OCDE Newsroom

Sam Darnold posing with his retired jersey alongside Head Coach Jaime Ortiz at the Triton Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at the Talega Golf Course in San Clemente.

San Clemente High School alumnus Sam Darnold has jersey retired and is inducted into school’s Hall of Fame

Nathaniel Martinez July 16, 2026

Recipients of the 2025 Outstanding STEM Educator Awards gather for a group photo following last year's awards celebration at the Orange County Department of Education Conference Center in Costa Mesa.

OCDE announces 2026 Outstanding STEM Educators

Vicky Nguyen July 15, 2026

Natalia Abarca, coordinator of OCDE’s Language Services unit, welcomes guests to the 2025 Interpreters and Translators Conference.

Language access professionals to celebrate 10 years of growth at OCDE conference

Vicky Nguyen July 14, 2026

Students in the inaugural Certified Nursing Assistant cohort celebrate completing the tuition-free program offered through a partnership between Orange Unified School District and Santiago Canyon College. Participants completed coursework and hands-on clinical training while still enrolled in high school.

Weekly roundup: Orange Unified, Santiago Canyon College celebrates first certified nursing assistant cohort, and more

Vicky Nguyen July 10, 2026

Dr. Stefan Bean raises his right hand while his four children administer the oath of office during an Orange County Board of Education meeting.

Orange County superintendent, board members sworn in at organizational meeting

Ian Hanigan July 9, 2026

A Laguna Beach Unified student uses a trash picker to sort compost during a districtwide waste audit focused on reducing landfill waste.

Orange County schools and districts recognized with 2025 California Green Ribbon Awards

Vicky Nguyen April 22, 2025

Framed by coastal hills and just steps from the Pacific Ocean, the campuses of the Laguna Beach Unified School District...

Inside the Outdoors celebrates Earth Month with community events

Vicky Nguyen April 22, 2025

Inside the Outdoors, the Orange County Department of Education’s hands-on environmental education program, is once again embracing the spirit of...

Orange County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean, OCDE director of career education Kathy Boyd and more celebrate the 12th annual OC Pathways Showcase with students from 16 local school districts.

OC Pathways earns state recognition in California’s career education master plan

Madeline Gray April 21, 2025

The OC Pathways program, led by the Orange County Department of Education, has been recognized in California’s new Master Plan for Career Education as a model for preparing students for success through high-quality career education and work-based learning. Released by...

Community event will honor the life and legacy of former County Superintendent Dr. Al Mijares

Ian Hanigan April 18, 2025

Educators, community members and civic leaders will gather on Tuesday, April 22, to celebrate the life and legacy of former...

Los Alamitos Unified School District staff and Los Alamitos High School CTE instructors received a national certification plaque from the Law and Public Safety Education Network. (Los Alamitos Unified School District)

Weekly roundup: Los Alamitos High School emergency response pathway named national program of excellence, and more

Madeline Gray April 18, 2025

Every school day, students in Los Alamitos High School’s emergency response pathway are gaining hands-on experience — responding to mock...

Alex Yang, program specialist at OCDE, co-leads a session titled "Empowering Young Minds: Embracing Cultural Identities in Educational Settings" on Nov. 16 during the Cambodian American Model Curriculum Conference in Long Beach.

Summer institute to help educators implement OCDE’s Model Curriculum Projects

Vicky Nguyen April 15, 2025

Educators across California are invited to attend the Model Curriculum Summer Institute, a four-day professional learning event hosted by the Orange County Department of Education. Scheduled for July 28 through July 31 at the Hilton Irvine/Orange County Airport, the institute...

From left to right, Mindy Daffron, Dr. Edgar Arce and Jason Claros of OCDE’s Crisis Response Network pose for a team photo.

OCDE’s Crisis Response Network supports schools during their most difficult days

Vicky Nguyen April 14, 2025

When the Altadena fire forced the closure of schools in the Pasadena Unified School District earlier this year, the Orange...

Dr. Marika Manos, history and social science manager at the Orange County Department of Education, waves to parade attendees with her daughters Penelope and Kalliope and husband Jesse Blomberg during the 17th annual Cambodia Town Parade in Long Beach, where she served as one of five grand marshals.

Weekly roundup: OCDE history manager honored at Cambodia Town Parade, Spectrum News spotlights Inside the Outdoors, and more

Vicky Nguyen April 11, 2025

The Orange County Department of Education’s role in developing a new Cambodian American Studies curriculum was recognized Sunday when its...

OCDE’s Educational Services revamps website to ensure easy access to resources

Nathaniel Martinez April 10, 2025

From classroom instruction to leadership development, the Orange County Department of Education’s Educational Services division offers a wealth of resources designed to support educators in every facet of their work. Whether through hands-on workshops, specialized networks or readily-available resources, teachers...

High School Voter Education Weeks aim to engage students in civic process

Vicky Nguyen April 9, 2025

High School Voter Education Weeks will be observed across California from April 14 through April 25 to promote civic learning...