2022 to Present
Santa Barbara Middle School
California
Seizing the opportunity to work with a pioneer in outdoor education, I have focused on evolving the school’s narrative and communications infrastructure. This role has provided a dynamic environment for professional growth, allowing me to integrate global marketing standards into a school culture that values authenticity, resilience, and community.
Job Summary
Strategic Leadership & Advancement
- Advancement Strategy: Play a pivotal role on the Development and Advancement team, aligning marketing initiatives with the Annual Fund and large-scale fundraising goals.
- Institutional Governance: Contribute to the strategic direction of the school, managing the comprehensive marketing budget and developing the annual communications roadmap.
- Campaign Leadership: (Crucial to include your earlier mention) Co-led the launch of a $10 million endowment campaign, managing the narrative and communications strategy that helped secure $4.2 million in the initial phase.
Brand Stewardship & Digital Ecosystem
- Brand Identity: Developed and enforced refined brand guidelines across all internal and external touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive visual and verbal identity for the SBMS legacy.
- Digital Presence & Strategy: Manage the school’s digital footprint via Blackbaud; currently spearheading the strategic evaluation and selection of new web development partners to modernize the school’s online experience.
- Content & Media Relations: Direct all public relations, press releases, and social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google), acting as the school’s primary spokesperson for media and community inquiries.
Community Engagement & Operational Excellence
- Constituent Relations: Manage end-to-end communications and high-impact events for Alumni, Parents, and the Parent Association, strengthening the “full family” experience and donor pipeline.
- Crisis & Emergency Management: Serve as a core member of the Emergency Management Team, responsible for drafting and executing real-time communications for lockdowns, evacuations, and safety protocols.
- Departmental Infrastructure: Built and refined the marketing department’s internal workflows, social media policies, and cross-functional procedures to increase operational efficiency.
Educational Integration & Student Life
- Immersive Community Leadership: Deeply integrated into the unique SBMS culture by leading outdoor education camping trips (21+ nights annually) and introducing new student electives, such as touch rugby.
- Publications & Visual Direction: Head of the Yearbook and flagship publications, providing creative direction for school photography to ensure authentic storytelling.
Featured Articles
Empathy and Equity
This article was published on November 21, 2024 in The Independent Magazine.
SBMS boat building project
On September 30, 2024, SBMS students launched a boat that they spent over a year working on. Local press covered this event.
Darren Brews 