Charrisse I.

About Charrisse I.

I ask questions to withdraw content from the minds of great people. As a trusted Chief of Staff and strategic advisor, I partner with executive leaders to turn vision into impact. With 15+ years of experience across education, nonprofit, and social impact sectors, I specialize in building the systems, structures, and communication channels that drive alignment, accelerate progress, and scale mission-driven work. I’ve led organization-wide strategic planning initiatives engaging stakeholders, built cross-functional project management offices, facilitated executive team operations, and supported high-stakes board governance. My superpower is operationalizing complexity—translating ideas into actionable strategies, surfacing interdependencies, and guiding leaders through moments of growth and change. Working across the C-suite, I bring clarity, momentum, and discretion. Whether I’m managing the office of the CEO, facilitating senior leadership offsites, or creating a cadence for organizational performance, I lead with purpose, integrity, and a deep commitment to equity and systems transformation. If you\'re advancing bold ideas and need a strategic partner to make them real—I’m here to help make the extraordinary executable.

Experience

1. Strategic Project Manager, Office of the Superintendent

   Hartford Public Schools

   Nov 2022 — Present

   As a strategic partner to the Superintendent of a $575M public education system, I lead the Office of the CEO and serve as the connective tissue across executive operations, senior leadership, and governance functions. I build the systems and rhythms that allow our leadership to drive forward the district’s mission with clarity, alignment, and purpose.Key Contributions- Directed a 3-year strategic planning process that engaged stakeholders and translated insights into a clear, actionable roadmap adopted by executive and Board leadership- Founded the Office of Project Management & Strategic Initiatives, launching operational walk systems that track effectiveness across 2,500+ school visits- Created and institutionalized a Rhythm of Business calendar, enabling data-informed decision-making and increasing executive team alignment- Facilitate weekly executive meetings, quarterly stepbacks, and annual leadership retreats to drive cross-functional clarity and shared accountability- Manage board meeting cadence and collaborate with the Board Chair and CEO on strategic agenda design, briefing preparation, and governance alignment- Led multiple formal Superintendent evaluation cycles and developed year-end evaluation frameworks for senior executive leaders- Coordinate executive communications, nominations, public appearances, and internal communications strategy- To Oversaw onboarding of senior cabinet-level hires and supported leadership transitions to ensure continuity and alignment.

Education

• Fashion Institute of Technology

  Associate of Arts and Sciences (AAS), Fashion Merchandising Management

  2005 — 2006

• Bellevue University

  Master’s Degree, Human Services Administration, Nonprofit Administration

  2014 — 2016

• Queens University of Charlotte

  Bachelor of Science (BS), Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

  2001 — 2005