OCDE Newsroom

An image of Orange County Superintendent Al Mijares

Mijares: OC Pathways initiative has much to celebrate at the end of its first year

Al Mijares December 16, 2015

OC Pathways, an initiative that's bringing together schools, colleges and businesses to create new career paths in targeted industry sectors, just capped its first year — and it was quite a year. Click through to read the latest column from the desk of Dr. Al Mijares, Orange County's superintendent of schools.

In the news: Reaction to the new federal education law, environmental studies and more

Ian Hanigan December 11, 2015

Guess what? It's Friday again, and we've got a week's worth of education headlines from Orange County and beyond. Click through to catch up on stories you might have missed.

Orange County student chosen to represent California in the U.S. Senate Youth Program

Ian Hanigan December 10, 2015

An Orange County School of the Arts student with aspirations of public service and a very impressive resume will represent California in the 54th annual United States Senate Youth Program. Zena Meyer of Irvine secured the prestigious appointment following a rigorous review process and the high school junior will travel to Washington, D.C. in March to study the federal government as a guest of the U.S. Senate. [...]

Project Zero Waste wins CSBA’s distinguished Golden Bell award (video)

Staff reports December 9, 2015

A waste-reduction partnership between OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors program and OC Waste & Recycling has earned the California School Boards Association's highly regarded Golden Bell Award. Project Zero Waste is a service-learning program that has provided hands-on environmental science instruction to more than 325,000 students since its launch in 2009. [...]

State Superintendent Torlakson lauds Laguna Beach as a leading digital district (video)

Ian Hanigan December 9, 2015

How’s this for recognition? State Superintendent Tom Torlakson recently cited the Laguna Beach Unified School District as one of the three leading digital districts in California. “These bright spots serve as lights of encouragement and guidance for our state,” Torlakson wrote in this letter to district leaders about technology and equity. [...]

Students lying in a field, spelling out "RESPECT."

Two Orange County schools win National Red Ribbon Photo Contest

Staff reports December 7, 2015

The National Family Partnership has announced the winners of the 2015 National Red Ribbon Photo Contest, and two schools are from Orange County -- Brea Country Hills Elementary School in the Brea-Olinda Unified School District and Charles G. Emery Elementary School in the Buena Park School District. [...]

6th Annual AP District Honor Roll graphic

Two OC districts receive College Board AP District Honor Roll distinction

Staff reports December 4, 2015

Two Orange County school districts have received the College Board AP District Honor Roll distinction for 2015 -- Huntington Beach Union High School District and Los Alamitos Unified School District. [...]

Sylvia Cieply receiving the 2015 I Love My Librarian Award

Orange County Department of Education librarian chosen for national public service award

Staff reports December 3, 2015

An OCDE librarian with the unique ability to connect with students who are incarcerated through her love of reading and her passion for learning has received the prestigious I Love My Librarian Award. Sylvia Cieply, who works at the Otto A. Fischer School within Orange County Juvenile Hall, is one of only 10 librarians in the U.S. to be recognized this year out of 1,300 submissions. [...]

Teachers of the Year with Mickey and Minnie Mouse

Let’s take a look back at the 2016 Orange County Teachers of the Year celebration (video)

Staff reports November 20, 2015

Last week, the Orange County Department of Education honored the 2016 Orange County Teachers of the Year nominees and finalists at a dinner celebration at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim. Click through for a short video with highlights of the event.

Two OC high schools compete for $100,000 prize in national State Farm video contest

Ian Hanigan November 10, 2015

Voting is now open for the State Farm Celebrate My Drive video contest, which has a pair of Orange County high schools in the running for its $100,000 grant prize. Canyon High School and El Modena High School in the Orange Unified School District are both in the final 100 after producing safe driving videos promoting "2N2" – short for two eyes on the road and two hands on the wheel. [...]

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