Suad Salad
Minneapolis,MN
Summary
Dynamic professional with extensive experience at Minneapolis Public Schools, excelling in stakeholder engagement and project management. Proven ability to enhance early childhood screening processes and foster trust within Somali communities. Bilingual in Somali and English, adept at policy facilitation and program evaluation, driving impactful educational initiatives.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
School Success Program Assistant – Early Childhood Screening
Minneapolis Public Schools
01.2023 - Current
- Lead and co-design early childhood scholarship processes with counties, schools, and nonprofits.
- Serve as a connector between Somali early childhood centers and screening systems.
- Engage families in early intervention and childhood assessment.
- Interpret and transcribe documents and communications for cultural understanding.
- Support DHS-aligned mental health outreach and translation for families new to Western frameworks.
- Update policies to enhance school, family, and community collaboration.
- Lead advisory councils and triage complex case management for Somali families.
Associate Educator – Early Childhood Screening
Minneapolis Public Schools
10.2017 - 12.2022
- Assessed developmental concerns and facilitated access to special education and public health referrals, helping more children receive timely support.
- Built culturally responsive communication channels between educators and Somali families to increase trust and engagement in educational programs.
- Supported early childhood policy pilot programs, including the Healthy Kids initiative with MDH, resulting in improved screening protocols.
- Co-led Parent-to-Parent system navigation networks for multilingual caregivers, increasing their ability to access resources.
Concierge
Walker Methodist Place
08.2014 - 02.2019
- Delivered service and safety support for aging and vulnerable adults.
- Coordinated communications and documentation logs, including for emergency interventions.
Associate Educator- Early Childhood Family Education
Minneapolis Public Schools
10.2015 - 12.2017
- Support the Lead Teacher by planning and implementing lessons, monitoring student progress, and maintaining a positive learning environment.
- Work individually with students, parents, and staff members to enrich early learning experiences.
- Assist with classroom management, documentation, and communication skills.
- Create a safe, orderly, and positive learning environment.
- Delivered service and safety support for aging and vulnerable adults, enhancing their daily living and well-being.
- Coordinated communications and documentation logs, including for emergency interventions, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
Education
M.A. - Global Public Health
St. Catherine University
MN01.2022
B.A. - Social Sciences
The College of St. Scholastica
MN01.2011
Skills
- Fluency in Somali and English
- Verbal and written communication
- Project management
- Organizational skills
- Attention to detail
- Research and analysis
- Critical thinking
- Policy facilitation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Grant coordination and compliance
- Program evaluation
- Data analysis and collection
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Google Workspace
- Infinite Campus software
- Community mental health strategies
- Cultural adaptation techniques
- RFP management
- County-state education partnerships
References
Available upon request
Projects And Community Partnerships
- MNLEND Fellow – Conducting research with Family Voices MN and MPS on culturally responsive early screening.
- Healthy Kids Project – MN Department of Health environmental biomarker analysis for school-aged children.
- Partner in Health Internship (Lesotho, virtual) – Maternal and child health improvement pilot.
- Public Health Advisory Committee – 3-year executive member contributing to public health strategy.
- Managing and facilitating community screening (daycares, preschool & park rec. sites)
Grants And Systems Leadership
- Coordinate mental health communication strategies and documentation for early childhood screenings to ensure families receive timely information and support.
- Support the development of culturally relevant policies, resulting in improved access and quality of school and health systems for Somali families.
- Participate in data collection and program outcome reporting to meet grant compliance and track measurable improvements.
- Collaborate with the Minnesota Department of Health and local public health to achieve grant-aligned programming goals and outcomes.
Timeline
School Success Program Assistant – Early Childhood Screening
Minneapolis Public Schools
01.2023 - Current
Associate Educator – Early Childhood Screening
Minneapolis Public Schools
10.2017 - 12.2022
Associate Educator- Early Childhood Family Education
Minneapolis Public Schools
10.2015 - 12.2017
Concierge
Walker Methodist Place
08.2014 - 02.2019
M.A. - Global Public Health
St. Catherine University
B.A. - Social Sciences
The College of St. Scholastica