Ian Hanigan serves as chief communications officer for the Orange County Department of Education, overseeing the Communications and Media Services unit. Along with producing stories and videos for the OCDE Newsroom, this team facilitates copywriting, video production, media relations, graphic design, web design and event support for OCDE.
Prior to joining the department in 2015, Ian spent eight years as public information officer for the 30,000-student Irvine Unified School District. Before that, he was a local journalist, writing for the Long Beach Press-Telegram from 1999 to 2003 and the South Bay’s Daily Breeze newspaper from 2003 to 2006. His beats included education, city government, business and aerospace.
Quick look: A cybersecurity incident involving Canvas disrupted access at schools and universities worldwide, prompting precautionary shutdowns and security reviews....
Henry Miller, a music teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School in Irvine Unified School District, has been named a 2027 CMA Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence.
Vanguard University’s School of Education will host its second annual Disability Symposium on June 24, convening individuals with disabilities, educators, families and faith leaders for a day of learning focused on inclusive practices and belonging.
County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean served as keynote speaker at The Wooden Floor’s 14th Step Beyond Annual Breakfast in Costa Mesa. The Santa Ana-based nonprofit helps students build confidence and opportunity through dance, academic support and college readiness
School Attendance Review Boards — or SARBs — bring together educators, families and community partners to address the root causes of chronic absenteeism. Two local districts were recently recognized by the state, highlighting a broader shift toward early support and student-centered solutions.
Sunburst Youth Academy paraeducator Raelene Velasquez has been named a 2026 California Classified School Employee of the Year and selected as the state’s sole nominee for the national RISE Award.
Orange County public school enrollment declined by about 1.7 percent in 2025–26, continuing a long-term trend that mirrors statewide and national patterns.