ALYSSA RICHARDSON

WARSAW — Any visitor to Ink Free News certainly has seen Alyssa Richardson’s name frequently, as her byline was frequently featured in breaking news stories in and around the Warsaw area. All that changed for the Nappanee native in February when she left that job to take on a new adventure with the Warsaw Community Schools as the district’s new communications assistant, working under Chief Accounting Officer Dani Barkey.

As the story goes, the duo have a history together. In her previous job, Barkey formerly served as Richardson’s high school art teacher at NorthWood High School, from which Richardson graduated in 2009. “Dani approached me a few months ago about coming to work with the school,” said Richardson. “She had been following my work at Ink Free News and thought that I would be a good candidate in the position as an advocate for the schools.” Richardson was asked by Barkey to submit an application for the open position, which led to her eventual employment with WCS and departure from her position at Ink Free News.

“The timing for the change was good,” Richardson continued. “I was looking to make some changes when this opportunity presented itself. It’s ideal because I love to write and I also enjoy working with kids and being a proponent for education.”

Part of Richardson’s new responsibilities include assisting with the re-branding of WCS’s magazine, Pride, scheduled for May of this year. The publication is designed to communicate with parents and community members. Often times, the content offers information most people outside of the school might not be aware of. Along with Barkey, her administrative assistant Brittany Blackburn and WCHS student and intern Jordyn Lindeman, some of Richardson’s efforts are to help expand the content and scope of the magazine into a new publication, which they hope to include online in a digital format in the near future, as well.

Richardson also is responsible for creating most of the department’s press releases and media management. She also does much of their graphic design work for their various print and online materials. She communicates and works closely with WCS Superintendant David Hoffert and his administrative assistant Lori Tilden.

Personally, Richardson admitted she’s a strange mix. “I walk the line between being a tomboy and being feminine,” she said. “Sometimes you’ll find me reading comic books and playing video games, then the next minute I’ll be working on my makeup or hanging out with my girlfriends out on the town.”

Only on the job since February, Richardson is definitely still in the learning stages of her new job. As things get more settled at work, she said she’s looking forward to putting more time into the things she enjoys in her personal time, including volunteering for Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Animal Welfare League. Richardson also will be doing some part-time freelance work for Ink Free News, so her name will continue to appear on a less frequent basis.

Richardson said she has fallen in love with living in the Warsaw area. “I love the lakes and the community,” she said. “The people are fantastic, the trails are stunning and the businesses are phenomenal. Of all the places I’ve lived, this is my favorite so far!

“It’s been neat getting to know the new people I’m working with,” concluded Richardson. “I’ll miss the people I worked with at my old job. I learned so much from a group of very talented people. Its been a real blessing.”