Trustee Alva Alvarez, Assistant Superintendent Dena Melland, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Yadira Moreno, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz, Board President Jackie Filbeck, Superintendent Jesús Chavarria and Assistant Superintendent Matthew Slusser pose with an Angels Adopt-A-School banner at Gauer Elementary School in Anaheim. (Photo courtesy of the Anaheim Elementary School District) 
Students sit together in the library during an Angels Adopt-A-School visit at Gauer Elementary School in Anaheim. (Photo courtesy of the Anaheim Elementary School District) 
A student smiles while holding a notebook during an Angels Adopt-A-School visit at Gauer Elementary School in Anaheim. (Photo courtesy of the Anaheim Elementary School District) 
Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz, left, poses with a student and sports radio host Roger Lodge during a visit to Gauer Elementary School in Anaheim as part of the Angels Adopt-A-School program. (Photo courtesy of the Anaheim Elementary School District)
Gauer Elementary School in Anaheim welcomed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jack Kochanowicz and sports radio host Roger Lodge on April 7 for a campus visit as part of the annual Adopt-A-School program.
Selected for its commitment to environmental education and waste diversion efforts, the Anaheim Elementary School District campus is one of five schools chosen in 2026 through the initiative, which is coordinated by the Angels Baseball Foundation in partnership with the Orange County Department of Education and OC Waste & Recycling.
The visit featured a lively schoolwide assembly, where students showed their school spirit and heard messages about leadership, perseverance and the importance of education. The event also included the presentation of a $2,000 grant from the Angels Baseball Foundation to support student learning.
“Being selected for the Angels Adopt-A-School program … reflects the strength of our community, our commitment to our students, and our shared belief that every child deserves to feel supported, inspired, and set up for success,” said Principal Lori Nash.
Through the partnership, students at Gauer will have opportunities to strengthen literacy skills and participate in hands-on STEM learning through programs such as EcoChallenge and Project Zero Waste, delivered in collaboration with OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors, which focus on environmental problem-solving and real-world applications.
Additional program components include baseball-themed activities, educator recognition, professional development for teachers and opportunities for students and staff to attend an Angels game. Each school will also receive a campus visit from Angels players during the 2026 season.
The other schools selected for the 2026 Adopt-A-School program are Carver Elementary in the Santa Ana Unified School District, Villa Park Elementary in the Orange Unified School District, Adams Elementary School in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and Fryberger Elementary School in the Westminster School District.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- The City of Westminster and OCDE will dedicate the Mendez Freedom Trail on April 14, a two-mile interpretive path designed to connect students and the community to the legacy of the Mendez v. Westminster desegregation case.
- High School Voter Education Weeks will take place from April 13 through April 24 across California, encouraging students to learn about elections and preregister to vote through school-based activities and state-provided resources.
- Students from Ocean View School District schools showcased visual and performing arts at the district’s annual Festival of the Arts, featuring student artwork, dance, music and theater performances.
- Laguna Beach High School theater students earned multiple top-three finishes and mainstage recognitions at the California State Thespian Festival, competing against more than 1,000 students statewide.
- Irvine High School was featured in CBS News’ “Class Act” series, highlighting its academic performance and a range of programs that contribute to student engagement and school culture.
- OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program will host a free Earth Day volunteer event April 25 at Fairview Park in Costa Mesa, where participants will take part in habitat restoration activities.
- The City of Mission Viejo is developing a citywide plan to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety around schools through updated safe routes and infrastructure improvements.
- According to the Orange County Register, a state audit has been approved to review the Orange County Board of Education’s governance, litigation practices and use of public resources following a request from a state senator.
- According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Department of Education has rescinded civil rights agreements with several school districts and colleges, ending certain federally required protections for transgender students tied to those settlements.
This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.