Hinsdale D86 Leadership Rates Lowly: Survey

HINSDALE, IL – Leadership turmoil in Hinsdale High School District 86 may have taken its toll in the community's eyes.

In a recent survey, nearly 450 respondents were given a dozen categories and asked to identify three as the district's significant strengths.

The top category was teachers and staff, which drew 61 percent. The next four highest were academic achievement (42 percent), educational opportunities and programs (37 percent), the community (32 percent) and the district's reputation (30 percent).

The lowest categories were the leadership team (4 percent) and financial management (3 percent).

Financial management may be surprising. Over the years, the district has seen its share of controversies, but they rarely involve money. The top finance official, Josh Stephenson, has been on the job for more than eight years, a rare area of stability.

As for the leadership team, the district has seen seven people serve as superintendent over the last 2½ years.

After the board showed Tammy Prentiss the door in 2023, the district saw a succession of five interim leaders.

In summer 2024, Michael Lach got a three-year contract as superintendent. In August, he announced he would leave a year early.

Plenty of other administrators have left over the last couple of years. It got to the point where the board itself admitted turnover was a problem.

The school board, too, has seen drama over the years. In 2023, the teachers union called for the ouster of board President Catherine Greenspon.

Instead, the board kept her, giving her its first unanimous vote for a president in years.

The latest survey was part of the superintendent search process.

In the survey's comments section, more than a dozen noted the high turnover.

"There has been so much leadership turnover at the district that it feels imperative for the next leader to be committed to staying at the district at least throughout the duration of their contract to make an impact, rather than using the role as a stepping stone to something else," one person wrote.

"Too much turnover in our top leadership role has left us unable to move forward together," a resident said. "We have two incredible high schools – Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South – that should represent the combined strength of one unified district. Instead, division has held us back."