Suzanne P. Kelly
Chief of Staff
Suzanne P. Kelly is a respected regional, senior-level administrative leader in education. For nearly 25 years, Suzanne has served as a revered, trusted executive within the Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Memphis public school districts.
With deep community roots in the Twin Cities, Suzanne has held primary responsibility for management of the large, diverse staff of public-school employees, and championed and led transformational, systemic change to achieve equitable service to, and outcomes for, communities of color in the region.
Under her leadership, extensive progress has been made to identify and change institutional policies and practice that disadvantage students and communities of color from achieving parity with white students in Minneapolis-St. Paul public schools.
As the Center’s Chief of Staff, Suzanne is a trusted advisor and thought partner to Founder and CEO, Tawanna A. Black. She fortifies and reinforces the Center’s integrated leadership culture and values of shared leadership, shared power, and shared accountability to make time, information, and decision-making processes — up, down, and across the organization — streamlined and more effective to the CEO and entire organization.
As a principal representative of the CEO, Suzanne partners closely with the executive leaders of Finance & Operations, Impact & Accountability, External Affairs, and Systems Innovation to ensure cohesion, congruency, and consistent application of the Center’s vision, standards, strategy, and tools throughout the organization.
Prior to her position at the Center, Suzanne served as Chief of Staff for Minneapolis Public Schools (2016-2021), Minnesota Philanthropy Partners (2013-2016), St. Paul Public Schools (2007-2009, 2010-2012), and Memphis Public Schools (2003-2007). She was Interim Superintendent at St. Paul Public Schools from 2009-2010.
Suzanne has dedicated her talent and time to many nonprofit, community, civic, and faith-based boards and committees since 2007. Today, she serves on the board of Christ Temple Apostolic Church (Roseville).
Suzanne holds a Master's in Educational Leadership from Minnesota State University at Mankato, and a Bachelor’s in Journalism from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Fla.