Illinois Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates Gets $70K Raise

The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) has raised the annual salary of its president, Stacy Davis Gates, from $180,000 to $250,000 — a $70,000 increase of nearly 39% — according to an Oct. 29 report from NBC Chicago cited in coverage by Fox News Digital. The raise lands as most Illinois students, including most in Chicago, score below the proficient level in reading on national tests.

What happened

The IFT Executive Board approved the pay increase for Davis Gates’ role as IFT president. She also serves as president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), where public records show she earned just under $195,000. Based on those two figures, her combined annual compensation from the two roles would be roughly $445,000.

The raise drew criticism from the Illinois Policy Institute, a free-market think tank. Mailee Smith, its vice president of policy and litigation, told Fox News Digital that the CTU spends more on running itself than on representing teachers, citing the union’s own reporting that less than 19% of CTU spending went toward representation. She said the raise reflects “the same misplaced priorities seeping into the Illinois Federation of Teachers.”

Neither Davis Gates, the CTU nor the IFT responded to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment. Chicago Public Schools also did not respond to a request for comment on the district’s testing results.

Why it matters

The timing links the raise to a broader debate over school performance. On the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called the Nation’s Report Card, 30% of Illinois fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders scored at or above the Proficient level in reading. In Chicago, 23% of fourth graders reached that level in reading.

Other figures cited by the Illinois Policy Institute point the same way: 46% of Chicago Public Schools students in grades three through eight met reading standards in the 2025-26 school year, per the 2026 Illinois Report Card, and among CPS 11th graders taking the ACT, 44% scored proficient in reading and 28% in math. The union raise does not cause these results, but critics argue it signals where leadership attention goes. This is a political argument, not a finding of any investigation.

Key facts at a glance

What this means for you

• If you are a union member: Your dues help fund leadership pay. The source does not say whether this raise affects dues, so check with your local before drawing conclusions.
• If you are a parent: The proficiency numbers above are the clearest available signal of how students in your district are doing. Ask your school for its latest state and NAEP results.
• If you follow Illinois politics: Expect this raise to be used in arguments over union spending and school accountability. The figures here are the ones both sides are likely to cite.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Stacy Davis Gates make?

Her IFT salary is now $250,000. Her CTU salary is just under $195,000, for a combined total of about $445,000, based on the reported figures.

What percentage raise did she get?

The increase from $180,000 to $250,000 is nearly 39%.

How many Illinois students read proficiently?

On the 2024 NAEP, 30% of fourth graders and 33% of eighth graders statewide scored at or above Proficient in reading. In Chicago, 23% of fourth graders did.

What to watch next

Whether the CTU or IFT responds publicly to the criticism, and whether the raise becomes an issue in Illinois budget or education debates. The source does not indicate any pending vote or review.