OCDE Newsroom

Weekly roundup: ABC7 spotlights Oxford Academy eighth-grader’s AI tool for eye alignment condition, and more

Madeline Gray May 1, 2026

Katrina Edmunds is presented with the Outstanding Career Awareness Educator Award.

OCDE now accepting nominations for Outstanding STEM Educator awards

Nathaniel Martinez May 1, 2026

Dr. Stefan Bean speaks on a stage during The Wooden Floor’s Step Beyond Annual Breakfast, with blue lighting, curtains and a podium in the background.

County superintendent shares message of resilience and support at Step Beyond Annual Breakfast

Ian Hanigan April 30, 2026

Briseyda Cabrera Mejia of Estancia High School poses with family members after being recognized as a 2026 AVID Senior Standout.

2026 OC AVID senior standouts earn $431,000 in scholarships

Vicky Nguyen April 30, 2026

2027 Orange County Teacher of the Year Ryan Healy receives a $25,000 check from the William, Jeff and Jennifer Gross Family Foundation while receiving congratulations from Superintendent Dr. Bean and his Marco Forster Middle School musical theater students.

OCDE announces 2027 Orange County Teachers of the Year with surprise visits

Staff reports April 29, 2026

Counselors and honorees from the Laguna Beach Unified School District attend the 2023 Orange County Counselor Symposium. (Courtesy of Laguna Beach High School)

OCDE honors five counselors and two counseling advocates for National Counseling Week

Madeline Gray February 8, 2023

Not only do school counselors play a vital role in helping students manage their emotions, they also guide students on...

Students compete in the Super Quiz Relay at the Orange County Academic Decathlon.

Orange County students test their knowledge in annual Super Quiz Relay

Madeline Gray February 7, 2023

On Saturday, Feb. 4, approximately 550 Orange County students put their hard work to the test for the final day...

Vanguard University, OCDE are teaming up for a two-day hybrid conference on human trafficking

Ian Hanigan February 7, 2023

Continuing a five-year partnership in the fight against trafficking and exploitation, Vanguard University and the Orange County Department of Education will jointly host a two-day hybrid conference on human trafficking next month. Presented by Vanguard’s Global Center for Women and...

National School Counseling Week: 4 facts you might not know about school counselors

Staff reports February 6, 2023

All this week, Orange County and the rest of the nation are celebrating the vital contributions of school counselors, who...

A mentor and mentee in Newport-Mesa Unified

Newport-Mesa juniors gain real-world insight, experience through mentor program

Ian Hanigan February 6, 2023

For more than a quarter-century, Newport Harbor High School has offered its juniors the opportunity to connect with mentors as...

Weekly roundup: Santa Ana students become amateur zoologists, OCSA wins mock trial finals, and more

Ian Hanigan February 3, 2023

Monkeys, camels, reptiles and dung beetles — they’ve become part of the school experience for more than 400 Carver Elementary students. As the Orange County Register reported this week, the Santa Ana campus is taking part in a unique pilot...

#kindness1billion: Orange County schools cultivate community through the Great Kindness Challenge

Madeline Gray February 1, 2023

Throughout the week of Jan. 23, students across Orange County set out to leave a positive impact on their schools...

Anaheim Elementary teacher honored for co-authoring book that promotes diversity in STEAM

Ian Hanigan January 31, 2023

The Anaheim Elementary School District recently celebrated a teacher who has co-authored a children’s book that’s part of a series...

person viewing website for homeless education

OCDE develops online training to help schools support students experiencing homelessness

Ian Hanigan January 30, 2023

The Orange County Department of Education’s HOPES Collaborative has created an online training to help educators better understand the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act and how best to support students experiencing homelessness. According to the state, Orange County schools identified approximately...

Weekly roundup: Newport Harbor freshman presents at global festival, OC schools celebrate Lunar New Year, and more

Madeline Gray January 27, 2023

Newport Harbor High School student Ryan Honary will host a panel discussion and present on the systems behind his environmental...