Introducing 2010 Inspire Fellow: Kathleen Sheehan
Kathleen Sheehan
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Organization: DC Prep
Previous Employer: Federal News Service
What inspired you to make the switch into the nonprofit sector?
I was just finishing my third year of work at my former employer when I became aware of the ProInspire opportunity. Reflecting on all the time I had spent there — both calendar-wise and day-in and -out — I realized that I wanted to be more invested in the mission of my employer. I found this match with DC Prep, a coalition of charters schools dedicated to improving public education and closing the education gap.
I was just finishing my third year of work at my former employer when I became aware of the ProInspire opportunity. Reflecting on all the time I had spent there — both calendar-wise and day-in and -out — I realized that I wanted to be more invested in the mission of my employer. I found this match with DC Prep, a coalition of charters schools dedicated to improving public education and closing the education gap.
What is your current position, and a typical day like?
I am the operations manager of the Middle School campus of DC Preparatory, an amazing charter school in Northeast DC. In this role, there are some tasks that must be performed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. For example, I submit payroll every two weeks, but must keep track of the faculty and staff’s schedules to properly account for absences on a daily basis. However, there are always surprises! I am always troubleshooting, whether a student has jammed a pencil down the water fountain and I’m looking for someone to fix it or I’m covering as a test proctor to ensure proper supervision for students during testing.
I am the operations manager of the Middle School campus of DC Preparatory, an amazing charter school in Northeast DC. In this role, there are some tasks that must be performed on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. For example, I submit payroll every two weeks, but must keep track of the faculty and staff’s schedules to properly account for absences on a daily basis. However, there are always surprises! I am always troubleshooting, whether a student has jammed a pencil down the water fountain and I’m looking for someone to fix it or I’m covering as a test proctor to ensure proper supervision for students during testing.
What is your professional background and areas of expertise?
This transition into the education sector is a significant one for me; my background is in media and politics. As senior manager at Federal News Service, an international news wire in DC, I led a team of transcribers, compiling and editing their work as well as navigating and prioritizing our workflow. In this role, I learned a little bit about everything — from the Nagorno Karabak pipeline to the National Organization for Rare Diseases!
What are you involved in outside of work?
My biggest activity outside of work is leading a volunteer group at So Others Might Eat, a D.C. NGO that provides hot meals, clothing, medical care and much more to the district’s poor and homeless population. I recruit volunteers through the Georgetown alumni club, but it is open to anyone who is interested. We started out going once a month but the volume of interest was so high that we’ve expanded to twice a month. It’s been a great way to meet like-minded people of varied ages and professions among the volunteers and staff at SOME. I have also gotten really good at chopping and scooping scrambled eggs!
Tell us about your past leadership experiences and how they are helping you in your current role.
The leadership skills I’ve developed in my professional life thus far are serving me well at DC Prep. Though it is a very different working environment than the one I came from, I am finding that the management strategies and organizational systems I grew to understand are applicable here too. For example, in my previous job I used a database that tracked projects, deadlines, and important information about these projects. In my new job I’ve created a similar workflow management system to help me keep track of all of the pending items I’m juggling at any one time.
Who do you look to as a leader in your respective field, and why?
As a woman interested in management, my role model is Indra Nooyi, the CEO of PepsiCo. I’m totally blown away by her accomplishments both inside and outside of the workplace. Not only has she broken the glass ceiling by being the first female CEO but she uprooted herself from her home country of India to move to the U.S. — and this didn’t slow her down. Most significant to me, though, is that she makes her family a huge priority. I’ve heard that she speaks with her mother in India every day! I aspire to excel in all aspects of my life and it’s inspiring to see that, while it may not be easy, it can be achieved.
What are you some of the myths surrounding working in the nonprofit sector that have been debunked by your experience?
I believe that there is a stereotype that nonprofits do not invest in technology, are behind in terms of being “wired.” This is absolutely not the case at DC Prep. Every teacher and administrator receives a laptop and is expected to constantly check their e-mail and respond to requests within 24 hours. The campus has a wireless network that allows everybody to stay on the move without being literally tied down to ethernet cords. I can see the benefits of this investment on their part: It has created an e-mail culture, resulting in a rapid exchange of information and followup as well as increased transparency among faculty and staff.
I believe that there is a stereotype that nonprofits do not invest in technology, are behind in terms of being “wired.” This is absolutely not the case at DC Prep. Every teacher and administrator receives a laptop and is expected to constantly check their e-mail and respond to requests within 24 hours. The campus has a wireless network that allows everybody to stay on the move without being literally tied down to ethernet cords. I can see the benefits of this investment on their part: It has created an e-mail culture, resulting in a rapid exchange of information and followup as well as increased transparency among faculty and staff.
Where do you hang out in the D (DC), M (Maryland) and V (Virginia)?
It’s hard to believe, but I’ve lived in the D.C. area for seven years now! So I have a lot of favorites. One of my go-to spots is Politics and Prose, a bookstore and coffee shop near Chevy Chase with amazing mint iced tea and frequent readings by local authors. To check out a movie, I love the Uptown old-fashioned movie theater in Cleveland Park — nothing beats the seats in the balcony! On a Friday evening in the summer, Jazz in the Sculpture Garden is a great activity, especially if there is a pitcher of sangria involved. If I’m in the mood for a burger, I’ll cross state lines for the blue cheese burger au poivre at Ray’s Hell Burger in Rosslyn.
It’s hard to believe, but I’ve lived in the D.C. area for seven years now! So I have a lot of favorites. One of my go-to spots is Politics and Prose, a bookstore and coffee shop near Chevy Chase with amazing mint iced tea and frequent readings by local authors. To check out a movie, I love the Uptown old-fashioned movie theater in Cleveland Park — nothing beats the seats in the balcony! On a Friday evening in the summer, Jazz in the Sculpture Garden is a great activity, especially if there is a pitcher of sangria involved. If I’m in the mood for a burger, I’ll cross state lines for the blue cheese burger au poivre at Ray’s Hell Burger in Rosslyn.