Hispanic Heritage Month: Gerson “Vlad” Villalta Umana 

Gerson Villalta Umana, widely known as Vlad, is a former Nicollet Middle School and Burnsville High School student whose journey to District 191 is echoed in the experiences of many of the Latino families in our community. 

Born in El Salvador, Vlad’s journey at age 11 to the United States in 2017 was wrought with fear and uncertainty. His father arrived in the U.S. a few years earlier, followed by his mother who sought asylum due to targeted violence and persecution against his family. Once authorized, the family of six staggered their arrival to the U.S., eventually settling in Minnesota. 

Vlad did not know any English when he first arrived, but staff at Nicollet helped him feel welcomed and supported. Staff members like cultural liaison Mary Lopez and school psychologist Anna Krylova helped him navigate school and provided additional support and resources as he and his family transitioned to their new life.     

After graduating in 2024, Vlad started working in District 191 Community Education, helping students in the summer credit recovery program. Then in 2025, he served as a long-term substitute for the cultural liaison at Nicollet during a leave of absence, supporting Spanish-speaking students and their families. 

Vlad recently stepped into a new full-time role as a Community Engagement Specialist with Community Education, where he will provide support for various programming, foster an inclusive culture to meet the needs of community members, and support all aspects of community engagement initiatives.  

As the first in his immigrant family to graduate high school and begin college, Vlad is excited to continue learning, building connections, and supporting students and families through this role.

“Returning to serve this community fills me with deep gratitude,” said Vlad. “Having walked in our students' shoes, I’m dedicated to ensuring every family feels truly welcomed, supported and valued. Working alongside our amazing staff to give back to the place that shaped me is a lifelong dream and an experience I will always cherish.”

“We are excited for Vlad to join the One91 Community Education Engagement Team because he brings a positive attitude, a strong commitment to building connections, and a passion for supporting our students, families and community,” said Eddieca Ontiveros, community engagement specialist. “We look forward to the experience, energy and new ideas he will bring to our team!”