Sunburst Youth Academy paraeducator Raelene Velasquez was recognized in Sacramento on May 20 as one of California’s 2026 Classified School Employees of the Year and as the state’s nominee for the national RISE Award.
Six school-based Peer Assistance Leadership programs and three advisors were recognized by the Orange County Department of Education for promoting school environments that are safe, inclusive and supportive for students.
Nine outstanding classified school employees from across Orange County are being recognized during Classified School Employee Week for their dedication to students, schools and communities.
Four middle school teams from Orange County will compete in the United States Academic Pentathlon National Finals in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s competition theme, “The Roaring Twenties,” challenges students in grades six through eight across five academic subjects.
Two Anaheim Elementary School District campuses were named finalists in the 2026 Conga Kids Dance Championship, while AESD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Dr. Yadira Moreno received a Visionary Award during the May 7 event at L.A. Live.
Students from Valadez Middle School visited the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine through Project Zero Waste, a partnership between OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program and OC Waste & Recycling that connects classroom learning to real-world sustainability practices.
University High School finished seventh in the nation at the 2026 United States Academic Decathlon National Competition in Garden Grove, earning Rookie of the Year honors in Division 1 and multiple individual medals.
