Please welcome Kaying Thao as the new Administrator to the Board of Education. 

Kaying brings her experience, skill sets and expertise to assist the board of education as its new administrator and liaison to Saint Paul Public Schools. She began her new role on October 7, 2019. 

Kaying comes to SPPS from the Saint Paul Police Department, where she was part of an inaugural group that was formed to think differently about how the police department engages and serves the diverse communities that make up Saint Paul. 

As a Community Engagement Specialist, Kaying worked closely with community-based organizations and intergovernmental agencies -- with special attention to the Asian and immigrant/refugee communities in Saint Paul -- to help build trusting relationships with police, and to ensure that all voices and perspectives were included in conversations pertaining to public safety. 

Prior to that, Kaying was a public policy advocate for Catholic Charities where she advocated for housing, criminal justice reform and assisted in her department’s efforts and success in securing $40 million dollars from the legislature to build the Saint Paul Opportunity Center. 

In addition, Kaying served as a school board member for Roseville Area Schools from 2012 - 2015. As a former school board member, Kaying has an in-depth perspective of the importance of community relations and equitable opportunities for all. 

Kaying understands the intricacies of governing, education policy and the importance of building strong community relationships, all of which are necessary to successfully support the board in their work. 

Kaying has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from St. Catherine University, a Masters Degree in Public and Nonprofit Administration from Metropolitan State University and is a doctoral candidate in education at Hamline University.