Here’s a stat that caught our attention: The Irvine Unified School District has hired 1,156 teachers since 2011.
That amounts to an astonishing 67 percent of IUSD’s teaching staff.
While many Orange County districts are seeing a decline in enrollment, Irvine has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, driven by new residential development in the city. But newer educators continue to share and promote IUSD’s core values, Superintendent Terry Walker said during Irvine’s State of the District presentation on Jan. 18.
“They are passionate, compassionate, flexible and adaptable, student-centered, reflective, collaborative, relationship-centered and courageous,” Walker said.
IUSD’s second annual State of the District was held in the performing arts center at Northwood High School, drawing an audience of staff, community members, students and local dignitaries. Walker, who has led the 35,000-student district since 2011, touched on a number of topics, including teaching, technology, facilities, funding and furthering the skills students will need for success beyond high school.
“I want our schools to prepare kids not just for something,” the superintendent said. “I want them to be prepared for anything because we don’t know what they might face in a world where 70 percent of jobs have not been created yet.”
You can read a full recap of IUSD’s State of the District at www.iusd.org.