“Why not?” Ousted CPS principal dives into new life as Compass broker

Former Ogden International School Principal Michael Beyer was removed from his position last year

Melanie Giglio-Vakos and Michael Beyer with the Lincoln Park home listed by Team MVP
Melanie Giglio-Vakos and Michael Beyer with a Lincoln Park home listed by Team MVP

Months after he was knocked off his perch as principal at a high-profile public elementary school, Michael Beyer found a new calling.

The 15-year educator, who is still an employee of Chicago Public Schools, this month became the 16th agent to join Compass’ Team MVP, the Bucktown office led by broker Melanie Giglio-Vakos.

Beyer had just begun his fourth year as principal of Ogden International School in November when Chicago Public Schools Inspector General Nicholas Schuler recommended he be fired for mishandling attendance records. District officials removed him from his post while keeping him on the CPS payroll, citing the inspector’s report in its decision.

Beyer denied Schuler’s accusations and sued the Chicago Board of Education in an attempt to get his job back, calling the report’s findings “extremely inaccurate.” The lawsuit is ongoing.

But earlier this month, Chicago Public Schools suspended his salary, Beyer said. That’s when he began working for Giglio-Vakos, one of four neighbors on his West Town block who also happen to be high-producing real estate brokers.

“I have to earn money for my family, and given the timeframe of the lawsuit, I’m not going to hold my breath,” Beyer said. “And quite frankly I’ve been considering a new career because I’ve gotten a bit tired of education, especially considering my experience.”

Beyer was impressed by the “aggressive” work of Giglio-Vakos’ team, and by Compass’ embrace of new broker technology, he said. He enrolled in a 90-hour class with the Chicago Association of Realtors to get his license and attended a Compass orientation Monday.

Giglio-Vakos said she welcomed Beyer’s experience in education.

“Schools are a big part of many people’s decisions in looking to buy or sell,” Giglio-Vakos said. “He saw from the very beginning that he could bring that aspect to the table … it’s hugely valuable.”

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Giglio-Vakos launched Team MVP in 2013. The group worked under the Jameson Sotheby brand until Compass came to Chicago in late 2017, and Giglio-Vakos was one of the first local brokers to jump to the new firm.

Her team now lists condos, townhomes and houses ranging from $125,000 to $2 million, mostly focusing on newly-built homes. Last year, Team MVP racked up about $102 million in sales volume.

Beyer joined this month, but he began considering the career switch shortly after his dismissal last year, he said.

“Frankly, the idea of going to another school after my experience working at CPS does not really appeal to me,” Beyer said, adding that he was looking for “some flexibility” after a career of 12-hour days and working on weekends.

Earlier this year, the educator began reaching out to some of his other neighbors in the 1800 block of West Erie Street, including Gary Lucido of Lucid Realty and Ivona Kutermankiewicz of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff. He cited a side-interest in architecture as part of the reason he drifted into the industry, adding he earned a master’s degree in art history from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Beyer also launched a venture called “Live & Learn: Home & School Specialists,” a consulting firm to help parents search for homes “in tandem” with scouting out schools, he said.

“I’m a hard worker and I know a lot of people, so why not?” Beyer said. “I’ve always been one of those geeks who goes on Zillow and looks around at stuff for fun, so it wasn’t alien to me at all.”

If Beyer wins his lawsuit and the school district reverses its decision, he would return to his position as principal at Ogden but would continue his real estate practice “on the side,” he said.

Representatives of Chicago Public Schools and the inspector general’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.