SMMUSD Names New Superintendent After Months-Long National Search

SANTA MONICA, CA — After months of searching, the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District named internal candidate Antonio Shelton as the district's new superintendent.

Shelton was appointed as SMMUSD superintendent on June 1 at the regular school board meeting. For the past year, Shelton worked as SMMUSD executive director and was the lead principal at Santa Monica High School for six years previously.

“Following an arduous national search with the assistance of our consulting firm, Leadership Associates, we reviewed 35 applications and held in-person interviews with top candidates, Dr. Antonio Shelton rose to the top and was selected by the Board,” said Board President Maria Leon-Vazquez. “Our communities are special and demand the best, and so does the Board. We welcome Dr. Shelton into his new role as the superintendent for SMMUSD. We are looking forward to him hitting the ground running leading SMMUSD through the 21st-century while planning for the 22nd-century.”

With 23 years of experience, Shelton is known as a highly intelligent and innovative leader who understands the challenges facing TK-12 public education. District officials said Shelton's leadership style incorporates care and compassion for others and finding solutions that consider diverse perspectives.

Shelton holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Hampton University, a Master of Arts in social studies from Ohio State University, a Master of Arts in educational administration from the University of Kentucky and a Doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Kentucky.

"I am truly excited and humbled to serve as superintendent of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District,” said Dr. Shelton. “I want to thank the school board for trusting me to lead this wonderful district. It is an honor to have been chosen to lead a district that is on the move in a positive direction. I envision a journey ahead with collaboration and community built on trust between myself and the educational partners of SMMUSD. I look forward to leading the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District community, its faculty, staff, and students to greater heights.”

Before working at SMMUSD, Shelton was the principal Indian Hill High School in Cincinnati, Ohio for five years, which was ranked in the top 100 schools by US News. Shelton began his teaching career in 1998 teaching honors United States and world history along with government and African American history.