OCDE Education in the News

Monday, March 20, 2023

OCDE NEWSROOM

OCDE announces the 2023 Orange County Classified Employees of the Year

The 2023 Orange County Classified School Employees of the Year are nine exemplary school workers who pour their hearts into the roles and communities they serve. On Monday, the Orange County Department of Education announced this year’s winners from a pool of 73 district level-honorees based on their work performance, leadership, dedication and involvement with their schools and communities.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/ocde-announces-the-2023-orange-county-classified-employees-of-the-year/

Weekly roundup: Newport-Mesa’s Spyder Lab gives students business skills, MTSS conference opens registration, and more

There was a time when Back Bay High School senior Davian Gonzalez didn’t look forward to going to school or planning for college, but that changed once he stepped foot into the Spyder Lab on campus. This school year, the Newport-Mesa Unified School District unveiled the program as part of its Business Management Career Technical Education pathway, which features professional machines for embroidering, engraving, cutting, sublimation and more.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/weekly-roundup-newport-mesas-spyder-lab-gives-students-business-skills-ca-mtss-conference-opens-registration-and-more/

Warner Middle School prioritizes student growth at ‘Stranger Things’-themed conference

Warner Middle School students showed their peers how to improve their communication, embrace their individuality and prepare for their future during a “Stranger Things”-themed Kid Conference on Wednesday, March 8. This annual student-led event was created more than 20 years ago at the Westminster School District campus to encourage greater student involvement on campus and help students develop stronger communication skills, said principal Dr. Kenneth Lopour.

https://newsroom.ocde.us/warner-middle-school-prioritizes-student-growth-at-stranger-things-themed-conference/

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Orange County high school Artist of the Year nominees announced

The Orange County Register is proud to announce the 2023 nominees for the Artist of the Year program. Designed as a companion to the annual high school Athlete of the Year honors, this program honors top junior and senior artists in Orange County.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/03/19/orange-county-high-school-artist-of-the-year-nominees-announced/

‘Eat smart, play hard,’ kids learn during school trip to grocery store

Children from Lincoln Elementary School in Anaheim got a crash course in nutrition this week, as they roamed the Northgate Grocery store chanting, “Eat smart, play hard!” Fourth- and fifth-grade students made the school’s annual pilgrimage to the market to learn the importance of eating healthy and exercising. They visited six stations for five minutes each, including the physical activity booth, ironically in the bakery department.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/03/17/eat-smart-play-hard-kids-learn-during-school-trip-to-grocery-store/

Anaheim High turns 125 years old

Anaheim High celebrates 125 years of educating local students this year. At a campus celebration, alumni, students and community members enjoyed school performances, sang the alma mater, saw a new school logo unveiled and showed their spirit for the oldest of Anaheim Union High School District’s nine campuses and the third oldest high school in Orange County.

https://www.ocregister.com/2023/03/17/anaheim-high-celebrates-125/

LOS ANGELES TIMES

DAILY PILOT

Through portraits, Costa Mesa students and Ukrainian refugees share a connection

Costa Mesa High and Middle School art teacher Keli Marchbank cries every year when she watches the video sent to her and her students from the Memory Project, an organization that aims to create “a kinder world through art.”

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2023-03-18/through-portraits-costa-mesa-students-and-ukrainian-refugees-share-a-connection

DAILY PILOT

Huntington Beach City School District names Elena Spencer its Teacher of the Year

The district also honored Jacqueline Hayes and Jolene Stout as its Classified Employees of the Year.

https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2023-03-17/huntington-beach-city-school-district-names-elena-s

Labor board won’t halt LAUSD strike for now, but could still act after a Monday review

A last-ditch legal effort by the Los Angeles school district has failed for now to avert a three-day strike and school closures scheduled for Tuesday, but district officials said Sunday that their case remains under consideration by a state labor board and that a decision could come as soon as Monday.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-03-19/labor-board-wont-halt-lausd-strike-for-now-as-shutdown-looms

CAPISTRANO DISPATCH

Community Honors Ambuehl Elementary Student for Overcoming Brain Tumor

Ambuehl Elementary School Student Edward Reising has overcome a brain tumor—a battle that has earned praise from San Juan Capistrano officials and community members. In recognition of his resilience, Reising will get to ride in this year’s Swallows Day Parade on Saturday, March 25 in a fire truck with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Authority.

https://www.thecapistranodispatch.com/community-honors-ambuehl-elementary-student-for-overcoming-brain-tumor/

SACRAMENTO BEE

Amid ongoing teacher and staff shortage, Sacramento county schools turn to job fair

School districts across California are still struggling with teacher and staffing shortages even as retirements and concerns about the pandemic have waned. About 20,000 teaching positions are still vacant across California. About 2,300 positions remain unfilled in Sacramento County schools.

https://www.sacbee.com/news/local/education/article273280005.html#storylink=cpy

SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

California ethnic studies classes are sparking controversy as mandate looms

The angry emails poured into central office inboxes at San Mateo Union High School District. More than 800 missives from inside and outside the community complained about the district’s ethnic studies courses.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/ethnic-studies-graduation-racism-17829451.php

EDSOURCE

AI in school: Virtually chatting with George Washington and your personal GPT-4 tutor

Khan Academy is first off the block to apply the new GPT-4 artificial intelligence software to education with Khanmigo.

https://edsource.org/2023/ai-in-school-virtually-chatting-with-george-washington-and-your-personal-gpt-4-tutor/687055

DAILY BREEZE

Picket lines announced for Tuesday as hope fades for strike-averting LAUSD deal

Officials for the Service Employees International Local 99 union said they were "moving forward with plans to strike" Tuesday through Thursday.

https://www.dailybreeze.com/2023/03/19/picket-lines-announced-for-tuesday-as-hope-fades-for-strike-averting-lausd-deal/

KPCC

Where to Find Food, Child Care During Los Angeles Unified Strike School Shutdown

Los Angeles Unified School District is set to be closed next week from Tuesday, March 21 to Thursday, March 23 during a planned strike of 65,000 teachers and other staff . “It is virtually impossible to keep schools open on a basis of supervision, safety, and security,” said LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho during a press conference Wednesday.

https://laist.com/news/education/los-angeles-unified-school-district-labor-strike-2023-child-care

LAGUNA BEACH INDEPENDENT

Morrison named Orange County Technology Administrator of the Year

Laguna Beach Unified School District Chief Technology Officer Michael Morrison was named 2023 Technology Administrator of the Year by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 17, covering all Orange County school districts.

https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/morrison-named-orange-county-technology-administrator-of-the-year/

OTHER NEWS OUTLETS

Carvalho faces ‘defining moment’ as L.A.’s largest unions prepare to strike

After Alberto Carvalho’s first three months as superintendent of the Los Angeles schools, Nery Paiz, president of the district’s administrators’ union, predicted the job would only “get exponentially harder.” He was right.

https://www.laschoolreport.com/carvalho-faces-defining-moment-as-l-a-s-largest-unions-prepare-to-strike/

LBUSD, TALB will meet next week in hopes of avoiding impasse, state mediation

Bargaining teams for the Long Beach Unified School District and the Teachers Association of Long Beach will meet again next week for a Hail Mary negotiating session to try and avoid an impasse. The two sides have been stuck for weeks in negotiations over pay increases and a proposal to add four student-free days to the school calendar, with TALB’s executive board voting to reject the district’s final offer earlier this week.

https://lbpost.com/news/lbusd-talb-will-meet-next-week-in-hopes-of-avoiding-impasse-state-mediation

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