Hinsdale D86 Names 2 Interim Leaders

DARIEN, IL – The Hinsdale High School District 86 board on Thursday unanimously voted for two interim superintendents, who are expected to work part time through June.

The interim leaders are retired school administrators Linda Yonke and Raymond Lechner. They are set to make $1,300 a day and can work up to 120 days a year. If they worked more than that, the would lose their teachers pensions.

Their names were kept secret from the public before the board's special meeting Thursday, but a news release was issued moments after their selection.

In 2021, Yonke served as interim superintendent for Elmhurst School District 205 for three months. That's because then-Superintendent Dave Moyer suddenly retired three months earlier than expected, following protests over his handling of the pandemic.

As Elmhurst's superintendent, Yonke was unusual among her counterparts among the bigger districts in the western suburbs: She was known to take questions from the media, instead of using a public relations intermediary. (Most recently, District 86's Chris Covino, who served as acting superintendent for a month and a half, departed from the tradition as well.)

In all, Yonke has a quarter century of experience as a school administrator. She spent 13 years working for New Trier Township High School District 203, including 11 years as its superintendent.

Before that, she was the principal at York High School in Elmhurst for six years, Lake Central Central High School in Indiana for a year and Kankakee High School for five years.

In retirement, besides Elmhurst, she has served as interim superintendent of Highland Park-based Township High School District 113.

Yonke has a bachelor's degree in history from Albion College in Michigan, a master's degree in language and literature from Governors State University in Illinois, and an advanced certificate in educational administration and a doctorate in educational organization from the University of Illinois.

Lechner spent 20 years working for Wilmette Public Schools District 39, including a dozen years as superintendent and eight years as assistant superintendent for special education and student services.

Before that, Lechner was the state-approved director of special education for six years and assistant director of student services for one year for Orland School District 135.

He also was a school psychologist for District 135, Berkeley School District 867 and Proviso Area for Exceptional Children.

Since retiring, Lechner has served as an interim superintendent for four districts: Marquardt School District 15, Bensenville School District 2, DeKalb School District 428 and Center Cass School District 66.

Lechner holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in school psychology from Northern Illinois University, a master's degree in educational administration from Governors State University and a doctorate in educational psychology from Loyola University in Chicago.

Over the next year, the board plans to conduct a national search for a superintendent.

In mid-May, the board decided behind closed doors to suspend Superintendent Tammy Prentiss, with the vote never made public. In late June, the board entered a severance agreement with Prentiss, ensuring she received her full salary this budget year.