For the first time in nearly 30 years Lyons Township High School has a new community relations coordinator.
Mary Lin Muscolino has replaced Jennifer Bialobok, who had been the community relations coordinator at LTHS since December 1993. Bialobok left LTHS this summer to take a similar job with Consolidated High School District 230 in the south suburbs closer to where Bialobok lives.
“I really enjoyed my time at LT, and I wish the district, staff and students nothing but the best,” Bialobok told the Landmark recently. “In particular I miss working alongside those with whom I worked with on a daily basis.”
Muscolino, 49, has an extensive background in marketing and advertising. For more than 20 years she worked in an advertising agency or as consultant, often working with clients in higher education for the past 10 years including the University of St. Francis in Joliet.
After the pandemic hit Muscolino, a single parent, decided it was time to make a change. Last year just after her daughter entered LTHS as a freshman, Muscolino began working as an assistant to South Campus Associate Principal Greg Gardner and Principal Jen Tyrrell.
“I made that conscious decision to shift gears and walk away from that corporate career,” Muscolino said. “I just felt like it was time to step away from that corporate world and reevaluate my priorities with a daughter who was coming here to LT.”
Muscolino was chosen for the community relations coordinator job from a field of 19 candidates. Her annual salary is $120,000, which is approximately $20,000 more than Bialobok was paid.
The community relations coordinator manages LTHS’ communications with the outside world, working with the media, the alumni association and the wider community to spread the news about LTHS.
Superintendent Brian Waterman and Muscolino said the position is being somewhat redefined to take advantage of Muscolino’s experience in marketing and branding.
“It was an opportunity for LT to bring marketing and advertising into what had traditionally been more of a standard community relations role, so I’m actively working on revising our website,” Muscolino said. “Some of my short-term goals are really looking at and evaluating the relationships within the community.”
Muscolino is also working on the rollout of LTHS’s new strategic plan.
