Educators lead the way. ❤️🍎 Did you know Women’s History Month started as a grassroots movement in California, where educators launched a local Women’s History Week in 1978?

In Peoria, IL, career and technical education opened doors for Kianna Pittman, leading to certifications, hands-on experience, a full-time job and college support thanks to @iftaft.bsky.social educators.
 📝 www.aft.org/ae/fall2022/... #PublicSchoolProud #PSW26 #CTEworks

TONIGHT! Phone bank w/us and @iftaft.bsky.social! We're letting voters know there's a misleading question on their primary ballot about the harmful new federal voucher program. RSVP by 4pm today: bit.ly/3_2callsforschools Come to spread the truth—stay for the @raygunshirts.bsky.social tee raffle!

Teachers and school staff are doing far more than teaching right now—they’re acting as first responders to fear. 💔 https://19thnews.org/2026/02/teachers-students-ice-agents/

Before becoming the first Black woman to lead both the CTU and IFT, Jackie Vaughn spent decades listening to, learning from, and fighting alongside the education professionals at the heart of public schools.

🚨 Last Call! Scholarship deadlines are quickly approaching! 🚨 If you’ve been thinking about applying… today is the day!

Thank you, again, for making our Lobby Day such a powerful success last week. Together, we showed lawmakers & the governor that Illinois educators, higher education workers, and public service professionals are united in demanding the full funding our state deserves. www.youtube.com/watch?v=crdd...

Did you know that in 1877, Illinois became the first state in the Midwest and only the second state in the north to send a black man to its state legislature?

We're phone banking for public schools this Monday, March 2nd at 6pm! Please register to join us: bit.ly/3_2callsforschools

Union membership is growing — even in the face of some of the most aggressive anti‑worker attacks in modern history. This is a call to action: keep organizing.  When they come after our rights, we organize harder. We strengthen our solidarity.

On February 6, we asked members to once again stand together and demand full funding, and we were not disappointed.

IFT: Mandates in Education Matter, the Governor Should Start with Complying with the Evidence-Based Formula and Mandated Support for Special Education, Meals, and Transportation

Madeline Morgan believed that Black history is American history — and she fought to make sure students learned it that way.

I'm proud to be endorsed by @iftaft.bsky.social. We need to support our teachers, pay our teachers, and do everything we can to uplift our students and educators across the country.

Illinois Federation of Teachers Responds to Governor’s Budget Address:  Young People in Our Classrooms Are Asking the Governor and General Assembly to Choose to Protect Illinois’ Families Instead of Billionaires’ Fortunes

Hundreds of IFT members went to Springfield yesterday to sound the alarm because the current evidence-based model still isn't delivering what our students need, and funding for universities and essential state services falls short as well.

Today, hundreds of us stood together at the State Capitol - educators, higher education professionals, school staff, retirees, and public employees from across Illinois - united in one message: Our students, campuses, and communities deserve full funding.

CTU and IFT President Stacy Davis Gates on the Passing of Reverend Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr.

TOMORROW, union members, educators, higher ed professionals, and public service workers from across Illinois will meet in Springfield to demand a tax code that finally reflects our values.

Roses are red, 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹 Violets are blue, 💙💙💙💙💙 Stronger together? 💪🏿💪🏾💪🏽💪🏼💪🏻 Always true! ✅✅✅✅✅

To celebrate Valentine's, we're asking for the state of Illinois to show some love to our schools and services.

Join us! On Sunday, March 1, IFT and CTU members will proudly participate in Polar Plunge Chicago for Special Olympics Illinois. 🥶

🚨 There are only a few more days left to RSVP for Tuesday's Lobby Day in Springfield.

Our Young People Will Always Lead Us Union of educators and state workers expresses solidarity for student walkouts, demanding “ICE Out”

After seeing reporting that the Illinois Policy Institute is pushing IL counties & townships to hold sham ballot measures, IFT responded, outlining IPI's pattern of dishonesty & exposing its larger mission of diverting billions in taxpayer funds to private & for-profit schools.

Two IFT members who rise above have been nominated by the Illinois State Board of Education for the national 2026 Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award. We are so proud of their work and recognition!

On Monday, state lawmakers announced new legislation to address the statewide pattern of underfunding education and shared their plans for filling the gap and providing schools with the resources needed to be in compliance with state mandates.

Thank you to the many union members who make today's big game happen!

Tuition keeps climbing. 📈 Headlines say it all—but let's not forget why: years of state disinvestment have pushed more costs onto students and families.

Sign our letter! We're demanding more than lip service - we are asking Governor Pritzker to ensure that Illinois leads the way for students and families by choosing workers over billionaires!

I’m honored to have the endorsement of the state workers and educators in the @iftaft.bsky.social.

I’m so grateful to have earned the endorsement of @iftaft.bsky.social! Teachers are the backbone of our country, and I will always fight to protect your rights and promote public education.

This week, the Illinois Federation of Teachers announced endorsements for the March 17 primary elections. After holding meetings with candidates and reviewing candidate questionnaires, members made recommendations that were reviewed and finalized by the IFT Executive Board.

TOMORROW: Will you join us on Full Funding Friday?

The Illinois Primary Election is next month, but you can vote as early as today in some counties! The IFT works diligently to advocate for our members, their professions, and public education and services.

Black History Month honors the people, movements, labor, culture, and care that have shaped our collective past & continue to shape our present. It’s a reminder that Black history is not separate from workers’ rights, racial justice, creativity, resistance, or joy. It’s foundational to all of them.

📣 Are you ready for another Full Funding Friday?  We need all of our members to use their voices and collective power to make sure lawmakers break this cycle of underfunding our schools, higher education, and communities.

CTU and IFT President Davis Gates on Trump’s School Voucher Tax Scheme “State’s Educators Urge Pritzker Not to Move Backwards on School Vouchers and to Properly Invest in Neighborhood Public Schools”

When our members see a need, they step up. We’re incredibly proud of AICE (IFT Local 6612) member Katie Wilson whose improv troupe turned creativity into community care. ❤️

We stand with you, Rockford Education Association! ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 REA members just took the difficult step of voting to authorize a strike - an action that reflects their commitment to fair working conditions and dedication to to the students and families they serve.

This is what meaningful education looks like: connection, compassion, and the power of truly believing in students. So proud to share this story about teacher and Local 1211 member Mauricio Orozco and the work he's doing for his students in Palatine.

When our students are too terrified to come to school, we don't just teach—we march. From the art build tables to the frozen streets of St. Paul, watch how educators, students, and families turned anxiety into action. ✊❄️ #IceOutMN #ProtectOurStudents

Next week, plan to join us once again for Full Funding Friday! IFT members will join together to use their voices and collective power to make sure lawmakers break this cycle of underfunding our schools and communities.

New revenue for higher education would: 🛠️ Repair and modernize campus infrastructure 🏫 Restore programs and student services cut during the past budget crises 💸 Keep tuition affordable 🧑‍🏫 Attract/retain faculty and staff 🎓 Make our universities a destination of choice once again

Earlier this month, members in dozens of unions made our message clear. It's time to put people over profits and start finding real solutions to give our kids and communities what they need and deserve.

Join us 2/17 for a Lobby Day in Springfield! Federal cuts and an outdated tax system are squeezing working families while starving our schools, colleges, and communities.

We love seeing the work of our members recognized.  Champaign Federation of Teachers member and Unit 4 teacher was interviewed for this piece on making insects a class pet! It doesn't 🐞 bug🐛 us to see this spotlight on thoughtful, student-centered teaching in action.

CTU and IFT President Stacy Davis Gates reminds us that history isn’t just about the rise of tyrants. It’s about the power of the people who resisted them. Our anger is rooted in what we already had, and what’s being taken away.

As higher education institutions across the nation struggle with federal funding cuts, universities in Illinois are suffering further from long term underfunding by the state. This directly impacts rising tuition costs.

💡 Do you have a high school senior who needs something to do this weekend? How about applying for an IFT scholarship?