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

Madeline Gray
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)
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)

Every school day, students in Los Alamitos High School’s emergency response pathway are gaining hands-on experience — responding to mock disasters, triaging patients and building the skills they need to save lives.

Now, the career technical education program has received national honors for its commitment to excellence in public safety education. The Law and Public Safety Education Network recently awarded Los Alamitos High School with a National Program of Excellence certification, placing it in a select group of educational institutions that are exceeding the standards for emergency response and public safety instruction.

The Los Alamitos Unified program provides students with industry-informed training in the classroom and opportunities to earn their Emergency Medical Technician certification. Through the meticulous curriculum, students also participate in completing realistic emergency simulations using professional-grade equipment.

Last year, the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program supplied the school with a realistic ambulance simulator complete with interactive mannequins that mimic pulses, blood pressures and respiratory sounds. Watch the video produced by OCDE’s Media Services team to learn more about the real-world training exercises.

“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students,” said Los Alamitos High School Principal Christiana Kraus. “Our Emergency Response Pathway provides life-changing opportunities, giving students the tools and knowledge to pursue careers where they will truly make a difference in the world.”

Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:

  • This summer, California educators will have the opportunity to learn teaching strategies and explore the implementation of three model curriculum projects — Cambodian American Studies, Hmong History and Cultural Studies, and Vietnamese American Experiences — at a four-day professional learning event hosted by the Orange County Department of Education.
From left to right, Mindy Daffron, Dr. Edgar Arce and Jason Claros of OCDE’s Crisis Response Network pose for a team photo.
  • Following January’s fires in Altadena, OCDE’s Crisis Response Network stepped in to offer guidance to Pasadena Unified School District students and staff. Operating seven days a week, the OCDE team continues to provide trauma-informed support to schools in Orange County and beyond before, during and after emergencies.
  • Laguna Beach High School’s annual Model United Nations conference welcomed more than 600 students to take on the role of UN ambassadors and diplomats, debating on a range of global topics through extensive research and pre-written speeches.
  • On Thursday, the Segerstrom High School baseball team in Santa Ana was placed on probation for violating CIF Southern Section bylaws, according to the Orange County Register.
  • Valencia High School photography instructor Mauro Cardoza was recently recognized as an employee of the year by the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program for teaching his students to think critically while gaining hands-on experience through the art of photography.

This is the part where we encourage you to keep up with local education news stories by bookmarking the OCDE Newsroom, subscribing for emailed updates and following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.