The School District PR Pros Podcast

Jake Finch is the PIO of Simi Valley Unified School District. Her background as a journalist has given her a unique perspective for her role at the district. Jake shares about a number of important topics, including some valuable insights for how to navigate challenging school board meetings.Support the show (http://www.schoolshine.org)

Monica Carazo is one of six PIOs in the nation's second largest school district, Los Angeles USD. From to supporting the mental health needs of her students to dealing with surprise emergencies, Monica shares her unique experiences and offers some pieces of advice for smaller districts.Support the show (http://www.schoolshine.org)

Oliver Unaka of Pomona USD speaks with us about the importance of "brand" for school districts. Coming from a background in the PR industry, he understands that brand is an extension of the trust that the community feels for the district. He also shares his personal sentiments for what a district's motivations should be regarding their communities and how to best serve them. Support the show (http://www.schoolshine.org)

Gail Pinsker is the Community and Public Relations Officer for Santa Monica-Malibu USD. She has an inspiring philosophy on how to best maintain and improve communication in every corner of her district. Her community was recently afflicted with the Woolsey Fire which destroyed 1,500 homes and ravaged 97,000 acres. Gail explains how she handled this situation from a school district PR standpoint, and how she believes districts can best prepare for a similar situation.Support the show (http://www.schoolshine.org)

Nichole Pichardo of Brea-Olinda Unified speaks with us about why she sees her role as the "district storyteller". Coming from a background of commercial marketing, she brings her experience and perspective to the table for her district on a daily basis. She also shares with us a recent PR challenge regarding the name of one of her school districts, and her philosophy on handling tough situations like this.Support the show (http://www.schoolshine.org)