50 Central, South Teachers Retiring: See Who They Are

HINSDALE, IL – Fifty Hinsdale High School District 86 educators have notified the district of their plans to retire over the next five years.

Patch obtained the names of the retiring teachers through a public records request:

Here are the teachers retiring at the end of this school year:

• John Bowman, math, Central
• Rick Cazzato, math, South
• John Charters, English, South
• Lisa Fernandez, science, South
• Julie Gaubatz, science department chair, South
• Susan Grady, English Central
• Alex Hipskind, social studies, Central
• Suzanne Howard, English, South
• Loren Mann, science, South
• Robert Morgan, counseling, South
• Valerie Ruth, social studies, Central
• Heddi Sirovatka, math, South
• Deborah Trujillo, world language, Central
• Victor Varsburg, special education, Central
• Jeff Waterman, social studies, South
• Donna Wheeler, counseling, Central
• Steve Wilson, math, Central
• Julie Zastresek-Whaley, special education, Central

Here are the teachers retiring at the end of 2026-27:

• Jarrod Amolsch, physical education, South
• Aimee Barranco, special education, South
• Jennifer Cummings, world language, Central
• Matthew Doll, math, Central
• James Kupres, social worker, Central
• Amy Piccoli, world language, South
• John Schlaman, math, South

Here are the teachers retiring at the end of 2027-28:

• James Dickerson, counselor, South
• Mary Kay Doorhy, math, Central
• Steve Edsey, dean of students, Central
• Nancy Harper, special education, Central
• Julie May, science department chair, Central

Here are the teachers retiring at the end of 2028-29:

• Randy Brogan, science, South
• Vince Dorn, business, South
• Kari Hein-Doege, counselor, Central
• Jennifer Hafner, social studies, Central
• Joseph Liaw, science, Central
• Ed Lynch, physical education, Central
• Rosalind Kind, dean of students, South
• Mary Beth Luken, special education, Central
• Janell Marconi, physical education department chair, Central
• Cathy Mengarelli, special education, Transition Center
• Mike Palmquist, English, Central
• John Richerson, math, South
• Karen Russo, business education, Central
• Richard Sasso, English, South
• Whitney Seaborn, special education, Central
• Jim Westphal, English, Central
• Paul Woods, chemistry, Central

Here are the teachers retiring at the end of 2029-30:

• Lisa Elo, English, South
• Shannon Hettinger, English, South
• Stephen Moore, English, South

It may seem strange in many occupations to give retirement notice so early.

But like teachers union contracts in many Illinois school districts, District 86's offers 6 percent annual salary increases for teachers' final four years.

To make this happen, teachers must turn in irrevocable letters of retirement. District 86's deadline for the 2029-30 year was Jan. 1.

In Illinois, the last four years are crucial for determining the amount of pensions, a system that critics call pension-spiking.

The state pays the employer portion of teacher pensions, so local districts don't feel the long-term direct effect of their end-of-career raises. Some suggest shifting the employer's pension costs to local districts, so they can be held accountable for their salary decisions.