Boston Public Schools Appoints New Director of Communications

Dr. Thomas W. Payzant, Superintendent of the Boston Public Schools today announced the appointment of Dave Overton, a Boston resident, as the new Director of Communications for the Boston Public Schools. Mr. Overton has more than thirty years of experience in the media. Mr. Overton will began work today.

Dr. Payzant and a group of BPS staff selected Mr. Overton from a group of six finalists. Mr. Overton most recently worked as a Vice President at Cone Communications in Boston specializing in crisis management, marketing communications, brand messaging, reputation management, interactive marketing all for a variety of industries including governmental clients. Prior to working at Cone Communications, Mr. Overton held a number of positions over the past thirty years in television news management and production and the print media. He also worked in Washington D.C. for Senator Howard Baker.

Mr. Overton holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Tennessee and a Masters Degree in Journalism from Indiana University. He has an active record of volunteer work for the Boy Scouts of America and the March of Dimes.

As Communications Director for the Boston Public Schools, Mr. Overton will be a member of Dr. Payzant's senior leadership team. He will play a key role in the outreach efforts by the Boston Public Schools under the Superintendent's new parent engagement plan and starting the communications and marketing phase of the "Focus on Children" reform effort next year.