Brenda Harris, 51
Title Public service administrator (Chicago Urban Fishing Project manager)
Salary range $35,000-$78,000
Q. What brought you to the state’s Department of Natural Resources?
A. I decided I didn’t want to work for corporate America anymore, so I got my teaching certificate to sub in the Chicago Public School system. In the meantime, I also applied for 45 different jobs with the state.
I was determined I was going to work for the state, the city of Chicago or Cook County. I was a substitute teacher in the school system for about a year when an opening became available for public service administrator for natural resources. It happened to be in Urban Fishing for the city of Chicago.
I had no fishing experience, but they were looking for someone who was basically an educator, who could make fishing interesting to children. I had that kind of experience, and that’s why they hired me.
I expanded the [fishing] program into the Chicago Public School system. I go to different schools–I try to target 3rd through 6th grade–and I do an educational presentation, which lasts about an hour. Then, if the principal is willing, we go on a fishing trip with the kids during the months of April, May or June, before school gets out.
Q. Do you fish in Lake Michigan?
A. Either in the lake or in the park lagoons. The lagoons are stocked with fish from May through August. Most people fish in the lake, but I try to arrange for the kids to go to the lagoons, because I want the kids to catch fish. In the lake, it’s kind of hit or miss.
Q. Do you work in conjunction with the park district?
A. Yes, I do. Actually, the Chicago Park District has its own program, which is basically [just] fishing. They don’t really do the educational portion. I want kids to understand things like over-fishing–taking too many fish out of a body of water. We also have adult educational opportunities, and we have senior citizens groups.
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Q. Describe a typical day.
A. I typically do the same presentation at every school, although I adjust to the kids depending on their age level. If I’m in a high school, we’ll talk about job opportunities, because so many students don’t even know that the Department of Natural Resources exists. I didn’t know about it until 15 years ago.
Once a month, May through August, early in the morning, I meet a truck–it’s usually from Arkansas–with farm-raised catfish. I look at the fish, make sure they’re healthy. I actually tag a certain amount of fish–usually 10 to 15 per site–for Mayor Daley’s fishing derby. It’s like a raffle: When a resident of Chicago catches a tagged fish, there’s a number they can call; at the end of the season, usually in October, they’ll have a big awards assembly.
Q. What’s the best part of your job?
A. Educating the kids. Letting them know the importance of taking care of natural resources. Letting them know there’s a food chain in the lagoon right outside their houses. Letting them know they don’t need a boat or their own equipment to go fishing.
Q. What’s the worst part?
A. Inventory. I have between 500 and 600 rods and reels that I have to go through every year–take them apart, see if they’re working properly. It’s very time-consuming and tedious. I also have to help do inventory for all the literature we give to every child.
Q. Identify three essential attributes to doing this job.
A. Being creative, because you don’t want to turn students off. You have to have enthusiasm, because kids can tell when you’re being phony. And you have to be knowledgeable about a lot of different things, and you have to keep learning.
Q. What advice would you give to someone interested in a DNR job?
A. I think it’s important that you get at least a bachelor’s degree. If you want to be a biologist, you’re probably going to need a master’s.
I have a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a minor in education. I just love the study of people, which is what sociology is.
I had such a wonderful counselor in college, and when I went to her, she asked me, “What are you going to do with a sociology degree? Are you going to get a master’s and become a social worker?” I said, “No, I don’t want to be a social worker. I don’t know.” So she told me to at least minor in education. Now [at that point], I never wanted to be a teacher, but I listened to her.
Isn’t it amazing how everything fell into place? If I hadn’t gotten that degree, I would have never taught; if I hadn’t had the teaching experience, I wouldn’t have gotten this job. And I love my job! So my advice is: Be open. Hopefully when you’re in school, you’ll get a dynamite counselor like I had. I never will forget her.