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.
With 12 medals overall, Troy High School earned first place at the 2026 MIT Science Olympiad Invitational, one of the most competitive high school Science Olympiad tournaments in the country.
On the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster, students and staff at McAuliffe Middle School reflected on the life and legacy of their school’s namesake, Christa McAuliffe.
Quick look: OCDE’s new ‘FutureCurrent’ podcast will feature unscripted conversations with educators, community leaders and partners from across Orange County....
Spurred by lessons from last year’s Los Angeles wildfires, OC leaders came together to focus on shared responsibility in disaster preparedness. County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean emphasized that schools often serve as first points of connection for families, especially the most vulnerable.
The annual Conditions of Children report brings together key measures of child and teen well-being in Orange County. Its education section tracks progress from kindergarten readiness through high school and shows local graduates continue to outpace the statewide average in college readiness.
The California School Boards Association honored Suzie R. Swartz as its 2025 Board Member of the Year, recognizing her 25 years of service and leadership on behalf of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District.
OCDE expects to meet all financial obligations for the next three years, even as statewide economic pressures and declining enrollment continue to shape long-term budget planning.