PORTSMOUTH, Va. — So often, it's the students, parents and teachers who get the spotlight entering a new school year. But in Portsmouth, one woman's above-and-beyond work behind the scenes makes all the difference.
Katrina Downey is an associate within Portsmouth Public Schools' Department of Auxiliary Services. A fancy way of saying...she holds it all together.
“She’s the face of operations. Answering all calls, she works with both internal and external partners. She actually pays all the bills," said Dr. Jerry Simmons, the school division's Chief Operations Officer.
It's a job that becomes most critical in the lead-up to the new school year, which is why when asked who best fits the description of the News 3 Everyday Hero award, Simmons suggested Downey.
This is how the district described her in its submission:
Katrina Downey serves as the associate for the Department of Auxiliary Services. Throughout the summer, this department is responsible for getting all classrooms, buildings, and buses ready for the upcoming year. This requires multi-office budgeting and scheduling within the department, and Ms. Downey holds it all together. She helps to make sure processes are running smoothly, works to solve problems when they arise and just keeps everyone organized and updated to maximize the department's (and subsequently the division's efficiency). All the while, she exudes a warm and professional outlook greeting everyone with a smile and an offer to assist.
“Just a great person. She’s very humble and probably would not have thought that we recognized her," said Simmons.
She was indeed surprised when News 3's Anthony Sabella walked into her office on the first day of school, but the sudden visit couldn't keep Downey from her job. She answered the phone in the middle of her award presentation.
Surrounded by adoring coworkers, she was finally gifted the News 3 Everyday Hero award and a $300 Visa gift card, courtesy of Southern Bank. Downey later explained her work with the district's Athletics, Building Services (custodial), Food Service, Security and Transportation departments.
“(I cover) anywhere from building use agreements to overflow calls from transportation, which today I didn’t get any so that’s a testament to our Transportation Department today," she said of a remarkable start to the school year. “I do it all for the students and the staff of Portsmouth Public Schools."
And, she says, it's a team effort.
“This is the heartbeat of the division and Ms. Downey, as Dr. Simmons mentioned, is very instrumental in making sure all these parts are in place," said Dr. Elie Bracy, the district's superintendent, following the presentation.
"It takes all of us. Not just one," Downey told News 3.
Humility and focus. This week's News 3 Everyday Hero does her job and then some.
