At last evening's Unit 4 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved two administrative appointments.
Ms. Amanda Lappin was appointed as the Assistant Principal at Bottenfield Elementary School.
She began her career in education in January 2015 when she joined Danville School District 118 as a 5th Grade Teacher at Meade Park Elementary School. In August 2016, Ms. Lappin began working as a 5th Grade Teacher at South View Elementary School in Danville. After three years in that role, she joined Urbana School District 116 for a position as 4th Grade Teacher at Thomas Paine Elementary School. In August 2021, Ms. Lappin transitioned to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School in Urbana as an Instructional Coach. In August 2023, she joined Unit 4 Schools as an Instructional Coach at Bottenfield Elementary. She will leave this position to begin her first school administrator role at Bottenfield Elementary beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
Ms. Lappin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Illinois State University (2009) and a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University (2014). She will complete her Master of Education in Educational Leadership in May 2024 at Eastern Illinois University. The effective date of this appointment is July 25, 2024 (pending licensure finalization).
Mr. Sylvester (Sonny) Walker was appointed as the High School Athletic Director/Assistant Principal at Centennial High School.
Mr. Walker is a life-long resident of Champaign, former Unit 4 student, and graduate of Centennial High School. He began his teaching career at Centennial as a Physical Education teacher in October 2006. During this time, he also served as a Boys’ Basketball Assistant Coach and Administrator for the Day, when needed. From February 2019 through the end of the 2018-2019 school year, Mr. Walker supported students and the District as a Dean at BTW STEM Academy. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, he served as Dean of Students at Edison Middle School. After three years in that role, Mr. Walker joined Centennial High School as a Dean of Students/Assistant Principal. This past year, he served as the Associate Athletic Director at Centennial High. Mr. Walker will leave this position to become the school’s new Athletic Director/Assistant Principal.
Mr. Walker earned his Bachelor of Science in Arts and Science from South Dakota State University (May 2006). He also holds a Master of Science in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (May 2021). The effective date of this appointment is July 1, 2024.
Congratulations Ms. Lappin and Mr. Walker!