educators, ensuring needed funding for academic programs and school safety, and maintaining a strong network of education professionals promoting and upholding best practices for successful student outcomes.

The members of HCTA are committed to building upon these recent achievements and we welcome our colleagues and community partners to be part of this very important work. Instructional staff employed in Hernando County Public Schools can become active members of our union through the online application: HCTA Membership Application

BROOKSVILLE, FL -- April 15, 2022

While it is certainly true that ALL elections have consequences, perhaps no election is of greater consequence for our neighborhood public schools than the election of members to our local school board. More than just a governing body, the school board is entrusted with our collective vision of vibrant public schools that help EVERY child who walks through the doors achieve thier highest potential. The individuals we choose to serve the community as school board members are uniquely positioned to set policies and direct the work of district leaders in delivering that vision. And this year, Hernando County School Board Districts 1, 3 and 5 are all on the ballot. 

As is customary and appropriate, Hernando Classroom Teachers' Association will be actively engaged in this year's local elections. Invitations have been emailed to all candidates vying for seats on the Hernando County School Board. Candidates are asked to submit a completed endorsement screening questionnaire by April 25th. Interviews will be held on May 14th at the HCTA office. 

School Board candidate screening timelines:

• 4/15/22 – Invitations and candidate questionnaires forwarded to all candidates
• 4/25/22 – RSVP & completed questionnaires returned to committee
• 5/14/22 – Candidate interviews
• 5/24/22 – Recommendations announced

Candidates for the Hernando County School Board who have not received an email invitation to participate in the HCTA endorsement screenings are encouraged to contact HCTA as soon as possible.

Meet the 2022 Local Elections Endorsement Committee:

The members of HCTA’s Local Elections Endorsement Committee provide a balanced representation of our HCTA membership.

• All levels and multiple disciplines, including CTE
• Experience ranging from 6 to 30 years, and a cumulative total of 138 years in teaching
• Ages ranging from 29 to 65
• Most with children attending or having graduated from HCSD
• All residents of Hernando County
• All actively engaged in community and/or union leadership
• Balanced representation of party affiliations (R, D, I and NPA)

Through an open and non-partisan process, this committee endeavors to identify candidates for local offices who most align with the values and priorities of our membership. All candidates for the offices being reviewed will be invited to participate in the screening process to be considered for endorsement. To ensure recommendations of the committee best reflect the interests of members, participating candidates will be vetted using tools created from input provided through recent survey of HCTA members.

BROOKSVILLE, March 3, 2022--

As the final week of the 2022 FL Legislative Session begins, educators, parents and students across the state are still waiting for Tallahassee legislators to provide real solutions to the most significant challenge our public schools are facing today: the growing educator shortage!

As of March 6th, the HCSD website shows 67 full-time instructional vacancies posted for the 2021-22 school year. Classroom teachers, school counselors, school psychologists, and social workers are in high demand and seemingly short supply. Moreover, every vacancy represents potential

HCTA and HCSD bargaining teams have reached several significant agreements for 2021 wages, hours and working conditions. As these memoranda will provide significant financial improvement for instructional staff, the ratification process will be expedited with worksite voting to be held on November 10th and November 12th. All instructional staff in Hernando County Schools are invited to register for the Virtual Ratificatoin Update which will be held on November 9th at 6:30 pm.