Over the past year, the OCDE Newsroom shared stories of recognition, remembrance and forward momentum across Orange County’s education community.
From newly minted Orange County Impact Schools and countywide honors for teachers and classified staff to student innovations and achievements, our team strived to highlight the people and programs driving local results.
As we count down the final days of the calendar year, here’s a look back at some of the stories that stood out in 2025.
Innovation Funding Initiative created to support bold ideas in local schools
OCDE officially launched its Innovation Funding Initiative in December, opening a new opportunity for districts to apply for awards of up to $525,000 to support creative, student-centered ideas.
The program, aligned with the county superintendent’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan, was designed to fund new approaches — or innovative adaptations of existing practices — that address unmet needs and can be scaled across Orange County.
Applications will be accepted through Jan. 30, with award announcements scheduled for late February. Projects will be funded in July 2026.
The initiative aims to encourage districts to test and refine promising strategies that strengthen student engagement, build capacity and ultimately improve outcomes for learners in grades TK–12.
NBA great helps launch partnership with Inside the Outdoors
NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar visited Thomas Edison Elementary in Anaheim on Nov. 19 to launch a new collaboration between his Skyhook Foundation and OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program.
The partnership will expand outdoor STEM learning opportunities for students across Orange County, building on the foundation’s Camp Skyhook model in Los Angeles.
The kickoff celebration — or tipoff? — featured the donation of more than 3,000 pairs of Adidas shoes and backpacks for Anaheim Elementary School District students. The Captain himself addressed a crowd of cheering students before helping distribute the gear.
AESD was selected as the launch site based on its long-standing relationship with Inside the Outdoors, which has served all TK–6 students in the district for nearly a decade.
Twelve campuses named Orange County Impact Schools
In October, OCDE announced a dozen campuses as the inaugural batch of Orange County Impact Schools — part of a new initiative to highlight innovative practices and foster collaboration.
Rather than being a competition, the program creates opportunities for OCDE teams to visit school sites, observe effective strategies and help scale approaches that are making measurable differences for students.
The group of campuses selected reflected a cross section of grade levels, programs and communities, including district schools, charter schools and OCDE’s own Sunburst Youth Academy. Each site was chosen through an informal nomination process led by OCDE’s Educational Services division.
Throughout the year, teams will conduct site visits, gather insights and share promising practices countywide. The campaign is aligned with the goals of OCDE’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan and its focus on continuous improvement.
Orange County Teachers of the Year celebrated
Six educators representing K-12 schools and community colleges were named 2026 Orange County Teachers of the Year during surprise visits to their campuses on May 1.
Joined by program sponsors, reporters and camera crews, County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean helped deliver the news at each site, where honorees were greeted with cheers from students, colleagues and family members.
Tracy Havens, Dr. Catherine Reinhardt-Zacair, Megan Lee, Jeannette Aguilera, Darcy Blake and Erin Bro were selected as 2026 finalists — it’s traditionally a year ahead — through a comprehensive application and interview process. They all received awards and gifts that day from SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union.
The celebration continued on Nov. 7 at the Disneyland Hotel, where more than 60 local Teacher of the Year nominees were recognized during a gala themed “Lighting the Way.” The evening featured musical performances, video tributes and prerecorded statements from the finalists, who each received $25,000 from the Orange County Teachers of the Year Award Foundation, established by William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross.
Ten semifinalists were awarded $7,500, and the remaining honorees received $5,000 for their contributions to education. Since its inception, the Gross family has donated more than $5.5 million to recognize and support over 1,900 educators in Orange County.
IDEA at 50: A landmark law’s enduring impact
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act marked its 50th anniversary in November, prompting educators to reflected on how the federal law has transformed access to public education.
Enacted in 1975, IDEA guaranteed a free and appropriate public education and set expectations for learning in the least restrictive environments, replacing a system that sometimes excluded children with disabilities.
Updates to the law expanded early intervention, strengthened parent participation and added transition services to prepare students for life after high school. The creation of individualized education programs, or IEPs, helped ensure that students receive supports tailored to their strengths and needs.
OCDE’s Connections program marked the milestone with a week of celebrations, honoring the educators and support staff who bring IDEA’s protections to life each day.
Classified School Employees of the Year recognized
The top teachers weren’t the only ones celebrated in 2025.
OCDE announced nine recipients of the Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year back in March, recognizing outstanding staff across categories like nutrition services, custodial work, security, skilled trades and technical services.
Honorees were selected for their leadership, performance and contributions to safe and supportive school environments.
Meanwhile, Orange County was also represented at the state level. Three local employees — Garden Grove Unified’s Kurtland Lucas, the Huntington Beach Union High School District’s Melissa Erman and Gina Matz from the Fullerton School District — were named California Classified School Employees of the Year, marking the fourth consecutive year our county has earned statewide honors.
Throughout the spring, local honorees were celebrated for the vital roles they play in keeping campuses safe, welcoming and running smoothly, reflecting the depth of talent found across Orange County schools.
Remembering former County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares
In January, Orange County mourned the passing of Dr. Al Mijares, who led OCDE for more than a decade and was widely regarded as a visionary and compassionate educational leader. Dr. Mijares died Jan. 10 at 71 following a lengthy battle with cancer.
A former superintendent in several California districts who had also served as vice president at the College Board, he dedicated his career to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening school communities. His signature One Billion Acts of Kindness initiative reflected his belief in character, civility and service.
County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean honored his predecessor for guiding Orange County through challenging times and for leaving a legacy that continues to shape education across the region.
New foundation launches to expand opportunities for students
A new independent nonprofit known as the Orange County Schools Bright Futures Foundation launched in 2025 to strengthen partnerships and expand educational opportunities for students across the county.
Although separate from OCDE, the foundation will collaborate with the department and local districts to identify needs and direct resources toward programs that can make a measurable impact.
Formed under the leadership of County Superintendent Bean, the foundation is guided by a board representing education, business and philanthropy. Following a regional search, David Blair was named executive director, bringing more than 15 years of nonprofit experience supporting college access, career readiness and youth development.
Early priorities, aligned with OCDE’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan, will include career education, youth leadership, educator training, innovation support, school safety and OCDE’s ACCESS program. The foundation plans to launch its first fundraising campaign in early 2026.
OC campuses among California Distinguished Schools
In March, California recognized 44 elementary schools in Orange County as 2025 California Distinguished Schools. They were among 336 campuses honored statewide for strong academic performance or notable progress in closing achievement gaps.
Based on California School Dashboard data, schools qualified by meeting high standards in English language arts, math, attendance and suspension rates, and by testing at least 95 percent of their students over two consecutive years.
County Superintendent Bean praised the achievement, noting it reflects the partnerships among educators, staff, students and families.
A season of academic challenge and achievement
From January through June, students across Orange County took part in scores of academic competitions supported by OCDE, including Science Olympiad, National History Day-OC, the Academic Pentathlon, the Law Day Conference and more.
These events presented opportunities to apply knowledge, build skills and connect with peers through rigorous, standards-based challenges.
Woodbridge High School once again won Orange County’s Academic Decathlon, earning its eighth championship in nine years and advancing to the California Academic Decathlon — along with Valencia, Bolsa Grande and University high schools.
Our county also celebrated a new spelling champion. Seventh-grader Sydney Tran of El Rancho Charter School won the 2025 Orange County Spelling Bee in a 14-round finale by correctly spelling “obsecration,” securing her spot at the Scripps National Spelling Bee.
California MTSS Professional Learning Institute brings educators together statewide
Finally, educators from across California gathered in July for the annual California MTSS Professional Learning Institute, hosted by OCDE in partnership with the Butte County Office of Education.
The three-day conference at the Anaheim Convention Center offered keynote presentations, workshops and deep-dive sessions focused on strengthening academic, behavioral and social-emotional supports for students through the California Multi-Tiered System of Support framework.
More than 260 presenters led sessions on topics ranging from family partnerships to targeted interventions and student mental health. Keynote speakers included Dr. Tal Ben-Shahar, who shared research on resilience and well-being, and Anthony Trucks, whose remarks centered on overcoming adversity.
Guided by the theme “Unite, Empower, Impact,” the event highlighted practical strategies and showcased real-world examples of MTSS in action across California schools.