Hinsdale South Administrator Leaving For New Job

DARIEN, IL – An assistant principal at Hinsdale South High School is leaving to become the principal of Lisle High School later this year.

Eric Martzolf, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, starts the new job in July.

According to his LinkedIn page, Martzolf joined Hinsdale South as an assistant principal in 2009.

He is set to make $188,000 in his new job, up from $165,000, according to public records.

After a closed session Monday, the Lisle School District 202 board voted to appoint Martzolf.

In 2022, Martzolf was a candidate to replace then-South Principal Arwen Pokorny Lyp, who was appointed to become principal of Downers Grove South High School.

Instead, the Hinsdale High School District 86 board selected Patrick Hardy, former principal of Proviso East High School in Maywood.

In voting for Hardy, board member Jeff Waters revealed that Martzolf applied for the position.

"My condolences to a great leader here, Mr. Martzolf," Waters said at the time.

Lisle High's enrollment is about 400, compared with 1,300 at Hinsdale South. At both schools, about 30 percent of students are from low-income families.

In a statement to Patch on Wednesday night, Martzolf said he has "thoroughly enjoyed" his 15 years at the school.

"I have had the pleasure of working alongside an amazingly talented and dedicated faculty and staff whose passion for education and unwavering commitment to our students have inspired me every day," Martzolf said. "Interacting with our phenomenal students and witnessing their remarkable journeys has been the highlight of my career. As I begin the next chapter of my professional career, I do so with a sense of excitement and anticipation. While I will miss the Hinsdale South community dearly, I am eager to take on new challenges and lead from another chair."

According to a Lisle district memo, Martzolf has worked in schools for three decades. He has been a math teacher and a department head in Wheaton District 200 and Downers Grove High School District 99.

At Hinsdale South, Martzolf was the assistant principal for operations for eight years and assistant principal for curriculum and instruction for seven years.

The memo said Martzolf is particularly proud of working with various Hinsdale South departments to develop a rigorous curriculum that is aligned to standards and accessible to all students.

Participation in Advanced Placement courses at South has increased as well as the number of students taking and passing AP exams, the memo said.

Martzolf graduated with a bachelor's degree from Marquette University, a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from DePaul University, and an advanced certification in administrative leadership and policy studies from the University of Colorado in Denver.