Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates has been elected president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, marking a major progressive shift in state-level education leadership. The IFT announced her election on Saturday, October 18th, following its statewide vote, which positioned the influential labor leader to play a larger role in debates over education funding and public policy in Illinois.
Davis Gates has become one of Illinois’ most recognizable advocates for teachers and public education, known for her progressive stance on equity and resources for schools serving lower-income and minority communities. Her elevation to lead the 103,000-member federation brings her advocacy beyond Chicago and into the broader statewide conversation on education.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents educators, paraprofessionals, and support staff across the state, including higher education faculty and public employees. As president, Davis Gates is expected to continue pushing for increased state funding for schools and for changes to Illinois’ tax structure, which she has long criticized as disproportionately burdening working families while underfunding essential services.
Her leadership at the Chicago Teachers Union has been defined by aggressive negotiations, political organizing, and a willingness to challenge both local and state officials. Davis Gates played a key role in shaping the CTU’s partnership with progressive political figures, including Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a former teacher and union organizer. The two share similar policy priorities, though both have faced criticism from lawmakers wary of the union’s influence on education decisions.
Davis Gates’ approach is likely to push the Illinois Federation of Teachers further to the left politically, strengthening its advocacy on issues such as progressive taxation, equity in school funding, and labor rights. Her tenure also comes as the state faces a cautious approach to new education spending. This year, legislators temporarily reduced the $350 million annual increase in school funding required under a 2017 state law, withholding $43 million to evaluate a program that aids underfunded districts.
The move reflects broader fiscal pressures in Illinois, where policymakers have struggled to balance the state’s $55 billion budget while maintaining commitments to public education. As the new head of IFT, Davis Gates will confront these challenges directly, representing a large network of educators eager to see stronger financial commitments from the state.
Her election also continues a tradition of local leaders rising to statewide prominence within the federation. Former IFT president Dan Montgomery, who held the position for 15 years, is departing to head the American Library Association. The organization’s leadership transition comes at a pivotal time, as teachers’ unions across the country navigate political divides, funding constraints, and renewed calls for equity in education.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers plans to begin its new chapter under Davis Gates with a statewide lobbying day in Springfield, IL, next week, signaling an active start to her tenure and a renewed push for education reform.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times
