Virginia Brown
Communication Specialist
New Britain,CT
Summary
Experienced in successfully executing program and event initiatives, with a proven track record of strategic communication and fostering positive employee relations. Demonstrated leadership skills in coordinating teams and projects, while maintaining a high level of organization and attention to detail. Collaborative team player who thrives in fast-paced environments and is dedicated to achieving results.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
2
2
Languages
Work History
Secretary to the High School Principal
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
New Britain, Connecticut
01.2022 - 06.2025
- Schedule daily meetings with Principal to brief of events, concerns, and meetings.
- Publish weekly bulletin created to minimize internal emails to staff.
- Publish monthly “Parent Update” created to keep parents informed of important information
- Publish monthly switchboard schedule to inform all secretaries of their coverage days
- Crisis management with Principal
- Responsible for planning, management, and execution of major projects such as key collection/distribution, First/Last Day of School, Top 10% Celebration, Graduations, Superintendent’s Events
- Collaboration with many stakeholders at different levels (Admins, BOE members, City Officials, Vendors, Staff, etc.)
- Correspond with parents, students, and community important deadlines and expectations
- Proofread program, diplomas, and all other written documentations
- Problem solve all concerns
- Support the management of the main office and the secretarial staff
- Perform the duties of the Secretary to the Main Office when absent
- Responsible for Substitute Coverage of Teachers and Substitute Teacher Management.
- Responsible for getting time sheets to Payroll
- Student body approx. 2,675, staff approx. 350
- Prepared professional correspondence, including memos, letters, and emails, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
- Maintained daily report documents, memos and invoices.
- Handled sensitive information discreetly, maintaining confidentiality when managing personnel files or financial data.
NBHS Registrar
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
New Britain, CT
04.2018 - 01.2021
- Heavy communication with the community
- Support non-English speaking families registering for school. Process approximately 150 registration annually
- Support Alumni, universities, prospective employers, third party background checking companies with education verifications, copies of diplomas and other pertinent information. Complete approximately 350 verifications annually
- Manage the department’s budget
- Grades 9-12
- Ensured accurate student records by diligently maintaining and updating information in the database.
- Verified paperwork accuracy and checked for completion prior to processing.
- Organized, reviewed, and filed paperwork for secure recordkeeping.
Secretary
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
New Britain, CT
10.2006 - 04.2018
- A lot of the same duties previously mentioned
- Responsible for getting school payroll submitted by deadline
- Responsible for management of school budget with the principal
- Management of the main office
- Secretary at multiple elementary/middle schools
- Managed incoming and outgoing correspondence, maintaining confidentiality and timeliness.
- Managed sensitive and confidential information with discretion, upholding integrity of executive communications.
- Improved office workflow by redesigning document submission process.
Project Manager
SERC (Special Education Resource Center)
Middletown, California
08.1998 - 01.2005
- Temporary Consultant responsible for communicating directly with presenters to assure their needs were met
- Facilitated activities in staff meetings
- Provided mentorship for new Project Assistants
- Lead Assistant to the Child Find Parent Assistance Response Team
- Worked closely with the Connecticut State Advisory Council
- Prepared and handled logistics for workshops/conferences for educational initiatives statewide for the State Department of Education
- Managed budgets and statistics for various initiatives (Beginning Teachers, Early Childhood, Principals Training, Least Restrictive Environment Inclusion, and Mathematical Literacy Initiatives)
- Responded to incoming calls regarding the above-referenced initiatives
- Senior Member of the Child Find Parent Assistance Response Team, directing and networking parents and educational staff to answers pertaining to the legal rights and educational welfare of students in the State of Connecticut
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
Education
Certificate program - Women in Leadership
Yale- School of Management
Online01.2025
M.A. - Strategic Communication
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT05.2024
Certificate Program - Emotional Intelligence
Middlesex Community College
Middletown, CT03.2021
Certification - Leadership, Supervision
Middlesex Community Technical College
Middletown, CT05.1998
B.A. - Communication/Public Relations
Central Connecticut State University
New Britain, CT05.1996
Skills
- Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint, Teams, etc)
- Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Forms, Zoom, etc)
Creative
Strategic Communicator
Attentive
Intuitive
Affiliations
- Currently Hartford Healthcare Community Board Member
- Currently Member of the PRSA (Public Relations Society of America)
- 2017-2009 OIC Board Member
Timeline
Secretary to the High School Principal
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
01.2022 - 06.2025
NBHS Registrar
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
04.2018 - 01.2021
Secretary
Consolidated School District of New Britain (CSDNB)
10.2006 - 04.2018
Project Manager
SERC (Special Education Resource Center)
08.1998 - 01.2005
Certificate Program - Emotional Intelligence
Middlesex Community College
Certificate program - Women in Leadership
Yale- School of Management
M.A. - Strategic Communication
Central Connecticut State University
Certification - Leadership, Supervision
Middlesex Community Technical College
B.A. - Communication/Public Relations
Central Connecticut State University
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