Carol Lynn Bryant Communications

Résumé

CAROL LYNN BRYANT

1313 Hagge Avenue

Grand Island, NE 68801

Home: (308) 384-8084

Cell: (308) 379-1687

Email: clbryant28@gmail.com

Web: www.carollynnbryant.com

PROFILE

Major strengths include:

  • Communicating in written and verbal forms.
  • Planning and organizing.
  • Using computer software including desktop publishing, word processing, spreadsheets.
  • Researching complex topics.
  • Teaching experience at secondary, community college, and college levels.

 EXPERIENCE

Goodwill Industries of Greater Nebraska, Grand Island, NE.

Communications Associate, June, 2015 to present.

Communications

  • Assist in developing news releases, mission-related stories, brochures, newsletters, advertising layouts, presentations, and annual reports, to include drafting, writing, editing, and proofreading.

Grants

  • Assist with researching and writing grant applications.

 Hastings College, Hastings, NE.

Full-Time Graduate Student, August, 2012 to May, 2013. Master’s Degree Program student taking graduate English courses and web technology courses.

Grand Island Public Schools, Grand Island, NE.

Grant Development Facilitator, January, 2003 to August, 2012. Public Relations Coordinator, January, 2003 to August, 2012. Created and developed Grants and Public Relations Departments.

Grants

  • Wrote grant applications for competitive programs, particularly large U.S. Department of Education grants.
  • Generated $6.1 million in grant funding for district and received 106 grants.
  • Created and coordinated school district’s grant development program, including grant application and budget preparation, program implementation and administration, and evaluation.
  • Awarded U.S. Department of Education Grants for summer and after-school programs at 7 elementary schools and 2 middle schools, elementary school social workers (new program), districtwide emergency response training and equipment, mental health program linking school and community resources for students, and expansion of TeamMates Mentoring Program.
  • Awarded federal grants for substance abuse prevention (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and video security systems (U.S. Department of Justice).
  • Awarded grants from other funders such as Nebraska Department of Education, Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries, Principal Financial Group Foundation, Nebraska Arts Council, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, EducationQuest Foundation, and Catholic Health Initiatives.
  • Served as reviewer for local and state grant competitions.

Public Relations

  • Coordinated school district’s public relations, including preparation of districtwide PR plan, PR Department budget, annual report, newsletters, brochures, news releases, monthly district GITV cable TV program, district photographs, response to media inquiries, and development of two videos.
  • Prepared agendas for Board of Education PR Committee meetings and led meetings.
  • Coordinated successful $19.9 million bond issue campaign to construct new middle school and add classrooms to two other middle schools.
  • Coordinated special events such as groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies at two schools, ceremony for renaming Kneale Administration Building, and districtwide student self-portrait art contest.
  • Participated in redesign of school district’s website.
  • Used Adobe Creative Suite software (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) to create and design documents.
  • Took photos at school district events using digital SLR camera, edited photos, and created school district photo archive.
  • Prepared successful award applications for America’s Top 100 Communities for Young People and Nebraska School Board Association Parental Involvement Award.

Grand Island Independent, Grand Island, NE, September, 1994 to January, 2003.

  • Served as Reporter (September, 1994 to November, 1999), City Editor (November, 1999 to February, 2001), Local News Editor (February, 2001 to November, 2001), and Reporter (November, 2001 to January, 2003).
  • Wrote county government, lawn enforcement, court, business, agriculture, and regional stories.
  • Edited copy.
  • Assigned staff of seven reporters and three photographers.
  • Planned local news coverage.
  • Took photos for news stories.
  • Trained in computer-assisted reporting and used technique on large projects.
  • Developed relationships with news sources through accurate reporting and maintaining confidential information.

 Bellevue West High School, Bellevue, NE. Mathematics-English Teacher, Assistant Tennis Coach, August, 1990 to August, 1994.

  • Taught Mathematics and English using Windows and Macintosh computers.
  • Coached and scheduled boys and girls tennis.
  • Wrote material for the Nebraska Mathematics and Science Coalition’s Math Vantage Project.

Central Community College, Grand Island, NE. Mathematics Teacher May, 1988 to August, 1989.

  • Taught courses ranging from Statistics to Calculus to SAT/ACT course.
  • Wrote course material.
  • Prepared campus newsletter using desktop publishing system.

University of Nebraska-Kearney, Part-time Mathematics Teacher, August, 1987 to May, 1988. Graduate Mathematics Assistant, January, 1985 to August, 1985.

  • Taught College Algebra.
  • Assisted students with homework questions.

 EDUCATION

  • University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Master of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communications. August, 2001. GPA 4.0 (4.0).
  • University of Nebraska-Kearney, Master of Science in Education in Mathematics. Graduation, August, 1989. GPA 3.8 (4.0).
  • Hastings College, Hastings, NE. Bachelor of Arts in English, Mathematics, and Education. Graduation, May, 1983. Cum Laude with high distinction in English and with distinction in Mathematics. GPA 3.9 (4.0).

 SEMINARS

  • Research Associates, certified grants specialist workshop, September, 2003, one-week training, certified as a grants specialist.
  • Grantsmanship Center, grantsmanship training workshop, January, 2003, one-week training.
  • Poynter Institute, “New Leaders in the Newsroom,” October, 2000, one-week training.
  • American Press Institute, “City Editors,” August, 2000, one-week training.
  • Poynter Institute, “National Writers Workshops,” 1997-2000, weekend training.
  • College Park, Grand Island, courses in Excel, PowerPoint, Quicken, 1999.

 ACTIVITIES

  • Education: Grant Professionals Association, National School Public Relations Association, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Professional Tennis Registry certified instructor.
  • Journalism: Society of Professional Journalists, Nebraska Press Women, Nebraska Writers Guild.
  • Tennis: Professional Tennis Registry certified instructor.
  • Community: Leadership Tomorrow graduate, TeamMates Mentoring Program Board member and mentor, St. Pauls Lutheran Church Choir Member, YMCA Board (vice president, executive director search committee chairwoman), Heartland United Way Board, Grand Island Concert Association Board, Moonshell Arts and Humanities Council Board, Grand Island Tennis Association Board and past president.

 HONORS

Hastings College “Who’s Who” Award (citizenship), National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tennis Academic All-America first team, Alpha Chi academic society, Kappa Tau Alpha national journalism academic society.

 AWARDS

  • National School Public Relations Association: Award of Merit for High School Brochure, Award of Merit for High School Video, and Honorable Mention for School District Newsletter, 2010.
  • Nebraska Press Women: 2nd, historical articles, 1986, 1st, news reporting, 2001. 1st, continuing coverage, 2001. 2nd, personality profile, 2001. 2nd, business article, 2002. 2nd, news reporting, 2002. 3rd, continuing coverage, 2002.
  • Nebraska Press Association: honorable mention, spot news story, 1997. 2nd, hard news writing, 2000.

 BOOK

Milan Bish: The Measure You Give. Carol Bryant, 2000. Kearney: Morris Press, 452-page biography.

 SCHOLARSHIPS

Graduate journalism program scholarships from College Park, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Reader’s Digest, and Hitchcock Fellowship (top fellowship awarded to graduate-level journalism student at University of Nebraska-Lincoln). Regents Fellowship, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, math.