Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates elected head of Illinois teachers union

ROSEMONT, Ill. (WAND) - Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates was among new leaders elected for the Illinois Federation of Teachers during the union's triennial convention.

Gates was elected president as delegates from across Illinois cast votes to choose the next leaders of the 103,000 member union.

The new officers include:

IFT Executive Vice President and Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates elected as President
IFT Secretary-Treasurer and Southwest Area Council President Cyndi Oberle-Dahm elected as Executive Vice President
President, North Suburban Teachers Union Local 1274, Pankaj Sharma as Secretary-Treasurer
President, University Professional of Illinois Local 4100, John Miller as Membership Secretary

The Illinois Federation of Teachers said of the new leaders, "Together, they will carry on the union's years of work to correct Illinois' backwards tax code, where working people pay more than billionaires. They will fight to make Illinois the number 1 state for children's education. The new leaders committed to launch a robust statewide campaign to deliver promised, but never realized funds, to schools that have compounded decades of unaddressed priorities that have held back all Illinois students."

Gates said, "The belly of a child who just had their one hot meal a day cut from school budgets rumbles the same, whether that young person is on the southside of Chicago or in Cahokia. Our members chose a slate that represent every aspect of our state, every part of a students' educational journey, and who are ready to fight to finally deliver on the promises that politicians in Springfield have made but not kept to our students in every district in Illinois."

IFT used Decatur as an example, saying 70 percent are students of color and 13 percent of families live below the poverty line, and the state provides 75 percent of adequate funding for Pre-K through 12 schools.

Outgoing President Dan Montgomery provided leadership for 15 years.

Gates said of Montgomery, "Dan leaves behind a legacy of courage, compassion, and principled leadership. He helped make IFT a powerful force for justice in Illinois."

The union is planning a statewide lobby day in Springfield Oct. 29 as it asks Gov. JB Pritzker and the General Assembly to fix the budget and protect public education.