Issues & Solutions
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Make An Impact
Sheryl S. McNamee
Director of Public Affairs
Sheryl joined ReadyCT for the opportunity to impact public education at the higher, system-change level as well as at the on-the-ground, life-impact level. As the director of public affairs, Sheryl helps to lead the organization’s communications, strategic planning, policy, operations, and development efforts. Before joining ReadyCT, Sheryl worked in behavioral health where she was heavily involved in developing education/healthcare partnerships so that schools could serve as a pathway to helping the student succeed in school . . . and in life.
Before coming to nonprofit work, her professional life began in Fairfield County, Connecticut where she worked at a national newspaper syndicate as a writer/editor; during that time she also taught high school English equivalency. Next, she attended law school and practiced for nearly a decade before ultimately leveraging that collective experience for nonprofit communications and messaging purposes. Sheryl holds a J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and a B.A. in journalism from Southern Connecticut State University. Outside of ReadyCT, Sheryl is a certified group fitness instructor and teaches Spinning classes. Sheryl lives with her husband (Tim) and children (Ian and Lila) in Cheshire, CT.
“A commitment to improving public education isn’t noble, it’s necessary, and ReadyCT is approaching this work by building partnerships in ways that really advance school systems as well as individual students. Specifically, the organization is always looking to collaborate with the Connecticut business community to complement rigorous classroom instruction with career-based learning opportunities so that every student can be provided with instruction and experience to help them grow, thrive, and contribute to their families and communities. It is a privilege to be here, celebrating some success in both the policy and programming spheres, and I look forward to leveraging these victories in ways that build support for the work. I welcome the opportunity to connect with even more individuals in education and business so that our combined efforts can offer even greater impact. In short, the work makes schools, communities — and lives! — better.”
