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A man with a mission:
Johnson prepares to step down after six years
After six years as WEAC president, Stan Johnson will leave his post on July 31 knowing he has done his best to fight for what is right and fair for its members. “It was worth every minute of it,” he said.
Johnson, the first WEAC president to serve at the same time as a two-term Democratic governor, has steadfastly led the organization’s 98,000 members through the increasingly complex issues facing public education. He has come a long way since, as a 28-year-old teacher, he made up his mind to one day become president of WEAC.
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That goal, along with devotion to his profession, fostered lifelong friendships and opportunities. Looking back, he sees the rich contributions and accomplishments of a solid organization. Looking forward, he sees opportunities for WEAC’s continued strength and success.
Johnson’s fondest memories of his tenure are those times spent standing shoulder-to-shoulder with members. Whether walking on a picket line or standing up for members at school board meetings, Johnson said he was proud to be among them.
“They didn’t care that I was the WEAC president,” Johnson said. “They only cared that I was there, listening, and I was trying to do something with them.”
Johnson remembered driving to Washburn and back home again in a Northern Wisconsin blizzard for an opportunity to connect with members. “I drove seven hours up and nine hours back to talk to 14 people, and that didn’t bother me,” he said. “Those were 14 people who had never talked to a WEAC president before or even had one visit their local.”
Johnson became involved in his local union as a teacher in the Stoughton Area School District. Later, he branched into union involvement in state and national arenas. He was chairman of WEAC’s Minority Affairs Committee, and served as WEAC’s vice president from 1995 to 2001. Nationally, Johnson was chairman of the NEA’s Public Relations Committee, vice president and president of the NEA’s Board of Directors Black Caucus, and served on the NEA’s Justice for All Task Force, which was formed to concentrate on African-American members’ concerns.
As president, Johnson said members continued to be his inspiration. That inspiration was clearly evident whether Johnson was giving an impassioned address in front of thousands of people or meeting a teacher at a small-town gathering. It is what fueled his desire to make WEAC stronger and position it for the future.
In his six years, the WEAC Great Schools initiative thrived and the organizational structure was improved. Dedicated work continued at the state level to prevent the further erosion of school funding and the undermining of pay and benefits for teachers and education support professionals.
“Throughout his time as president of WEAC, Stan has given himself completely to this organization,” said Dan Burkhalter, WEAC executive director. “Under Stan’s watch, WEAC continued to make strides in serving its members and shaping public policy. He was at the forefront of important issues including school finance reform and closing the student achievement gap.”
Among his accomplishments while in office were:
Johnson became the face of WEAC’s Great School initiative, using every opportunity to promote the many successes of public education in Wisconsin. His aggressive promotion of the state’s commitment to great schools has helped increase the public’s understanding of the critical role of public education in our society and our democracy and helped mobilize support for our schools. Johnson was also fundamental in the WEAC organizational plan called Our Renaissance Plan.
Throughout his tenure, changes were made so the WEAC organization runs more smoothly and efficiently. Meaningful discussions are now held at the WEAC Board level, rather than just approving motions. Members of the Budget and Finance Committee are now elected instead of appointed. Specific criteria and goals are now set for committees to meet.
WEAC has played an important role in staving off further cuts to education at the state level through strong campaigns and lobbying efforts. During Johnson’s tenure as president, WEAC members and the organization worked very hard – and successfully – in getting pro-public education candidate Jim Doyle elected and re-elected as governor. That was instrumental in fighting off many legislative initiatives that would have further eroded school funding and undermined the pay and benefits of teachers and education support professionals. That includes the effort by legislative Republicans to pass a “Taxpayer Bill of Rights” or TABOR, which would have significantly choked off funding of schools. WEAC members and the association also worked hard to successfully elect a pro-public education State Senate in 2006, another major factor that has helped preserve Wisconsin’s great schools. Johnson was also instrumental in bringing $2.5 million into Milwaukee to strengthen efforts to bridge the achievement gap.
WEAC now has more women and minorities in leadership roles, better reflecting its membership. Johnson noted that one of the highlights of his time in office was the hiring of Executive Director Dan Burkhalter. “Enough cannot be said about the expertise, dedication and advocacy shown by our management team during my tenure,” Johnson said.
As Johnson nears the end of the maximum two terms allowed under the WEAC constitution, the man known for his ability to listen and hearty sense of humor encouraged members to continue the mission.
“It was never about me; everything I did was focused on making the organization better,” Johnson said. “I have had a unique opportunity.”
In a recent interview, Stan Johnson reflected upon what influences put him on the path to become WEAC president, and what his hopes are for the future of the organization. Following are excerpts taken from his parting words:
“I learned about myself as well as the profession.”
Johnson did not know how much he would grow to love teaching when he chose education as his major in college. “My real thrill was when I learned that teaching was more than just standing in front of a class,” he said. Then, much to his surprise, he found his classroom requirements in the Milton School District to be “a great experience.” But an even greater experience – and a huge challenge – was awaiting him.
"Stoughton was ready to try another black teacher for an internship, and when I found out it paid (unlike student teaching), I went for it,” Johnson said. As the only African-American staff member, and with virtually no minority presence in Stoughton, he embraced the chance to break through racial barriers.
“I felt it on my shoulders, that I was representing every African American by my actions. I learned about myself as well as the profession.”
Q: What advice would you give to young people considering a career in education? A: "Education is still one of the jobs you have to love to do. It's a job in which you know you are going to make a difference."
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Johnson, a language arts teacher, also taught 2nd, 3rd and 7th grades, social studies and math during his 25-year career in the Stoughton Area School District. He coached varsity football, girls’ basketball, and both boys’ and girls’ track.
Johnson admitted he did not join the teachers’ union for the first two years of his career. With an annual salary of $8,850, the $98 for union dues seemed like a lot of money, he said candidly. He was, however, surrounded by teachers active in the local union who encouraged him to become involved. He recalled showing up at his first union bargaining rally, ready to let the air out of the tires of the district’s hired attorney. His colleagues taught him what unionism and solidarity was about, and over the next few years, he found so much value in his union membership he became an active member. By age 28, he had developed a goal – someday he wanted to become president of WEAC.
“I am forever grateful for the learning opportunities and leadership opportunities given to me by my local in Stoughton and my UniServ, Capital Area UniServ-South,” Johnson said.
In 2001, he stepped forward to take on the task he had long awaited. He was elected president of the state’s largest labor union, representing K-12 public school teachers and support staff, educators in the Wisconsin Technical College System, state education professionals at the Department of Public Instruction and state institutions, Student WEA members, WEAC-Retired members, and University of Wisconsin System academic staff.
Johnson acknowledged that his first three years as president were challenging. Trying to implement change in an organization is always difficult, he said, and he encountered considerable resistance to some of his efforts to move WEAC forward.
“I wanted to complete the task.”
Upon winning re-election in 2004, Johnson saw the doors of opportunity open. He was then able to bring about organizational change. “It was an easy decision to run for a second term,” he said. “I wanted to complete the task.”
"It was worth every minute of it." - Stan Johnson |
“We are only as strong as our locals.”
Johnson offered words of advice to members of WEAC, encouraging stronger local associations and unity among WEAC, UniServs and locals. “We are only as strong as our locals,” he said.
He called upon the new leadership to conduct itself as a championship team, and commended the WEAC staff, as well as the UniServ staff, for its good work. “One thing I learned about them is that they really care about the members, and that is very important,” he said.
“I have also had the pleasure of working with outstanding leadership team members,” Johnson continued, including Terry Meyer; Mary Bell; Paul Hambleton; Bob Fitzsimmons; Glenn Schmidt; Sally Heidemann; Ray Heidemann; Kay Hansen; Shelly Moore; Laura Vernon; Margaret Guertler; Bob Gustafson; Bob Fullmer; Mark Cebulski; and George Williams.
“There have also been many influential and tremendous advocates of public education, along with WEAC, in the UniServ presidents’ ranks and on the WEAC Board of Directors,” Johnson said.
He noted that he was fortunate to have had fine chairs and co-chairs on WEAC committees, and he recognized the outstanding members who have served on those committees.
Others who have deeply influenced his life include Benjamin Mays, a distinguished African-American minister, educator, scholar, and social activist; Mary Hatwood Futrell, an African-American woman who served as NEA president from 1983-1989; Lauri Wynn, the first African-American woman to serve as WEAC president, 1973-1976; his parents; current NEA President Reg Weaver; George Williams; and Ray MacFarlane.
“Of course, all of this could never have been achieved or accomplished without a very special person, my wife, Amy Johnson,” he added.
“You have a lot of friends coming in and fewer friends going out…”
Looking back, Johnson said, he wishes he had been more successful early on in moving the management team forward and, policy-wise, in changing the state’s school funding system to better support kids, great schools, and the state’s great teachers and staff. However, he said, “I am amazed at how much we did get accomplished considering all the internal strife we experienced while at the same time fighting external influences.”
As he prepares to leave office, Johnson said the words of one of his mentors – Kiel teacher Dennis Hortum – ring true. “Dennis said to me, ‘You are going to have more friends than you’ve ever had in your life until you have to use your role as president to say no.’ It’s true,” Johnson said. “You have a lot of friends coming in and fewer friends going out just because of the decisions you have to make for the organization rather than for individuals.”
“I did not forget who I am and where I came from.”
Johnson’s future plans are as yet undetermined – he’s leaving his options open. Undoubtedly, the Chicago native will continue to root for the Bears and enjoy golfing and eating cheeseburgers. Regardless of where he goes from here, he’ll get there in style, a trait he attributes to his mother. “She worked at Sears, and I always swore that when I got my own paycheck I was going to get my own clothes,” he laughed.
And Johnson’s sense of self is as true as that trademark sense of style. “I did not forget who I am and where I came from,” he said with a nod. “Deep in my heart, if I can walk out and still be who I am, that will be enough.”
Posted July 20, 2007
