Illinois teacher leader salary jumps
IFT president Stacy Davis Gates received a $70,000 raise while state reading scores remain low.
By Adriana Abebe ·
Stacy Davis Gates, the president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, now earns a total of approximately $445,000 annually. The compensation figure combines her newly raised salary with her existing pay from the Chicago Teachers Union.
The Illinois Federation of Teachers Executive Board approved the pay increase on October 29. The move raised her base salary for the IFT role from $180,000 to $250,000. Public records indicate she earned just under $195,000 as the president of the Chicago Teachers Union prior to this change.
The raise represents a nearly 39% increase in her earnings for the state-level position. The timing coincides with recent data showing that a majority of Illinois students struggle with basic reading skills. The National Assessment of Educational Progress results from 2024 show that only 30% of Illinois fourth graders scored at or above the proficient level in reading. Among eighth graders in the state, 33% met that same benchmark.
Chicago Public Schools reported similar challenges in student performance. In 2024, only 23% of fourth graders in the district achieved proficiency in reading. Math scores showed a slight upward trend, with 60% of fourth graders scoring at or above the basic level in 2024, compared to 59% in 2022. The Illinois Policy Institute reported that 46% of Chicago Public Schools students in grades three through eight met reading proficiency standards during the 2025-2026 school year.
Mailee Smith, vice president of policy and litigation at the Illinois Policy Institute, criticized the allocation of union funds. She stated that the Chicago Teachers Union spends more money running itself than it does representing teachers. According to internal reporting, less than 19% of the union's spending went toward representation. Smith noted that the raise reflects a pattern of prioritizing leadership compensation over serving members.
Smith pointed out the disparity between the union leader's pay and that of classroom teachers. The average Illinois teacher earns a fraction of the $445,000 total combined annual salary that Davis Gates now receives. Smith argued that the increase does not help teachers with classroom support or bargaining representation. She added that Illinois leaders should prioritize student needs while current leadership focuses on political agendas.
The Chicago Teachers Union has faced scrutiny for its spending on progressive political causes. Internal documents previously reported showed expenditures on social justice initiatives. Smith highlighted that Davis Gates demanded others pay their fair share while her own utility bills accumulated. She also noted that the union leader chose a private school for her own child while opposing scholarships for low-income families.
Local teachers recently rejected a dues hike intended to protect their paychecks. Davis Gates received the raise shortly after that vote. Neither Davis Gates, the Chicago Teachers Union, nor the Illinois Federation of Teachers responded to requests for comment. Chicago Public Schools also did not respond to inquiries regarding its district testing results.
