ROCKFORD, IL — Central office administrators, department heads and school principals are the highest paid of the Rockford Public Schools’ roughly 4,000 employees.
Most of the school system’s expenses are employee costs. With a total annual budget of about $565.5 million, 47%, or $263.7 million, goes to employee salaries and another 17%, or $96.9 million, is dedicated to employee benefits.
No teachers appear in the list of the top paid employees, however more than 300 Rockford teachers are at the top of the teacher salary schedule.
These teachers earned a base salary of $91,830 each in fiscal year 2025. Teacher salaries in 2026 will top out at a base salary of $95,503. They can also earn additional money by taking on extra assignments and performing additional duties.
To improve transparency and better inform residents on how tax dollars are spent each year, the Rockford Register Star is reporting on the salaries of public employees in government bodies across the region.
Here is a look at the top 20 highest paid employees of Rockford Public Schools and their base salaries from fiscal year 2025, the latest available data.
Ehren Jarrett, $257,754
After 13 years at the helm of one of Illinois’ largest school systems, Superintendent Ehren Jarrett worked his last day for Rockford Public Schools on June 30. Jarrett earned a base salary of $257,754 in his final year with Rockford, a 3.8% increase over the $248,317 he earned in the 2024-25 school year.
Lori Hoadley, $224,382
Longtime Rockford School District 205 attorney Lori Hoadley serves as general counsel of the school system. She earned a base salary of $224,382 in 2025, a nearly 2% increase over the $220,275 salary she earned the year prior.
Gregory Brown, $192,794
Chief Financial Officer Gregory Brown earned a base salary of $192,794 in the 2025 school year, a 1.2% increase over the $190,481 he earned the prior year.
Tucona Crowder, $173,789
Chief Human Resources Officer Tucona Crowder earned $173,789 in the 2025-26 school year.
Yashekia Goldsmith, $157,916
Deputy General Counsel Yashekia Goldsmith earned $157,916 in fiscal year 2025, a 1.3% increase over the $155,908 she earned the year prior.
Michael Phillips, $157,349
Chief Operations Officer Michael Phillips earned a base salary of $157,349 in fiscal year 2025, a 1.3% increase over the $155,349 he earned in the 2024 fiscal year.
Donald Rundall, $155,677
Longtime former Jefferson High School Principal Donald Rundall was the highest paid princpal and earned a base salary of $155,677 in fiscal year 2025 before leaving for a new position as principal of Freeport Middle School.
Morgan Gallagher, $154,743
Chief of Schools Morgan Gallagher earned a $154,743 base salary in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the $150,235 base salary he was paid in fiscal year 2024.
Antoine Reed, $154,548
Chief of Culture and School Engagement Antoine Reed is leaving Rockford Public Schools to become the superintendent of the Sun Prairie Area School District in Wisconsin. Last year he was paid a base salary of $154,548.
Jason Barthel, $153,996
Chief Information Officer Jason Barthel was paid a base salary of $153,996 in fiscal year 2025, a 1.3% increase over the base salary of $152,038 he was paid in fiscal year 2024.
Jennifer Lawrence, $153,995
Chief of Student Services Jennifer Lawrence earned $153,995 in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the $149,510 base salary she was paid in fiscal year 2024.
Diana Alt, $143,215
Executive Director of Talent Development Diana Alt earned $143,215 in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the $139,044 she earned the previous year.
Travis Woulfe, $142,527
Executive Director of Improvement and Innovation Travis Woulfe earned $142,527 in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the $138,375 he earned as a base salary in fiscal year 2024.
Ronald Carter, $136,662
Guilford High School Principal Ronald “Gus” Carter earned a base salary of $136,662 in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the base salary of $132,681 he earned the prior year.
Andria Mitchell, $132,829
Assistant Superintendent Andria Mitchell was paid a base salary of $132,829, a 3% increase over the $128,960 she was paid in fiscal year 2024.
Colleen Marchesi, $130,092
Executive Director for Nutrition Services Colleen Marchesi earned a base salary of $130,092 in fiscal year 2025, a 1.3% increase over the $128,438 she earned in fiscal year 2024.
Sarah Brenner, $130,000
Assistant Superintendent Sarah Brenner was paid a base salary of $130,000 in fiscal year 2025, a 10.6% increase over the $117,520 she was paid the year prior.
Julio Lopez, $128,233
Barbour Two-Way Language Immersion Academy Principal Julio Lopez was paid $128,233 in fiscal year 2025, a 3% increase over the $124,488 he was paid the year prior.
Jeff Kolkey writes about government, economic development and other issues for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on X @jeffkolkey.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Former Rockford schools chief tops list of top paid employees in 2025
Reporting by Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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By Jeff Kolkey, Rockford Register Star | USA TODAY Network
