Phone: 651-767-8104
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Toya Stewart Downey
Interim Director of Communications, Marketing and Development
Duties include:
- Day-to-day department oversight
- District spokesperson
- First contact for media requesting information and access to schools and administrators
- Liaison to external media (newspapers, TV, etc.)
- Questions about working with the media and pitching stories
Phone: 651-744-5660
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Pepe Barton
Communications Specialist
Duties include:
- School marketing, branding and communications
- Communications plans for school-based initiatives, events or policies
- Crisis communications to families (letters, emails, phone calls, text; Connect 5)
- Liaison to schools School-to-district advocate Principal’s Playbook newsletter (monthly)
- Manage School Marketing Toolkit
Phone: 651-767-8112
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Kate Ryan
Communications & Marketing Senior Associate
Duties include:
- Graphic design
- Marketing and communications support
- District communication (writing and editing)
Phone: 651-744-5670
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Troy Melhus
Digital Media Manager
Duties include:
- Oversee District digital communication systems
- School and department website programming and maintenance
- District Digital Signage
- Social media content and strategy
- Digital Project Manager
- MySPPS app
Phone: 651-744-5207
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Shawn Hogendorf
Digital Editor
Duties include:
- The Bridge
- Event photos (students, teachers, school events)
- School website updates and maintenance
- Content creation (school kudos, student achievements or events)
- Social media specialist
- SPPS in the News
- Happening Now
Phone: 651-767-8107
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Jerry Skelly
Communications & Marketing Senior Associate
Duties include:
- District-wide video production (major events)
- School promotional videos
- Connect 5 training (phone, text, email)
- Digital video integration
- Website special projects
- District wide photos (students, teachers, events, etc.)
Phone: 651-744-5076
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Rich Currier
Audio Visual Technician
Duties include:
- District videographer and editor
- Audio/visual technical support (schools, departments, programs)
- Saint Paul Cable Channel 16 video programming
- Electronic/Video bulletin board support
Phone: 651-767-8334
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Alejandra Bosch
Translations Manager
Duties include:
- Translation services (Hmong, Karen, Somali and Spanish)
- ConnectEd phone messages (Hmong, Karen, Somali and Spanish)
Phone: 651-767-8395
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Joanne Vang
Hmong Translation Specialist
Phone: 651-767-8354
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Kawlahay Zan
Karen Translation Specialist
Phone: 651-744-7244
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Rabiic Omar
Somali Translation Specialist
Phone: 651-767-8110
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Kathy Weyandt
Program Assistant
Duties include:
- Project support for CMD
- Director Office administration
- District Event Coordinator and Planning
- Board BOE recognitions
- Oversee CMD accounts payable
Phone: 651-767-8181
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Brandi Cavalletti
Management Assistant 2
Duties include:
- Administrative Support for CMD Director
- District calendar updates
- Employee onboarding
- Ad buy coordinator Budget/expense tracking
- Meeting coordinator/CMD meeting agendas
- NAAPID point person
- Crisis Handbook District event support
- Information/contact updates (staff, resources, PTO/PTA)
Phone: 651-767-8366
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Rebekah Doyle
Grants Management Coordinator
Duties include:
- Create strategy for future project and grant development
- Ensure grant projects run smoothly and in accordance with funding guidelines
- Coordinate federally-funded grant initiatives
- Direct, monitor and support the work of administrators and employees as related to grant projects
- Coordinate proposals with outside agencies
Phone: 651-767-8108
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Lisa van der Steur
Senior Development Specialist
Duties include:
- Provides grant training and technical assistance
- Edits and routes K-12 teacher/school grants
- Liaison with SPPS Foundation
- Liaison with GiveMN/Give to the Max Day
Phone: 651-767-8344
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
Megan Garrido
Fund Development Coordinator
Phone:
Email:
Degrees and Certifications:
