Students, families, educators and community partners recently gathered at Valley High School for a community screening of the documentary “Multiple Choice,” a film that explores different approaches to education and highlights the role of hands-on, career-connected learning.
The event, held Jan. 27 at the Santa Ana Unified School District’s newly renovated theater, was presented by OC Pathways, the Orange County Department of Education, Santa Ana Unified and the nonprofit What School Could Be. The screening aimed to spark conversation about how schools can better connect learning to real-world experiences and future opportunities.
“Given the context of our future-focused initiatives here in Santa Ana Unified, our partners at OCDE said this was the perfect place to screen the film,” said Steven Long, director of Career Education and Workforce Innovation for Santa Ana Unified. “This is a documentary that highlights what education could be.”
Following the screening, attendees engaged in discussion about career education pathways available across Orange County and how those programs support student engagement, creativity and purpose. Student ambassadors from Santa Ana Unified helped host the event and welcomed guests to the campus.
For students, the film resonated on a personal level. Harvey, a student ambassador from Santa Ana High School’s Saintly Films program, said the documentary reflected the value of hands-on learning.
“It shows other students and people working on an idea they want to bring to life and share with others,” Harvey said. “I agree 100 percent with hands-on learning compared to just writing with a pencil. Working on something and bringing an idea to life feels different.”
OCDE leaders said the screening aligned with ongoing efforts to expand access to meaningful career-connected learning opportunities for students across the county.
“If we’re not equipping students with opportunities while they have access to a free and appropriate public education, then we’re not doing our jobs,” said Kathy Boyd, OCDE’s executive director of Career Education and Postsecondary Advancement.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- OCDE will host the 2026 Orange County State of Education on March 13, inviting education and community leaders to reflect on student data, celebrate local successes, and explore future-focused collaboration.
- The second episode of OCDE’s FutureCurrent podcast features philanthropist and entrepreneur Eric L. Goodman discussing how personal challenges, leadership experiences and a focus on service have shaped his approach to resilience, purpose and community engagement.
- Orange County schools across multiple districts participated in the Jan. 26–30 Great Kindness Challenge, with students engaging in service projects and wellness activities aimed at promoting compassion, inclusion and positive school climates.
- The Laguna Beach Unified School District board approved nearly $21 million in construction and oversight contracts to move forward with a Laguna Beach High School and Community Pool modernization project expected to begin this summer and be completed in 2027.
- More than 600 middle school students from Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana schools attended the OC Human Trafficking Task Force’s fourth annual “Know More, Do Better” conference at Vanguard University to learn how to recognize trafficking, navigate online risks and seek help.
- More than 140 Irvine high school students competed at City Hall in a student-led policy brief competition, presenting proposals on issues such as e-bike safety, immigration enforcement and housing affordability, with winning ideas to be considered for citywide implementation.
- Orange County natives Sam Darnold, a San Clemente High School graduate, and Jaylinn Hawkins, a Buena Park High School graduate with ties to the Savanna School District, will face each other in Super Bowl LX as members of the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots.
- Jerry “Hongyi” Zhang, an 11th-grade student at University High School in Irvine, was named a 2026 YoungArts award winner in design, earning national recognition for his visual storytelling work.
- Students at high schools across multiple Orange County school districts walked out of class Jan. 30 as part of a nationwide protest opposing recent ICE enforcement actions, with demonstrations reported from Mission Viejo to Anaheim and Santa Ana.
- New federal data shows that while about two-thirds of California children ages 3 to 5 are considered on track for kindergarten, readiness varies widely by race, gender and family income, prompting questions about how the concept is measured and addressed in early education.
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