Parents, students, and staff alike knew when Brittney Walker hit “send.” Whether it was a snow-day alert, a newsletter update, or a snapshot from the sidelines, her work as WEGO’s communications coordinator made her one of the most recognizable faces – and names – in the school community.

Until recently, Walker served as West Chicago’s Communications and Community Relations Coordinator, managing emails, photography, and social media for the school. Her job, she said, was about more than sharing information.

“I like the creative side of things—making it to where people want to read the emails,” Walker said.

Former Principal Dr. Will Dwyer praised her approach during her time at WEGO.

“She has had such a tremendous and positive impact,” Dwyer said. “Not only has she increased the things that we communicate, but she’s also really taken all the positives that happen here and turned them into a story about us as a school community.”

One of Walker’s most memorable experiences at WEGO was attending Operation Snowball. Participating alongside students and staff, she said, gave her a chance to build connections outside the boundaries of her role.

“It definitely broke barriers,” Walker said. “Learning about the students, and them learning about me, was such a plus.”

Her colleague and close friend, Database Administrator Beth Schuck, recalled Walker’s impact on those around her.

“When Brittney walks into the room, everybody knows it,” Schuck said. “It’s like everything gets a little better.”

Walker studied broadcast journalism at Columbia College Chicago, inspired by an unexpected dream.

“My goal as a teenager… was to be Oprah. I thought, oh my gosh, her whole job is just talking to people all day. So the closest degree I could find to being Oprah was broadcast journalism.”

She later worked for U-46 and the Illinois Math and Science Academy before joining WEGO. At IMSA, her role revolved around student activities in a residential school environment. At WEGO, the challenge was different: trying to keep up with the sheer number of events.

“I want to see and know and be a part of everything, and there’s just too many things,” she said. “It’s FOMO, fear of missing out.”

Community has always been important to Walker. Growing up in Elgin shaped her sense of belonging, and she said West Chicago reminded her of that same neighborly pride. She still visits Elgin’s Gail Borden Library regularly, calling it her “absolute most favorite library in the world.”

In high school, Walker competed in scholarship pageants. She vividly remembers forgetting her poem on stage one year—an embarrassing moment that taught her the value of preparation. The next year, she returned with a fashion design talent and won Miss African American of Kane County, earning a $2,000 scholarship.

“That was a very big learning experience for me,” Walker said.

Outside of work, Walker and her husband of 15 years stay busy raising their two children.

“They’re my little heartbeat,” she said of her son and daughter, who keep her running between sports, theater, and dance.

She also shares her love of music and theater with her family. A dedicated Beyoncé fan, Walker traveled with her husband to London for a concert before taking a train to Paris to see SZA. And while she often attends live shows, one favorite stands out:
“Any live music, live shows, theater, any of that, I love it. That’s my thing.”

Former student Michaela Miller described Walker as “bright energy” and a constant, positive presence at school events.

“During Snowball last year, she and I both got personality test results that said we were otters, and literally every time we chat, I feel like I am an otter linking arms with her when they float around. She is just as bright energy and she is everywhere: like no joke, I see her at every event, and she has such a happy vibe. She is just a good omen for whatever event I am at, I love her so much. And her fashion is so good,” Miller said.

When asked what advice she would give to teenagers, Walker’s answer was simple: “Always be yourself and be true to yourself… we don’t need you to be an influencer. We don’t need you to be anyone but yourself.”

Although Walker recently accepted a position in East Aurora, her voice, photos, and presence remain familiar at WEGO—and, to many, she will always be a Wildcat.