Chicago City Wire

Brian Kasal, President of the Northside Republicans, expressed concern over Stacy Davis Gates' election to lead the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), describing it as a troubling development. He argued that her approach prioritizes ideology over students' needs. Kasal made these remarks to Chicago City Wire.

"The election of Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates to lead the Illinois Federation of Teachers marks a troubling shift for Illinois families and students," said Kasal. "Davis Gates, who demands accountability from the wealthy while repeatedly failing to pay her own bills, embodies hypocrisy rather than integrity. Her focus has consistently been on advancing a radical political agenda instead of addressing the real needs of teachers, classrooms, and children. Under Davis Gates, IFT will be more about politics and power than education and student success."

According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Stacy Davis Gates, who is also the President of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), was elected head of the IFT on October 18. This new role allows her to extend her influence across 200 affiliates while maintaining control at CTU. Under her leadership, CTU has focused on progressive causes such as police-free schools and carbon neutrality rather than teacher representation, with only 18% of its 2025 budget allocated for this purpose.

The Illinois Policy Institute further reported that despite advocating for wealth redistribution, Davis Gates increased her own salary in 2025 while neglecting to pay city utility bills. Her total compensation from CTU and IFT exceeds $273,000 annually. Despite this income, she reportedly owes over $1,000 in unpaid utility bills for 2025 and previously accumulated nearly $5,700 in debt.

RealClearEducation highlighted voter dissatisfaction with union-led education in Chicago's first Public Schools Board election, where most candidates backed by CTU were defeated. The report noted a decline in student proficiency rates under CTU's leadership, with only 23% of 11th graders reading at grade level. It suggested that Illinois could improve literacy rates by adopting evidence-based reading instruction similar to successful strategies used in Florida and Mississippi.

Kasal was appointed President of Chicago's Northside Republican Club in 2021. According to the organization’s website, he aims to increase Republican voter turnout and membership while communicating party positions relevant to Northside voters.