Hinsdale D181's Top Paid Employees In 2024-25

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale School District 181's top-paid employee in the 2024-25 school year was Superintendent Hector Garcia, at $329,425. He is retiring at the end of this school year.

The district has about 3,500 students. It has the highest enrollment of the districts that feed into Hinsdale High School District 86.

Of District 181's 20 top-paid employees, 19 were administrators.

The highest-paid teacher was Madison Elementary School teacher, Helen Dunlea, at $133,341. She was 19th on the list.

The school board approved the release of the 2024-25 compensation list earlier this month.

Here is what the top 20 school officials and teachers were paid, including retirement enhancements, in the 2024-25 year (a few employees may have since retired or moved to other positions):

1. Hector Garcia
Superintendent
$329,425

2. Kathleen Robinson
Assistant superintendent of learning
$217,754

3. Mindy Bradford
Assistant superintendent of business and operations
$215,536

4. Gina Herrmann
Assistant superintendent of human resources
$201,391

5. Erica Ekstrom
Assistant superintendent of student services
$174,467

6. Sara Olson
Principal, Elm Elementary School
$163,348

7. Todd Brandon
Principal, The Lane Elementary School
$162,256

8. Eric Chasausky
Principal, Walker Elementary School
$160,847

9. Kristin Cummings
Principal, Prospect Elementary School
$155,200

10. Kristin Reingruber
Director of assessment, instruction and evaluation
$154,434

11. Cory Burke
Principal, Hinsdale Middle School
$151,158

12. Levi Brown
Principal, Clarendon Hills Middle School
$150,781

13. Barbara Shanahan
Principal, Madison Elementary School
$147,031

14. Matthew Kunesh
Director of technology
$145,804

15. Effey Nassis
Principal, Oak Elementary School
$143,650

16. Ronald May Jr.
Assistant principal, Hinsdale Middle School
$138,772

17. Erin Eder
Principal, Monroe Elementary School
$136,720

18. Michael Duggan
Director of facilities
$135,493

19. Helen Dunlea
Teacher, Madison Elementary School
$133,341

20. Caitlin Norton
Director of finance
$133,236