Toya Stewart Downey Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, MN, US

• Lead a team of 10 staff across Communications, Grant Writing, Publications, American Indian Education, and Achievement and Integration, earning eight public awards from the National School Public Relations Association.
• Develop and execute integrated communications strategies to increase brand awareness and support district goals, while leading district equity initiatives.
• Serve as key advisor and strategic leader for the Superintendent, district leadership and 1700 staff members while also acting as the primary spokesperson for media outlets, crisis communications and press strategy.
• Oversee efforts to boost digital engagement through targeted storytelling across various platforms to elevate the district’s profile and drive enrollment growth.
• Increased social media followership by 4 percent on Facebook, 16 percent on LinkedIn, and 16 percent on Instagram.
• Directed the publication of three digital district wide newsletters, achieving an average open rate of more than 55 percent, compared to industry standard of 37.7 percent.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Served as a member of the Strategic Management Team, overseeing crisis communications and media relations for the Ordway.
• Advised senior leadership on best practices and strategies for communications and DEI initiatives across the organization, with a goal of achieving increased ticket sales overall as well as within diverse audiences.
• Developed and executed communications and public relations strategies to position the Ordway as a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Managed all internal and external communications for a school district of 39,000 students.
• Led a 14-person department overseeing communications, translation services, and grant development, with responsibility for managing the departmental budget.
• Represented the Superintendent in engagements with a broad range of diverse internal and external stakeholders including elected officials, city leadership, and community partners.
• Provided strategic counsel to cabinet-level executives, central office staff, principals, and teachers.
• Coordinated media relations for the district, serving as the spokesperson for major crises and managing interactions with local and national media.

United States

• Co-managed a 19-person Communications, Marketing and Development Department.
• Helped recruit, restructure and hire staff within the department and District.
• Developed and supported strategic communications for internal and external audiences.

St. Paul, Minnesota

• Assisted in managing a 16-person team overseeing communications, marketing, and development efforts.
• Coordinated and executed a marketing and media plans to support the district's student enrollment growth initiatives, as part of the district's leadership team.
• Developed content and messaging for campaigns, ensuring alignment with the district’s goals and branding.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Served as a writer and editor for the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe’s monthly newspaper, the Ojibwe Inaajimowin.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Member of the communications team for the School of Public Health at the University of Minnesota.
• Wrote articles for various publications, copyediting duties, gathered and compiled information for internal newsletters for faculty, staff and students.
• Helped support efforts and external correspondence to alumni and others supporters.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

• Served as an Education Reporter responsible for reporting on local, regional and state issues and trends, with a focus on news, features, social issues, and enterprise stories.
• Organized collaborative news-gathering efforts with the 15-member education team.

Dallas/Fort Worth Area

• Served as a Minority Affairs/General Assignment Reporter responsible for news, enterprise, trend and issues stories about minority communities in Tarrant and Dallas Counties.
• Covered spot news and crime, building bridges to forge new and stronger relationships for the paper in a highly-competitive news-gathering environment.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Health Journalism And Public Health

Master’S Degree, Health Journalism

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, English, Rhetoric And African American Studies

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English, Rhetoric And African American Studies