Stacy Davis Gates, Political/Legislative Director – Chicago Teachers Union

Ms. Stacy Davis Gates is the Political and Legislative Director of the Chicago Teachers Union AFT Local 1. After her twelve-year career as a classroom educator, Stacy married her political ambitions with her passion for educational advocacy and joined the revitalized Chicago Teachers Union. As the Political and Legislative Director, Stacy works to ensure that public educators, students, and their families have a strong voice in the policy making process. Under her leadership, the union’s political action fund and member activity in the political and legislative arena has grown significantly.

In addition to leading the political and legislative agendas for the CTU, Stacy is a regular contributor to radio shows and print publications. She was educated at Saint Mary’s College, the University of Notre Dame, and Concordia University.

Stacy can be contacted at [email protected].

“The rhetoric on education reform and pension reform in Chicago is upside down. In what era has it ever been ethical, moral or  vogue to close schools in poor, under-resourced black communities and fire experienced, dedicated school personnel, and then try to justify those decisions by claiming budget shortfalls on unwieldy retiree pay…..Chicago’s Mayor Rahm Emanuel has abdicated his responsibility as chief executive of the city and made it a practice to scapegoat his wrong-headed policies on the most vulnerable populations in the city. Simply put, the school district’s budget is being balanced on the backs of schoolchildren, senior citizens, and public employees….Mayor Emanuel does not have a budget crisis — he has a priority crisis….”
                                                                           Op-Ed by Stacy Davis-Gates August 22, 2013 (Sun Times)