Street sign unveiled for Honorary Karen Lewis CTU Way in front of teachers union headquarters

CTU and elected officials were on hand for the renaming of the stretch of West Carroll Avenue in front of the union’s Near West Side headquarters.

Chicago Teachers Union officials joined elected officials Friday evening to celebrate the renaming of the stretch of West Carroll Avenue in front of the union’s headquarters to Honorary Karen Lewis CTU way.

Lewis, longtime president of the CTU, died in February 2021 at age 67 after a yearslong battle with brain cancer.

Those on hand Friday included former CTU president Jesse Sharkey, who had served as second-in-command to Lewis before taking over the top spot. He described having a great working relationship with Lewis as well as her impact on the union and city politics.

Current CTU President Stacey Davis Gates also was there, as was Cook County Commissioner of the 1st Ward Brandon Johnson, who reminisced about being let go by Lewis when she was CTU president “about 5 times.”

He added that Lewis “was right about everything ... but wrong about me.”

Earlier this week, the CTU’s House of Delegates voted to endorse Johnson for Chicago mayor — even though Johnson has not announced he’s running.

After the sign was uncovered outside the CTU headquarters in the 1900 block of West Carroll Avenue, many cheered and took pictures. Some, emotional, said they wished Lewis could have been there to see it.