The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has appointed Thomas Piland as its new chief communications officer, the district announced at its Sept. 9 board meeting.
Piland brings more than a decade of experience in strategic communications, community engagement, crisis response and public relations across the corporate, nonprofit and media sectors. Most recently, he served as U.S. marketing director for Ayming, a global financial consulting company, where he led digital marketing, social media, internal communications and event initiatives. Earlier in his career, Piland worked at The Recording Academy, supporting education programs and GRAMMY Week events. He also brings experience managing media relations and covering breaking news.
"I'm grateful to be back home in Santa Monica and Malibu, where I spent years working and volunteering. As a former Angeleno, I look forward to hitting the ground running and serving the community as SMMUSD's Chief Communications Officer," Piland said. "Effective communication is rooted in transparency, community engagement and empathy. I look forward to working closely with Superintendent Dr. Shelton, the Board of Education, school site administrators, employees and families to foster strong relationships and elevate the stories and achievements of our students."
"We are thrilled to welcome Thomas Piland to our leadership team," said Superintendent Dr. Antonio Shelton. "His extensive background in effective communication strategies, bilingual outreach and crisis communications, combined with his dedication to continuing our school district's commitment to transparency and community trust, makes him a great fit for our district. We look forward to his leadership in keeping our staff, families and community informed and engaged."
Piland holds a Master of Public Administration with a focus on leadership from California State University, Northridge; a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Texas at Austin; and a Digital Marketing Certification from UT Austin's McCombs School of Business. He is proficient in English and Spanish.
Edited by SMDP Staff