Quick look: 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 Orange County Department of Education has formed a newly aligned division that unites its alternative education programs with an array of support services, including mental health, wellness and wraparound supports.
Student Services and Programs will directly support all of OCDE’s ACCESS programs, which offer alternative education options for students facing significant challenges as well as those seeking nontraditional paths. It will also house the department’s services for behavioral and mental health, child welfare and attendance, and supports for students experiencing homelessness and those in foster care.
The new division will be led by Dr. Kimberly Benaraw, who was recently named associate superintendent. Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin, who joined OCDE earlier this year, has been appointed chief of ACCESS and will specifically oversee alternative education.
County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean said the realignment is designed to eliminate silos and build a more cohesive network of academic, behavioral and wellness services for students across Orange County.
“This is a strategic step forward for OCDE,” Dr. Bean said. “By aligning ACCESS with our broader network of student services, we’re creating a more cohesive and coordinated system, one that reflects the vision of our 5-3-1 Strategic Plan and helps us deliver on the promises we’ve made to students, families and educators throughout the county.”
Dr. Kimberly Benaraw
A veteran educator with more than two decades of experience, Benaraw now oversees a wide-ranging portfolio that includes mental health and wellness initiatives.
Benaraw was recently the principal of Robert E. Fisler TK-8 School and lead principal for the Fullerton School District, where she mentored fellow administrators and led districtwide initiatives. Under her leadership, Fisler earned multiple honors, including California Distinguished School recognition in 2023 and 2025 and a Schools to Watch designation.
Before joining Fullerton, Benaraw served in multiple roles, including as an elementary and middle school teacher, an administrator in the Cypress School District and associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction in Los Angeles. She began her career in education in 2003 as a middle school teacher in Torrance, where she taught English, math and English language development.
Benaraw holds a doctorate in educational leadership from Cal State Fullerton, along with degrees from San Jose State University, Pepperdine University and the University of California, Irvine. Over the course of her career, she has earned a reputation for systems thinking, inclusive leadership and a commitment to innovation — strengths that closely align with OCDE’s strategic priorities.
“This new division creates space to think holistically about the needs of our students and how we can work together to meet them,” Benaraw said. “I’m excited to join forces with the dedicated professionals across ACCESS and Student Services to strengthen supports, remove barriers and ensure that more students have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.”
Dr. Maria Martinez-Poulin
Martinez-Poulin joined OCDE in March as director of curriculum and instruction for ACCESS and was promoted to chief on June 23.
ACCESS — short for Alternative, Community, and Correctional Education Schools and Services — offers alternative education programs for students pursuing nontraditional academic paths, as well as those facing significant challenges, including homelessness, foster care or involvement in the juvenile justice system.
With more than 30 years in public education, Martinez-Poulin has served as interim superintendent of Culver City Unified, deputy superintendent of the Los Angeles County Office of Education and superintendent of the Whittier City School District. Earlier in her career, she was a principal, assistant superintendent and classroom teacher.
Since arriving at OCDE, Martinez-Poulin has helped lead the rollout of the ACCESS 2030 Vision — a long-term framework to reimagine the future of ACCESS programs and enhance outcomes for students who face the greatest challenges. Her leadership is rooted in collaboration, uniting schools, families and community partners to build enriching academic experiences and environments of growth and belonging.
She’s also working to expand partnerships with businesses, colleges and community groups to strengthen academic programs and nurture each student’s unique potential.
“In partnership with our dedicated educators, supportive families and valued community members, I am committed to building strong academic programs, fostering innovation and creating learning environments where every student can thrive,” Martinez-Poulin said.
Martinez-Poulin earned her doctorate in educational leadership from USC, a master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University and a bachelor’s degree in literature and composition from Cal State Los Angeles.
OCDE’s big audacious goal
OCDE’s 5-3-1 Strategic Plan, unveiled by County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean in 2024, outlines five key initiatives, three priority service areas for Orange County school districts and one bold goal to strengthen the department’s ACCESS program.
The 5-3-1 plan includes expanding inclusive career technical education, fostering emotional intelligence, integrating AI in education, improving school safety and exploring innovative strategies to fund essential educational programs. But ACCESS represents the “one big audacious goal,” and the creation of the Student Services and Programs division directly supports that commitment.
Through the ACCESS 2030 Vision and related initiatives, Benaraw and Martinez-Poulin will lead efforts to expand inclusive services, close opportunity gaps and strengthen partnerships with families, schools and community organizations.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have two outstanding leaders who understand both the complexity and the promise of this work,” Dr. Bean said. “Their shared commitment to purpose, people and possibility will help guide this next chapter in our story — and I’m excited for what lies ahead.”