Scott Stephens has been named Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications for the Shaker Heights Schools, effective July 6. In this position he will lead, manage and direct the District’s external and internal communications, in alignment with the District’s strategic communications plan.
In his current position as Executive Director of Strategic Communications for Chicago Public Schools, he supervises and coordinates a team of communications strategists serving the Chicago district’s 655 schools and 400,000 students.
Prior to his position with the Chicago schools, Stephens was Assistant Director of Public Affairs for the American Federation of Teachers in Washington, D.C., where he coordinated crisis communications across the country, developed messaging campaigns, and handled national media relations.
Stephens studied journalism at Ohio University, where he was editor-in-chief of the independent daily student newspaper, The Post. After working as a reporter for news organizations in Mexico City, Florida, and Washington, D.C., he served for 18 years as a local, state and national education reporter for The Plain Dealer. He also has been a communications consultant to the Forum for Education and Democracy, a national education think tank.
Stephens has received numerous accolades for his work, including two Pulitzer nominations and a National Headliner Award for his education reporting. He completed a CASE Media Fellowship at Harvard University in education journalism, and received additional training at Teachers College, Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and Poynter Institute of Media Studies in St. Petersburg, FL.
“Mr. Stephens brings a wealth of experience and enthusiasm to this pivotal position within the district,” said Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., Superintendent of Schools. “I am confident he will be an effective and dynamic communicator with our families, students, staff, and community members.”