The Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment (Birth - Grade 12) Unit
encompasses four departments including Early Learning Services, Humanities, Project GLAD®, and STEM.
Contact us for more information:
Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment (Birth - Grade 12) Unit
Jonathan Swanson, Ed.D. Director
(714) 966-4362
(714) 966-4366
Early Learning Services
Elida Garcia, Ed.D. (714) 327-1073
Early Learning Services provides a wealth of research-based professional learning, coaching, technical assistance, and educational incentives for Orange County early learning and care programs, including public and private preschool, child care, TK, Kindergarten, and community partners serving young children.
Humanities
Trish WalshAdministrator
(714) 966-4325
As Humanities educators, we support districts and teachers by providing customized services to ensure best first instruction in literacy, language, social sciences and the arts with culturally and linguistically responsive curriculum and research-based strategies available through professional learning, coaching and networks. High quality, differentiated instruction in the Humanities prepares all students for college, career and civic life so they are able to enrich their communities and participate in our dynamic world.
Humanities Teams
Project GLAD®
Nicole Chavez, Ed.D. Administrator
(714) 966-4350
Orange County Department of Education is home to the National Training Center for Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design). Project GLAD® is recognized as a model reform program and best practices program for Title III by the California Department of Education, a California School Boards Association (CSBA) Golden Bell Recipient and awarded as a model of “Academic Excellence” by the US Department of Education. This model supports the needs of all learners, while emphasizing the distinct targeted supports of Multilingual Learners/Emergent Bilinguals/English Learners in our classroom settings. Our team works with school systems, administrators, educators, coaches and families in research-based and practiced strategies to make content comprehensible into and through all content areas, while acquiring language. This model, with over 60 strategies, builds academic language, increases language proficiency and builds confidence within educators and students in teaching and learning. Great for integrated and designated ELD instruction, we provide Foundations Pathways for GLAD® Educators, Administrators, Coaches and Educators, a Trainer in-Training Pathway and customized supports.
STEM
Holly Steele Administrator
The OCDE STEM team supports STEM education through diverse spaces within the educational community. The K-12-focused STEM team provides evidence-based strategies and practices that spark innovation, promote collaboration, and showcase hands-on/minds-on teaching and learning through an integrated STEM education. Our Inside the Outdoors team serves to empower students, teachers, parents and the community to explore natural areas and expand their knowledge, understanding, and stewardship of the environment through a variety of programs. And the Orange County System of Support for Expanded Learning (OC SSEL), provides Technical Assistance (TA) to all After School Education and Safety (ASES), 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) and ASSETs Programs utilizing professional learning and development, communications and brokering of resources.
