Hefty Raises For Joliet's High School Administrators

JOLIET, IL — One year after the Joliet Township High School District 204 parted ways with new Superintendent Mike Hanson after just a few months on the job, several administrators have received substantial pay raises this school year as Joliet Central and Joliet West students remain in remote online learning activities.

Students at Joliet West and Joliet Central have not returned to their respective school buildings at any point this entire 2020-2021 school year even though many area students including Troy and Joliet Catholic Academy are back in their classrooms or returning this week, such as Plainfield.

After paying off Hanson at least $87,500 to stay home for work from February to July, the District 204 School Board promoted assistant superintendent Karla Guseman, giving her a $54,366 salary hike to become the permanent superintendent.

Guseman's salary has climbed from $171,634 to $226,000.

However, Guseman is not the only District 204 administrator making six-figures who received a significant pay hike for the 2020-2021 school year.

One of Joliet's long-time high school principals now makes more than $200,000. A total of three District 204 administrators top $200,000 in annual salary.

Joliet Patch recently obtained all the public salary data for District 204 officials making more than $100,000 during this remote-learning school year amid the pandemic.

This public spending watchdog story will focus exclusively on pay for administrators and administrative support officials with District 204.

Because some of the school administrators were not in their current positions last school year, their previous salary is not being listed below.

Joliet Township District 204 school administrators who are in the same position they held during the 2019-2020 campaign have their previous salary listed as well as the amount of their pay raise for the current school year.

The salary data for administrators is as follows:

Jamila Snapp-Cage, $100,000, Joliet West coordinator of special services,

Wendy Davis, $100,047, district administration center network and media manager,

Iman Ellis-Bowen, $133,259, district director of special services,

Salary as of December 2019: $129,377

Difference: Raise of $3,883

Robin English, $133,228, Joliet Central academy coordinator,

Salary as of December 2019: $129,347

Difference: $3,881

Teresa Gibson, $203,735, Joliet West principal,

Salary as of December 2019: $192,203

Difference: $11,532

Karla Guseman, $226,000, superintendent,

In February 2020, Guseman was promoted to superintendent, drawing a salary of $215,000, plus a $4,000 annual car allowance. Her salary was increased by another $11,000 last July.

Shad Hallihan, $174,727, Joliet Central principal,

Salary as of December 2019: $169,638

Difference: $5,089

Ilandus Hampton, $222,552, assistant superintendent for business services,

Salary as of December 2019: $216,070

Difference: $6,482

Karen Harkin, $179,288, director of technology services,

Salary as of December 2019: $169,140

Difference: $10,148

Angel Hauert, $130,321, Joliet Central academy coordinator,

Salary as of December 2019: $126,525

Difference: $3,796

Adam Kordalewski, $102,000, curriculum director English,

Stephen Locke, $116,699, Joliet Central assistant principal for student services,

Salary as of December 2019: $113,300

Difference: $3,399

Joseph Lopez, $133,141, director of buildings and grounds,

Salary as of December 2019: $129,263

Difference: $3,878

Dianne McDonald, $140,000, assistant superintendent for educational services,

Steven Millsaps, $107,025, Joliet West athletic director,

Salary as of December 2019: $103,908

Difference: $3,117

Bartholomew Mushro, $103,697, Joliet Central building and grounds supervisor

Salary as of December 2019: $100,676

Difference: $3,021

Matthew Narducci, $117,832, Joliet West assistant principal for student services. He is the brother of the district superintendent.

Salary as of December 2019: $114,400

Difference: $3,432

Christopher Olson, $176,022, director of human resources,

Salary as of December 2019: $166,058

Difference: $9,964

Paul Oswald, $107,205, curriculum director English as a Second Language and social sciences,

Salary as of December 2019: $103,908

Difference: $3,117

Maureen Pulaski, $107,025, Joliet West academy coordinator,

Salary as December 2019: $103,907

Difference: $3,118

John Randich Jr., $103,907, Joliet Central PPS coordinator,

Salary as of December 2019: $100,881,

Difference: $3,026

Kristine Schlismann, $121,599, director of alumni and community relations,

Salary as of December 2019: $118,057

Difference: $3,542

Stephen Seper, $102,909, Joliet Central academy coordinator,

Brian Shaw, $161,660, director of support services,

Salary as of December 2019: $156,951

Difference: $4,709

Melissa Stapleton, $107,025, Joliet West academy coordinator,

Salary as of December 2019: $103,908

Difference: $3,117

Tino Villaflor, $121,367, Joliet Central assistant principal for student services,

Salary as of December 2019: $117,832

Difference: $3,535

Jo Wooten, $136,287, Joliet West assistant principal for student services,

Salary as of December 2019: $132,318

Difference: $3,969

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