Search
OCDE Newsroom logo
  • Home
  • OCDE.us
  • About OCDE
  • About the OCDE Newsroom
  • Contact Us
  • Subscribe for updates

Author Fermin Leal

Fermin Leal

Fermin Leal serves as a communications specialist for Orange County Department of Education's Communications and Media Services Department where he works to highlight news and successful education initiatives at OCDE and at public schools across Orange County. Before joining OCDE, Fermin worked as an education journalist for 15 years, most recently at the nonprofit education news site EdSource. Prior to that, he worked for the Orange County Register. In this role, he wrote features and news articles about career and college readiness, the state’s implementation of the Common Core and Smarter Balanced exams and challenges facing students in higher education.

students holds up face mask

Brea Olinda High robotics team producing hundreds of face shields for first responders

Fermin Leal
April 29, 2020
Members of the Brea Olinda High School Robotics Team 7157 are putting their technical talents to good use to produce face shields for first responders and medical personnel in desperate need of personal protect... Read More
students and adult pet a turtle

2 Orange County campuses named 2020 California Green Ribbon Schools

Fermin Leal
April 23, 2020
Two Orange County campuses were recognized as 2020 California Green Ribbon Schools for their efforts to conserve resources while promoting health and environmental literacy. The schools are Golden View Eleme... Read More
woman demonstrates face shield

Educators, community step in to build face shields for COVID-19 first responders

Fermin Leal
April 14, 2020
Across the region, scores of first responders are on the front lines of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, working to save lives and maintain valuable services. Behind the scenes is also a strong network of support... Read More
student works on laptop

Timeline: One month of distance learning, grab-and-go meals, and other adjustments for OC schools

Fermin Leal
April 13, 2020
It's been one month since Orange County school district leaders announced the closure of all campuses to students as a precaution to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, teachers, students and parents have wor... Read More
teacher on video chat

Here’s how internet providers are working to offer service to students in need

Fermin Leal
April 1, 2020
Orange County's major internet service providers have began programs to offer free or reduced internet access for families so students can continue learning at home. As campuses remain closed for the foresee... Read More
teacher and students pose for photo holding up props

Santa Ana educator nominated for National History Day’s top teacher honor

Fermin Leal
March 25, 2020
Erik Peterson, a teacher at Santiago Elementary in Santa Ana Unified School District, has been nominated for National History Day's  Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year award. Peterson is the junior divisio... Read More
video conference screen with 9 participants

Check out what distance learning looks like across Orange County

Fermin Leal
March 24, 2020
School districts and teachers have been working to build virtual classrooms pretty much from scratch over the past week to ensure the continuity of learning for students while campuses remain closed. Some te... Read More
historic photo of female pilot on plane

PBS SoCal offering educational programing for students at home

Fermin Leal
March 19, 2020
In response to the closures of nearly all public schools across the region, PBS SoCal has created an At-Home Learning program aimed at helping provide free educational resources to students across partner telev... Read More
Students works on her laptop

Learning can continue through online options. Here are a few resources

Fermin Leal
March 16, 2020
Schools districts across Orange County are working to offer distance-learning programs for students while schools remained closed because of the COVID-19 threat. Many teachers will be communicating with fami... Read More
washing hands

Here’s how some teachers are dealing with the coronavirus threat in their classrooms

Fermin Leal
March 11, 2020
As COVID-19 continues to generate headlines, schools are working to keep students and staff safe while informing their communities about the potential impacts on learning. The OCDE Newsroom has been providin... Read More
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 30

Credits

Orange County Department of Education
Al Mijares, Ph.D.
County Superintendent of Schools

Contact

Thanks for visiting the OCDE Newsroom. Questions and story suggestions should be sent to communications@ocde.us.

And if you’re a member of the media in need of information about the Orange County Department of Education, you can contact Communications Officer Ian Hanigan at ihanigan@ocde.us or 714-966-4008.

Tags

academic competition ACCESS acts of kindness Al Mijares career exploration college and career readiness education contest education in the news education news in the news kindness kindness1billion OCDE ocde weekly roundup one billion acts of kindness Orange County Department of Education project based learning STEM top stories Weekly Roundup