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Celebrating democracy in the OC: Webinar promotes civic learning, building partnerships

Nichole Pichardo April 23, 2021

Equipping students with the confidence and competencies that allow them to civically engage with their local communities was the focus of a webinar organized by OCDE’s Educational Services team.

The virtual symposium — ”Celebrating Democracy in the OC: Supporting the State Seal of Civic Engagement” — was held on April 22 and brought together nearly 75 educators, law professionals and community leaders to discuss civic learning across the county.

With opening remarks by County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares, the webinar offered participants a chance to learn more about the State Seal of Civic Engagement as well as hear from many prominent, civic-minded community leaders.

Anaheim Union High School District Superintendent Michael Matsuda, who was recently named a Champion of Civics by the California Courts, was one of the event’s featured speakers. He addressed the importance of professional development for educators.

“Democracy is about building empathy and understanding,” said Matsuda. “There is a lot on the line for educators. Where are our students going to learn to debate in a civil way and disagree civilly if not in our public schools? It is up to us to teach them.”

Alvin Lee, executive director of GENup and a student advocate in the Fremont Unified School District shared his personal experiences with youth advocacy and leadership.

OCDE Chief Academic Officer Jeff Hittenberger later led a question-and-answer session with Alvin Lee, executive director of GENup and a student advocate in the Fremont Unified School District. Lee shared his personal experience and the connection of the State Seal of Civic Engagement to youth advocacy and leadership.

“I think the most beautiful thing is when students speak up and become engaged,” said Lee. “Whether or not they agree or disagree on issues, as long as they are fundamentally engaged and advocating for their perspective, that is really critical.”

Other breakout sessions offered strategies on the following topics: global competence and civic pathways, teaching civic online reasoning, and civic learning integration by building community partnerships.

The event also included remarks from OCDE History/Social-Science/Civics Coordinator Dr. Marika Manos.

Orange County Superior Court Judge Linda Marks wrapped up the webinar, calling on educators to go back to their schools and think about a plan to ensure that every child in Orange County has the opportunity to engage in civics education and earn a seal on their high school diploma.

“We all stand together as partners, and we are the gatekeepers to ensuring the next generation will be equipped and knowledgeable in understanding our American democracy in order for it to continue and thrive,” said Judge Marks.

“One of the key ingredients to a republic is an educated and engaged citizenry,” she said. “Such participation does not only involve voting, but also serving the community and working constructively to make this a more perfect union.”

Those who were unable to attend can watch a video the forum below.

Al Mijarescivic learningcollege and career readinessOCDEOrange County Department of EducationSeal of civic engagement

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As we close out the work week, here’s a look bac As we close out the work week, here’s a look back to when County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares and OCDE representatives made unannounced visits to six different campuses to surprise the 2023 Orange County Teachers of the Year. 


Our sincerest congratulations goes out to: 
Dr. Emily Liu from @irvinevalleycollege
Jill Summerhays from Plavan Elementary School in the Fountain Valley School District (@fvsdsupt) 
Jamie Morgan from Cerritos Elementary School in the @savannaschooldistrict
Sergio Sanabria from Marco Forster Middle School in the @capounified
Tracy Dawson from Arnold O. Beckman High School in the @tustinusd
Ben Case from Northwood High School in the @irvine_unified

Link in bio. 
https://newsroom.ocde.us/ocde-makes-surprise-visits-to-announce-the-2023-orange-county-teachers-of-the-year/
13 Orange County schools were honored and consider 13 Orange County schools were honored and considered models for civic engagement by Chief Justice of California Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye and @CADeptEd State Supt. Tony Thurmond. 

Corona Del Mar High School in the @newportmesausd and Doig Intermediate School in the @gardengroveusd earned the Civic Learning Award of Excellence. 

http://ow.ly/qktL50J5nQG
Tears, laughter and complete shock were just some Tears, laughter and complete shock were just some of the emotions that six teachers had when Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares and OCDE representatives walked into their classrooms unannounced today. These educators are 2023’s OC Teachers of the Year. 

First photo: Dr. Emily Liu from @irvinevalleycollege
Second photo: Jill Summerhays from Plavan Elementary School in the Fountain Valley School District (@fvsdsupt) 
Third photo: Jamie Morgan from Cerritos Elementary School in the @savannaschooldistrict
Fourth photo: Sergio Sanabria from Marco Forster Middle School in the @capounified
Fifth photo: Tracy Dawson from Arnold O. Beckman High School in the @tustinusd
Sixth photo: Ben Case from Northwood High School in the @irvine_unified

http://ow.ly/Y9EH50J4EuJ or click the 🔗 link in the bio.
There are no candy bars and drinks inside the new There are no candy bars and drinks inside the new vending machine at Pendleton Elementary School in the @buenaparkschool. Instead, students will be able to fuel their imagination and boost their literacy with popular books from series such as “Goosebumps,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog.” 

Students can earn free book tokens by accomplishing self-made academic goals to further their education. Once they’ve selected a book, it is theirs to keep and bring home. Principal Loriann Leota said the program is a perfect way to get students excited about learning and help improve literacy rates as they transition to becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme school. 

http://ow.ly/OWih50J2Z6Q
The OC Schools Career Fair is underway! Come meet The OC Schools Career Fair is underway! Come meet OCDE Chief Technology Officer Carl Fong and his team, and learn about the amazing IT opportunities within the OC Department of Education. We'll be at 200 Kalmus Drive in Costa Mesa until noon on Saturday. #schooljobs #ocjobs
Two OCDE employees were honored by @girlscoutsoc w Two OCDE employees were honored by @girlscoutsoc with the Spotlight Award this morning at the Voice for Girls 2022 event. The annual ceremony is an interactive think tank for Orange County's decision-makers and key influencers, hosted by Girl Scouts of Orange County to align local leaders around a vital mission: to support and champion girls in reaching their full potential in society.

Machele Kilgore is a principal in OCDE’s Alternative Education division. In this role, she makes contributions and gets feedback on the most efficient ways to educate students through an independent study model. Kilgore makes an impact in advancing women in leadership by sharing her perspective, guidance and understanding to male colleagues about the challenges women face daily in leadership roles. 

OCDE’s Executive Director of Human Resources Gina Lance is a mentor to women early in their leadership career. She cultivates a positive and encouraging safe space for women leaders to take chances, be creative, and celebrate not only successes, but also efforts that are sometimes more meaningful than the outcomes themselves. 

#VFG2022 #GirlScoutsOC
Four of California’s top nine school employees a Four of California’s top nine school employees are from Orange County. @CADeptEd State Superintendent Tony Thurmond announced the exemplary school workers late Thursday afternoon, with one county accounting for 44% of the awards. 

Congratulations Sheri Saladow from @CapoUnified, Erik Estrada from @HB_UHSD, Amanda Gomez from @LosAlamitosUSD and Shannon Lauricella from @gardengroveusd.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/four-of-californias-top-nine-school-employees-for-2022-are-from-orange-county/
The month of May is annually recognized as Mental The month of May is annually recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month, but OCDE works to address and support mental health needs in OC every day. From school-based “WellSpace” centers that encourage students to take a break from life’s daily stressors to hiring additional regional mental health coordinators, the department and local school districts want people to know that they have someone in their corner. 

If you or someone you know is experiencing depression or anxiety, there are a number of free resources available to help. Here are a few: http://ow.ly/BECX50J0ruR
Continuing our celebration of educators, here is a Continuing our celebration of educators, here is a look at the 2021 and 2022 Orange County Teachers of the Year dinner. More than a hundred teachers were honored and recognized at the annual event which was held at the Disneyland Hotel last week. OCDE is thankful for all of the educators who are making a difference in education. 

Here’s a look back at the event: http://ow.ly/AsCo50IXtvL.
A good teacher can bring joy to their students and A good teacher can bring joy to their students and leave a positive impression that will last a lifetime. But from time to time, every educator can use a little reminder of just how important they are, and how far their influence can go.

During this National Teacher Appreciation Week and every week, OCDE would like to thank educators for their hard work and dedication to our youth.
Are you considering a career in education or an ed Are you considering a career in education or an educator looking for a new opportunity to serve students? Are you a business or IT professional that wants to work in an industry that makes a difference in the community?

Orange County school districts are looking for dynamic, dedicated individuals like you. Whether you’re an experienced educator, a professional seeking a change, or a candidate just beginning your search for a meaningful career, we invite you to OCDE's 2022 Spring Career Fair to explore some of the career opportunities available in Orange County. 

The Spring Career Fair will be held on Saturday, May 7th, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the OCDE Administrative Offices located at 200 Kalmus Drive, Building A - Boardroom, Costa Mesa 92626. To register, please complete this survey: link.ocde.us/career-fair.
Orange County’s best and brightest educators fro Orange County’s best and brightest educators from 2021 and 2022 are being honored tonight at the Disneyland Resort Hotel. The annual Orange County Teachers of the Year dinner celebrates classroom heroes for their extraordinary contributions to education.
Today is Earth Day 🌎! How will you celebrate th Today is Earth Day 🌎! How will you celebrate the planet and take care of the Earth today?
Sylvia Mendez, now 85, recalls the time her late m Sylvia Mendez, now 85, recalls the time her late mother asked if she knew why her family went to court over the right to attend Westminster’s 17th Street School.

Sylvia, about 10 at the time, thought it was so she and her brothers could go to the campus with the beautiful playground. Her mother set the record straight.

“She says, ‘No, Sylvia. That’s not why we were fighting. We were fighting because under God we’re all equal. And you belong at that school, just like everybody else belongs at that school. And that’s what we were fighting for.'”

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the final ruling in the landmark case of Mendez v. Westminster, which struck down the legal justification for forced school segregation in California and paved the way for the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark Brown v. Board decision.

U.S. District Court Judge Paul J. McCormick, who presided over the trial initiated by five Orange County families, ordered local school districts to end discriminatory practices against students of Mexican descent in February 1946. But that ruling was appealed to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

And it was upheld there the following year — on April 14, 1947, to be exact.

“The Mendez case marks a critically important turning point not just for Orange County but for our entire nation, and its reverberations extended into all areas of society where separate-but-equal policies challenged equity for all citizens,” Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares said

“Keep in mind these were regular families who emptied their bank accounts and spent years of their lives working to ensure access for generations of students they would never meet,” Mijares said. “In that light, this anniversary is not about acknowledging a past injustice. It should be commemorated as an affirmation of our shared values and a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they band together behind a just case and put children first.”

Visit the OCDE Newsroom to read the full story.
A nutrition services assistant, a bus driver, a ma A nutrition services assistant, a bus driver, a maintenance worker and a database specialist are among nine exemplary school workers who were announced Monday as the 2022 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year.

The Orange County Department of Education selected this year’s winners from a pool of 86 district-level honorees based on their work performance, leadership, dedication and involvement with their schools and communities. 

“Classified workers are essential to the success, safety and wellbeing of our students, and at no time has this been more evident than during a global pandemic,” said Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Al Mijares.

“The 2022 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year have even further distinguished themselves through their commitment, compassion, creativity and character,” Mijares said. “On behalf of the Orange County Department of Education, I want to personally commend this year’s honorees for performing at the highest levels, often under difficult circumstances, in support of our schools and communities.”

Without further ado, here they are:

Clerical and Administrative Services
Sonia Arreguin
Administrative Technician
Orange County Department of Education
Alternative, Community, and Correctional Education Schools and Services (ACCESS)

Custodial and Maintenance Services
Jason Munier
Day Custodian
La Habra City School District

Food and Nutrition Services
Lorena Simerson
Nutrition Services Assistant
Santa Ana Unified School District

Health and Student Services
Sheri Saladow
Guidance Technician
Capistrano Unified School District

Paraprofessional
Evan Jacobs
Behavior Interventionist/Paraprofessional
Tustin Unified School District

Security Services
Erik Estrada
Campus Supervisor
Huntington Beach Union High School District

Skilled Trades
Luis Camarena
Skilled Maintenance Worker
Ocean View School District

Technical Services
Armando Gomez
Database Specialist
Los Alamitos Unified School District

Transportation Services
Shannon Lauricella
School Bus Driver
Garden Grove Unified School District

For more information, visit the OCDE Newsroom.
🥧🤓 🥧🤓
One by one, they methodically spelled words like “trellis,” “apparatus,” “privatim” and “suet.”

But on this day of phonetic feats and etymological excellence spanning more than three hours, it was Jason Khan of McAuliffe Middle School in @losalamitosusd who would be crowned C-H-A-M-P. In round 28, he correctly sequenced the letters in “ankh” — it’s a symbol like a cross with a loop at the top — to win the Orange County Spelling Bee.

And he’s not done. Jason will travel to Washington, D.C. in late May to represent Orange County at the @ScrippsNationalSpellingBee. Travel expenses will be paid by the Orange County Register, which sponsored the county contest along with the Orange County Department of Education.

Following last year’s online competition, the 2022 county bee took place in person at OCDE’s Costa Mesa campus on Saturday morning, drawing more than two dozen stellar spellers from across Orange County.

Rachel Park from John O. Tynes Elementary in the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District placed second after going head-to-head with Jason for nine rounds, and Alyssa Tran from Fairmont Private School’s Historic Anaheim Campus took third place. Each student took home a trophy and a cash award.

The OCDE Newsroom has the full story.
California’s indoor masking order for schools wi California’s indoor masking order for schools will be downgraded to a strong recommendation after March 11, state officials announced on Monday.

In a joint news release, the governors of California, Oregon and Washington cited declining case rates and hospitalizations as the basis for easing face-covering requirements for students and staff on public and private school campuses. The new guidance also applies to child care facilities. 

Local jurisdictions may continue their masking requirements based on conditions impacting their communities, and students and staff may still choose to wear masks. But they will no longer be a state requirement after 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 11. 

“We are pleased that the state of California has confirmed a date for our schools to join other sectors in making masking protocols voluntary based on the level of community risk,” Orange County Superintendent Al Mijares said. “Throughout the pandemic, OCDE and Orange County school districts have consistently underscored the importance of using data and science as the foundation for high-level decision-making involving the safety of students and staff. As COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations decline, our schools will adjust their health and safety strategies accordingly and continue their focus on high-quality teaching and learning.” 

Read more in the OCDE Newsroom, which is linked to the OCDE website.
Last call to register for today's online forum in Last call to register for today's online forum in celebration of Black History Month at link.ocde.us/colloquium.

As the latest in a series of OCDE events based on the theme “Know My Name, Face and Story,” the presentation will stream live from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Teachers, counselors, administrators and others who educate and support students are invited to register to attend.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Christopher Downing, Ed.D
Superintendent, Anaheim Elementary School District

Carol Hedgspeth, Ph.D.
Deputy Director, The Education Trust-West

Robert V. McDonald
President and Executive Director, Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County

Ian O. Williamson, Ph.D.
Dean, The UCI Paul Merage School of Business

The origins of Black History Month date back to the efforts of Harvard-trained historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans who created the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. In 1926, the association dedicated a week to promoting the achievements of African Americans. February was selected to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also dedicate a month to celebrating Black history.
Register now for OCDE's online colloquium in celeb Register now for OCDE's online colloquium in celebration of Black History Month.

Hosted by Orange County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares and based on the theme “Know My Name, Face and Story,” the presentation will stream live from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 24. 

Visit the OCDE Newsroom for more info, or go to link.ocde.us/colloquium to register.
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