Detroit teachers union chief takes on Lansing, recall bid
The head of Detroit's teachers union said he's preparing for his biggest fight yet — to stop efforts to dismantle the city's public school system.
Steve Conn may also have to fight to save his job.
Five months after being elected president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, Conn is the target of a recall campaign. The 57-year-old former teacher and longtime civil rights activist said he's unfazed by critics and remains focused on improving public education in Detroit.
"We'll march, picket (and) make it absolutely clear to the governor and everyone that we're prepared to do whatever we can to defend public education," he said this week.
Read statement: Steve Conn to Detroit Federation of Teachers
Conn has a fiery, driven, in-your-face leadership style. During his nearly 30 years as a math teacher at Cass Tech, he was one of the most controversial figures in Detroit Public Schools. He has been arrested at protests, led strikes and been booted out of meetings for shouting.
Conn ran for president of the DFT about a dozen times before being elected in January. He beat out then executive vice president Edna Reaves by 15 votes.
Conn's supporters say he is pumping new life into a union that had become too passive. His critics describe him as reactive and even radical.
"He has strengths and weaknesses like all leaders," said Phil Fisher, a DPS teacher. "One of his strengths is that he wants to stand up for teachers. ... A weakness I see is not listening to membership, and that's huge."
Fisher is among a group of teachers that is circulating petitions in an effort to get Conn recalled. They are close to getting the 1,000 signatures needed to spark recall proceedings, he said. The union has about 4,000 members.
One of the stickiest issues for some people is Conn's strong ties to the social justice group By Any Means Necessary. Teachers say Conn has allowed BAMN members to attend members-only union meetings — in violation of the union's constitution and bylaws, they argue. He has tapped BAMN's national chair, attorney Shanta Driver, as his legal adviser.
Some BAMN members are disruptive, combative and have even tried to cast voice-votes at meetings, Fisher said, something Conn denies.
"I submit that it's better to have a guest section (at meetings)," Conn said. "This is not Detroit teachers union chief takes on Lansing, recall bid: