Kathy Boyd
Director
Career Education and Postsecondary Advancement
714-708-5880
The Career Education & Postsecondary Advancement Unit is a dynamic group that brings together educators and industry leaders with a shared goal of preparing students for successful futures in both college and career endeavors. Through collaborative efforts, our unit develops innovative coursework that seamlessly integrates rigorous academics with practical career preparation. Our programs bridge the gap between community colleges, K12 schools, 4-year colleges, and business/industry partners, fostering a comprehensive network that facilitates work-based learning opportunities for students and career advancement opportunities for educators. We believe in empowering educators by equipping them with cutting-edge learning strategies, enabling them to deliver transformative educational experiences. Our services provide a pivotal role by offering an array of credentialing programs, professional development, and technical assistance tailored to meet the distinct needs of local educators, schools, and districts. Together, OC Pathways and ILD strive to shape the future of education by cultivating a vibrant ecosystem of collaboration, innovation, and student success.
OC Pathways
OC Pathways connects educators and industry leaders to equip students for college and career success. Partners develop coursework that combines rigorous academics with career preparation across the 15 Career Pathways. This county-wide consortium between community colleges, K12s, 4-year colleges, and business/industry partners also creates work-based learning opportunities for students and empowers educators with 21st-century learning strategies.
The Institute for Leadership Development (ILD) provides a wide variety of credentialing programs, professional development, and technical assistance for local educators to meet the unique needs of schools and districts.
Career Technical Education Partnership is a consortium of the Garden Grove, Orange, and Santa Ana Unified School Districts and the Orange County Department of Education. They promote and support college and career readiness through a proven combination of integrated academics, project-based learning, business internships, and career guidance. CTEp creates innovative and rigorous courses that meet state and post-secondary standards and form Career Technical Education Pathways and Integrated Programs of study for middle and high school students. CTEp provides support and oversight in the following areas:
- Pathways/Program of Study Development
- Post-Secondary Partnerships
- Instructional Support/Professional Development
- Legislation/Instructional Initiative and Funding
- Industry Partnerships/Internships/Work-Based Learning
Direct Support Professionals provide direct care for developmentally disabled individuals in licensed community care facilities as outlined by the California Code of Regulations, Title 17. The requirement for the community care facilities direct care staff training was created by Assembly Bill 2780, Chapter 310 enacted in 1998. The Direct Support Professional Training (DSPT) program was developed as a result of this legislation.In 1998, the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) entered into an interagency agreement giving CDE sole responsibility for training and testing for Direct Support Professionals statewide. Currently, there are four Service Hubs involved in the DSPT program.
The Classified Employee Grant seeks to provide guidance and financial assistance to future educators who seek a teaching credential. The Classified Employee Teacher Recruitment Grant awarded by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing provides approximately $3500 per year in reimbursements to assist classified employees pursuing a teaching credential. The grant was awarded in 2022 to the Orange County Department of Education in collaboration with the Butte County Office of Education, Imperial County Office of Education, San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, and San Diego County Office of Education. The five-county consortium was awarded 600 slots.
