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.

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