Hinsdale D86 Official Takes State Media Relations Job

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86's communications director left last week for a job in state government.

Alex Mayster, who started in District 86 in early 2024, informed his superiors in February that he would leave at the end of June. At the time, he did not publicly reveal his post-resignation plan.

Mayster is now the press secretary for the Illinois State Board of Education, which has offices in Springfield and Chicago.

On his LinkedIn page last month, Mayster said he had recently received his master's degree in business administration from the University of Illinois.

"None of this would have been possible without the love and support of my family, who encouraged me through late nights, busy schedules, and every challenge along the way," Mayster said on the social media site.

On LinkedIn, Mayster said that in his new job, he would work with the media and communicate the impact of the state agency's policies.

In District 86, Mayster was hired with a $150,000 salary.

Earlier this year, the district unveiled a plan to eliminate Mayster's position upon his departure and split it into two jobs.

One would be an executive assistant to the superintendent, paying $60,000 to $70,000 a year.

The job description indicates the person would manage schedules, coordinate communications, support leadership initiatives and ensure efficient day-to-day operations in the superintendent's office.

The other position is communications coordinator, paying $70,000 to $85,000 a year.

That person would be in charge of media relations, digital communications, community engagement, and internal and external messaging.