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.
California’s new budget protects school funding and invests in literacy, teacher training and transitional kindergarten — a better-than-expected outcome in a tough fiscal year.
Sunburst Youth Academy, a partnership between the California National Guard and OCDE, celebrated its 35th graduating class on June 20, honoring 171 cadets — including 15 who earned high school diplomas.
OCDE hosted its first State of the Student Forum on June 12 to review the latest data on student outcomes with educational and community partners. The report highlights key successes and areas for growth, with the goal of driving positive, data-informed change.
Laguna Beach Unified has named Dr. Jason Glass as its next superintendent starting July 1. Orange and Irvine Unified School Districts also recently hired new superintendents, while Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified is actively searching for its next chief.
Nitrous oxide, known as “NOS” or “laughing gas,” is increasingly being misused in ways that pose serious health risks. Experts warn that inhaling the gas can lead to nerve damage, fainting and, in rare cases, death — especially with the rise of high-dose products marketed to young people.
Hundreds of students and families attended “Empowering the Future: Internships and Career Exploration” co-hosted by Supervisor Janet Nguyen and County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean.