Dr. Jeff Walkington (jwalking) is the Director of Uni High. Dr. Walkington began his career as a teacher of English in public schools; he later took on teaching and administrative roles in independent schools, such as Webb School in Knoxville, TN (Director of the Writing Center, Public Relations Director), and Cannon School in Charlotte, NC (Upper School Director, Assistant Headmaster). His most recent post was Vice President for Academic Affairs at Latin School of Chicago. Walkington earned his bachelor's degree in English and French at DePauw University and his M.A. and Ph.D. in English at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Jeff and his wife Sarah have a daughter in college, Ellen, and a son in sixth grade, John.

A former substitute teacher at Uni, parent of a Uni grad, and seamstress of Madrigal and theater costumes, Mrs. Kovacs (skovacs) agreed to return to Uni as Assistant Director. Kovacs initially planned to fill the position for one year, but she agreed to stay and is now a permanent member of the Uni community. Among her qualifications are the following honors:

• Ed.S from Eastern Illinois University in Administration
• Phi Delta Kappa Honorary
• Member of Illinois Principals Association; past chairperson of Illini Region Publicity and Newsletters
• Member of National Association of Secondary Principals
• Member of National Association of Elementary School Principals
• Member of Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

Susan taught at Unit 4 schools for 15 years, worked as the principal of Prairieview K-8 schools in Flatville & Royal, and operated a catering business during 1983-1992. Mrs. Kovacs graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. She has since earned a M. S. in elementary education and an M.S. and an Ed.S in administration from Eastern Illinois University. She has taught on a part time basis for Parkland and Eastern Illinois University.

Susan and her husband Tom have lived in Champaign for 42 years. Tom is retired from the University of Illinois where he was chairperson of Graphic Design in the Department of Art and Design. They have two daughters, Christine and Stephanie. Christine is a supervising student teachers at the University of Illinois and is married to Theo Merritt (Uni class of 1981) with two children of her own, Carter and Annaliesa. Stephanie Kovacs-Helfrich is a Uni Alumni (1989), a graduate of NYU (1993), a part time teacher and casting agent and an aspiring actress.