Maine West High principal promoted to districtwide position

Maine West High School Principal Eileen McMahon will take on a districtwide role ahead of the 2026-27 school year.

McMahon has been named director of educator performance and development for Maine Township High School District 207. It’s a newly created position in the district, spokesman Brett Clark said.

The school board approved McMahon’s promotion Monday night.

McMahon has served as Maine West’s principal since 2019. She’ll remain at the Des Plaines campus in that role until June 30.

In her new job, McMahon primarily will support new teachers at all three District 207 schools, according to a news release from the Park Ridge-based district.

The district has 484 teachers this year. More than 75 new teachers are expected to be brought aboard over the next four years to fill slots being vacated by retirees, according to the release.

McMahon also will help more-experienced teachers who have administrative responsibilities learn the ropes and support administrators follow state guidelines as they conduct teacher evaluations.

“We are incredibly grateful for Dr. McMahon’s leadership at Maine West and the lasting impact she has made on students and staff,” Superintendent Tatiana Bonuma said in the release. “Dr. McMahon’s extensive experience and commitment to instruction and student learning make her the ideal leader to take on this new and important role.”

A national search for McMahon’s successor at Maine West is planned. It’ll involve student, family and staff surveys as well as focus groups, officials said in the news release.

Officials hope to have a final candidate ready for the board to approve when it meets Feb. 2, although that target date could change depending on the progress of the search, Clark said.

“It is an aggressive timeline, as we are competing with other school districts for high-quality leaders,” Clark said.

McMahon is collecting a roughly $216,765 base salary this school year. Her salary for the 2026-27 term hasn’t yet been determined because it’s tied to not-yet-released economic figures, Clark said.