Two long-time and well-known Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools staff members will retire at the end of the 2025–26 school year, bringing decades of service to the district to a close.  Their retirements were formally approved by a vote of the HSE School Board Wednesday night.

James “Jim” Brown, athletic director at Fishers High School, and Janet Chandler, a longtime teacher and former local teachers union president, will both conclude careers that had a significant impact on students, colleagues, and the broader HSE community.

Jim Brown: Two Decades Leading Fishers High School Athletics

Jim Brown has served as athletic director at Fishers High School since its early years, overseeing the growth of the Tigers’ athletic programs into one of the most visible and competitive in central Indiana. His career in education and athletic administration spans more than four decades.

Before coming to Fishers, Brown spent more than 20 years as athletic director at Triton Central High School. At Fishers High School, he guided the athletic department through rapid enrollment growth, conference realignment, facility expansion, and the increasing complexity of high school athletics.

Colleagues and coaches have credited Brown with emphasizing sportsmanship, student development, and academic balance, while supporting dozens of athletic programs and hundreds of student-athletes each year. Under his leadership, Fishers teams have competed in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference and regularly advanced in sectional, regional, and state tournament play across multiple sports.

Brown has also been active in state-level athletic organizations and has received professional recognition from coaching and athletic administrator groups during his career. His steady presence has made him one of the most familiar and respected figures in Fishers High School athletics.

Janet Chandler: Educator, Advocate, and Union Leader

Janet Chandler’s retirement marks the end of a long career at Hamilton Southeastern High School, where she taught social studies and was deeply involved in academic enrichment programs such as We the People and Mock Trial. Former students and colleagues often point to her passion for civic education and student engagement.

In addition to her classroom work, Chandler served as president of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), the district’s teachers union. In that role, she represented educators in contract negotiations, professional concerns, and discussions with district administrators and the school board. She became a familiar voice in public meetings, advocating for teachers while emphasizing collaboration and respect for the profession.

Chandler has received multiple honors during her career, including recognition from the Indiana State Teachers Association and a Sagamore of the Wabash award, reflecting her contributions to education and public service in Indiana.

Her dual roles as both educator and union leader made her a key figure in district conversations about teaching conditions, student needs, and the future of public education.

A Lasting Impact

Together, Brown and Chandler represent two very different but equally influential paths of service within Hamilton Southeastern Schools — one in athletics administration and the other in classroom teaching and professional advocacy. Their retirements will mark the end of an era for Fishers High School and HSE.