Shayla Cannady is the Chief Communications Officer for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. In this role, she is responsible for developing the overall communications strategy to build understanding and goodwill for the district's students, staff, and community. She serves as the public relations counsel to the superintendent, executive and senior staff, and is also a liaison between the press and the district, and to community organizations, elected officials and leadership groups.

Prior to joining CMS, she served as the Assistant Director of Public Relations for Orange County Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in Florida and ninth largest in the nation. Throughout her seven-year career with OCPS, she was responsible for maintaining the OCPS brand identity, implementing strategic communications plans, and increasing awareness and appreciation of the district and school operations. Additionally, she oversaw an award-winning Public Relations and Graphics department that produced executive speeches and scripts, district publications, and marketing collateral designed to support business goals and objectives.

She is the Immediate Past President of the Sunshine State Public Relations Association, a member of the National School Public Relations Association Equity Taskforce, North Carolina School Public Relations Association, Public Relations Society of America-Orlando Chapter, and among the 2018-2019 NSPRA 35 Under 35 recipients.

Cannady earned her Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in photography/graphic design from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. She also has a Master of Arts in Mass Communication from the University of Central Florida and is a doctoral candidate of Strategic Communications at UCF.

Kevin Christian has strategically communicated critical information for Marion County Public Schools since 2001. During the last 21 years, he has publicly addressed topics with parents, stakeholders, employees, students, and others ranging from student achievement and school grades to natural disasters, hurricane days, student tragedies, employee arrests, and a school shooting. Kevin’s attention to detail and strategic approach to sharing information has earned the district more than 100 local, state, and national honors and led to Kevin being named a local “Communicator of the Year” and “Doris Fleischman Unsung Hero Award” from the Florida Public Relations Association. Kevin has also earned numerous national honors, including Golden Achievement Awards from the National School Public Relations Association.

Kevin previously served as SUNSPRA President for five years (2014-2019), sustaining the organization through key challenges and turnover.

Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in Communications from Lee University and holds a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Miami. He also gained his Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) in 2012 and holds CPRC status (Certified Public Relations Counselor), the highest credential possible in the Public Relations industry.

Currently, he serves as the Director of Public Relations for the district which includes media relations and media productions.

Joe Landon, a SUNSPRA member since 1999, previously served two terms as SUNSPRA President – from 2006 to 2008 and from 2012 to 2014. Joe is a retired Executive Director of Communications for Collier County Public Schools in Naples. In retirement, he is a communications consultant and a columnist for Naples Florida Weekly. The Making a Difference columns he writes are focused on the nonprofit and education communities.

Joe was hired by Collier County Public Schools in 1998 to open a District Information Office and to build a communications department. Joe came to the district following a 30 year career as a broadcaster, working in Florida and Michigan. He was the general manager of several radio stations, and worked as a broadcast journalist in both radio and TV. Joe taught communications courses at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Michigan. He is a graduate of Columbia College, Chicago.

Responsibility for The Education Channel was added to his plate in 2000, and the department assumed the communications and community engagement role in 2011. Joe retired from his district position in July of 2014 but he remains passionate about public education and the school public relations profession.

Carlos Hernandez has 25 years of experience in education and currently serves as the Assistant Director of Web and Graphic Design for Orange County Public Schools. In his role, Carlos manages and provides support to 1000+ web editors who manage content on the district and 210 school websites. In addition, Carlos also manages the district's graphics team, which consists of two graphic arts managers, a graphic arts coordinator, and a photographer. 

Carlos serves as the Vice-President of Recognition, Sponsorship & Outreach for the Sunshine State Public Relations Association.

Carlos received his Bachelor of Science degree in Information Technology from the University of Phoenix. He and his wife, Mia, have two sons, Marcus, 13, and Owen, 9, and a dog named Leeloo.