Maine South to be led by interim principals Isoye and Pressler this school year

Mike Pressler and Steven Isoye will work as interim co-principals of Maine South High School during the 2023-2024 school year, starting in a couple of weeks, Maine Township High School District 207 announced.

Pressler and Isoye will fill in while the district searches for a permanent replacement for Ben Collins, who will begin as Park Ridge-Niles School District 64′s superintendent July 1.

Pressler, who retired in 2022, was principal of Maine East High School for 12 years and succeeded Isoye, who was the principal of Maine East until 2010, according to district information.

Isoye most recently served as the superintendent of Niles Township High School District 219, retiring in 2022.

Isoye has also served as the chair of the Illinois State Board of Education since September 2022, according to previous reporting.

Isoye and Pressler will split principal duties over the coming school year and a search for a permanent principal will begin in fall 2023, according to District 207.

Each of them are allowed to work 120 days per year in order to retain their retirement status with the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois, and they will split the 238 school work days between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, according to Brett Clark, director of communications for the district.

Each will be paid $1,100 per day they work, he added.

Isoye will continue as chair of the Illinois State Board of Education and received approval to take on the Maine South duties from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office and the State Board of Education prior to accepting the position, Clark said.