OCDE has formed a new division that unites alternative education with health, wellness and wraparound services to better support students. Dr. Kimberly Benaraw has been named associate superintendent of Student Services and Programs, while Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin has been named chief of ACCESS.
The long-running Safe Schools Conference is now the National Safe Schools Conference, reflecting its growing national reach. This year's three-day event kicks off July 9, bringing together educators and law enforcement to share strategies for safer, more supportive campuses.
Through original lyrics and a familiar tune, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School fifth-grade students used music to share what they learned about saying no to drugs and making healthy choices as part of OCDE’s Youth Substance Use Prevention program.
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.
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.
Quick look: More than 400 students, educators and families recently attended OCDE’s Friday Night Live Chapter Recognition Ceremony, celebrating youth-led...
