Top-Paid Hinsdale Central, South Employees 2025-26

HINSDALE, IL – The superintendent of Hinsdale High School District 86 was again the district's highest-paid employee.

In the 2025-26 school year, Superintendent Michael Lach made $263,670. On June 30, he retired after two years at the helm.

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In February, the school board's president told him to work remotely. The board agreed to put Lach on leave for his last few weeks, while receiving his full pay.

In 2025-26, Josh Stephenson, the district's chief financial officer, was the second-highest paid employee, making $225,931.

The highest-paid teacher was John Charters, an English teacher at South, whose salary was $186,984. Charters, who retired at the end of last school year, was in seventh place on the salary list, moving up from 13th the year before.

Sixty teachers tied for 40th-highest pay, at $156,577.

This information came last week from the district's annual compensation report.

Here is what the highest-paid District 86 employees made in the 2025-26 year (some may have since retired or moved on to other positions):

1. Michael Lach
Superintendent
$263,670

2. Josh Stephenson
Chief financial officer
$225,931

3. Bill Walsh
Principal, Central
$208,717

4. Kari Smith
Assistant superintendent for student services
$200,389

5. Kari Peronto
Principal, South
$197,494

6. Jodi Bryant
Assistant superintendent for human resources
$196,460

7. John Charters
Teacher
$186,984

8. Alex Hipskind
Teacher
$184,718

9. Lisa Fernandez
Teacher
$181,401

10. Rick Cazzato
Teacher
$180,763

11. Julie Zastresek-Whaley
Special education teacher
$179,248

12. Steven Wilson
Teacher
$179,022

13. Heddi Sirovatka
Teacher
$178,800

14. John Bowman
Teacher
$177,623

15. Deborah Trujillo
Teacher
$177,613

16. Suzanne Howard
Teacher
$177,495

17. Jarrod Amolsch
Teacher
$175,511

18. Victor Varsbergs
Special education teacher
$173,170

19. Amy Piccoli
Teacher
$172,205

20. Valerie Ruth
Teacher
$171,769

21. Matthew Doll
Teacher
$170,564

22. Keith Bockwoldt
Chief information officer
$170,488

23. Jennifer Cummings
Teacher
$170,021

24. Aimee Barranco
Special education teacher
$169,949

25. John Schlamann
Teacher
$168,140

26. Mary Kay Doorhy
Teacher
$166,124

27. Jason Madl
Supervisory dean
$165,433

28. Karen Russo
Teacher
$164,644

29. Nancy Harper
Special education teacher
$164,336

30. Edward Lynch
Teacher
$163,544

31. Joseph Liaw
Teacher
$162,356

32. Michael Palmquist
Teacher
$162,261

33. James Westphal
Special education teacher
$161,800

34. Arthur Ostrow
Athletic director, South
$161,062

35. Michael Holland
Director of counseling
$161,012

36. Jennifer Hafner
Teacher
$160,118

37. Michael Jezioro
Athletic director, Central
$160,000

38. Jonathan Schmidt
Teacher
$158,099

39. Janelle Marconi
PE department chair
$156,833

40. 60 teachers tied for the 40th position, each making $156,577