Schools
Hinsdale D86 Picks Public Relations Official
He is leaving a much larger district, but is seeing a sizable pay bump.
HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale High School District 86 is getting a new head public relations official.
On Thursday, the school board voted unanimously for Alex Mayster as the communications director. His salary is $150,000. He starts Feb. 20.
He has served in the same role since 2021 for Naperville School District 203, where he made $107,000 as of last school year, according to public records.
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He worked for four years at Evergreen Park School District 124 as the communications director.
At District 86, Mayster will make a lot more money, but he is going to a smaller district – 4,000 students in District 86 vs. 16,000 in District 203.
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He has years of experience in covering news, including time as a managing editor for newspapers on the North Shore, according to his LinkedIn page. As journalists' careers progress, many move to better-paying public relations jobs.
Mayster replaces Chris Jasculca, who held the communications director's job for four years. Both Jasculca and the district's communications coordinator, Alyssa Barry, resigned Dec. 22.
Jasculca left for the same position with Latin School of Chicago.
After Mayster was selected Thursday, the board asked him to speak.
"I appreciate you trusting me to tell the story of the school district. I have done so much reading, research and watching videos (about the district)," Mayster said. "It's great to finally be here ... see what it's all about. It's a privilege to be part of a district with outstanding students and staff members and clearly a passionate community that cares about their schools."
The communications department's job, in part, is to put the district's best public face forward.
That may have become harder in recent months with abrupt changes in the district's leadership and other issues.
In the space of eight months, the district saw the ouster of a superintendent, the departure of an interim superintendent, the exits of two frustrated school board members and a pair of high-profile controversies involving basketball programs.
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