Staff Spotlight: Denise Harrison
Denise Harrison is the Lead Human Resources Specialist for East Hartford Public Schools. From FMLA paperwork to benefits information, she provides an empathetic, caring approach to the guidance she provides to teachers and staff throughout the district.
“We are we so, so fortunate to have Denise on our team. We've had a lot of transition in HR the last year, and she's really stepped up,” said EHPS Human Resources Director Nicole Damiata. “She's going to get the job done, and she's going to wear a smile the entire time, and she's going to make sure that everyone around her feels that positivity.”
Harrison has worked in the HR department since 2021. Before then, she served as a school secretary at Synergy Alternative High School. Damiata says Harrison’s calm, kind personality helps her excel in this job where she’s serving the needs of others.
“I think one of her biggest and best qualities is that she truly has empathy for people and sees people,” said Damiata. “She understands what people are going through. She understands perspectives, and she's able to put that into the work she does. Whether it's answering a question about benefits, whether it's guiding one of our HR specialists in their work, or whether it's dealing with an employee who's really struggling with something, she really is able to connect with them, be empathetic, feel what they're feeling, and then provide them with support and services to help them or celebrate them.”
Learn more about Denise Harrison in this Q&A below.
What brought you to East Hartford Public Schools initially?
Harrison: I have worked in both corporate and education prior to moving to Connecticut. But after moving to Connecticut, I realized I had a passion for service. My desire to work within a school district brought me here at EHPS.
What different roles have you had and how did you land in your current role in HR?
Harrison: I worked as the school secretary at Synergy for over 10 years. I then transferred to a HR Specialist role in 2021 followed by my current position as Lead HR Specialist in 2023.
What does a typical day look like for you as Lead HR Specialist?
Harrison: My typical day is fast-paced, continuously working, moving from one task to another or juggling multiple duties at the same time. This includes processing and monitoring all FMLA leave and Workers’ Compensation cases, meeting critical HR deadlines, working alongside our HR Specialists to support and guide our employees through human resources procedures and answer questions or concerns, working alongside our team to administer benefits, process payroll, and handle associated questions or problems.
It is a big district, always busy. But I do love connecting with all our staff. I do love building relationships with them. I do love assisting them because a part of what I like to do is to provide a service. And that's what we do here. The goal is to provide the service to our staff and their needs in whatever way HR can support.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job?
Harrison: My babies! I love my newborns! When it comes to the medical leave, that’s so exciting. But also, just being able to walk through all the challenges that our staff face, and what they may need on a day-to-day basis.
The most rewarding aspects of my job include the ability to directly impact employees’ lives by helping them navigate challenges, establishing trust with employees across all levels, and building meaningful relationships within our district.
What do you think makes you good at doing this job?
Harrison: My ability to communicate with kindness and understanding, to show empathy and just being that listener, you know, and also sometimes you just have to be the voice.
What do you like most about coming to work each day?
I love this district. I believe, as a matter of fact, I know it's one of the better or the best ones there are. I love working with our teams that I've worked with in past and present.
I do love providing the service. I do love having satisfied employees, just knowing that I could make a difference. Just sometimes being that listening ear to an employee, because a lot of times, I've worked in the schools, and I know that a lot of times the busy schedule of a teacher or the school staff does not allow them to actually dissect a contract or understand the different roles or the different benefits that the district provides. So just being that bridge, you know, it's great.