Principal's Welcome
I am honored to return as Principal of Hilda Walker Intermediate School for the 2026–2027 school year! This year marks my eleventh year at Walker and my nineteenth year serving the Summit Hill School District 161 community. I joined the Walker team in 2016 as Assistant Principal, a role I proudly held for four years before becoming Principal. Prior to my time at Walker, I served as a school social worker and special education coordinator at Dr. Julian Rogus Elementary School for eight years. I remain deeply committed to our district and look forward to another great year supporting the students, staff, and families of Walker.
I live in Orland Park with my 15 year old daughter and am a lifelong White Sox fan. In my free time, I enjoy reading a good book, cheering on the Sox, attending my daughter’s swim meets and water polo games, spending time with my family, and of course, planning our next family travel adventure!
At Walker, we believe every student and every day matters. Guided by our commitment to collaboration, meaningful connections, and building resilience, we are dedicated to creating a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where students can take risks, set goals, and build strong, positive relationships. Our team of educators and support staff work hard every day to ensure each student feels valued, supported, and included. We deeply value our strong partnership with families, recognizing that student success is strongest when school and home work together. Our core expectations, be respectful, be responsible, and be safe, guide everything we do as we strive to make the two years students spend as Walker Wildcats meaningful, memorable, and impactful.
On behalf of the Walker staff, thank you for visiting our website and welcome to our school community. It is a privilege to serve as your child’s principal and I look forward to our partnership again this year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if I can be of assistance.
Go Wildcats!
Kindly,
Maura K. Carroll, Principal
Dear Walker Students and Families,
Welcome to Walker - home of the Wildcarts! I am Marianne Hourihan, the assistant principal here at Hilda Walker School. I’ve been a proud member of Summit Hill School District 161 since graduating from Illinois State University in 2013. My journey began as a paraprofessional at Indian Trail before transitioning into a second-grade teaching position. The following year, I joined Hilda Walker as a sixth-grade English Language Arts teacher, a role I was fortunate to serve in for eight years. During that time, I earned my master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Administration, and this will be my fifth year as assistant principal. I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such an incredible and hard-working staff.
At Walker, we follow our PBIS expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe. I believe that a strong partnership between home and school plays a vital role in a student’s success. I am here to foster open, ongoing communication with our families throughout the year. We know that when schools and families work together, students thrive both academically and socially.
Walker offers a wide variety of clubs, activities, and athletic opportunities that allow students to explore their interests, build confidence, and make new friends. Whether it’s joining a sports team or discovering a new passion in one of our many clubs, there’s something here for everyone. I encourage each student to get involved and make the most of all that Walker has to offer. We are here to support every student on their journey and help them grow into successful young people.
I am excited for all that this school year will bring and look forward to partnering with you to make the 2026–2027 school year a successful and memorable one!
Sincerely,
Ms. Marianne Hourihan, Assistant Principal