Irvine families welcomed a new school year last month as students embarked on the 2025-26 year at campuses across the city. Irvine Unified Superintendent Cassie Parham begins her first full year at the helm, and she shares some thoughts about the nationally renowned schools in the district and tips for success, as well as some of the new programs students can expect.
What new programs or technology do you have for this year?
We’re bringing back the Student Shadowing Project this year so that our educators can immerse themselves in what it means to be a student for a day. Our past experiences with student shadowing helped us gain deeper insight into our students’ experiences.
We’ve installed voice amplification systems in classrooms so that regardless of where students sit, they are able to hear their teachers and their peers, and we committed to infusing more movement into instruction, because we know how important it is for students to re-energize and take brain breaks.
What are some accolades, and what does that say about education in Irvine?
We are proud to be ranked No. 1 in state standardized testing among school districts with 35,000 students and above and to see our high schools consistently ranked in U.S. News & World Report. For the 14th consecutive year, IUSD has also been named a Best Community for Music Education by the NAMM Foundation.
Some of our most lauded programs are supported by generous contributions from community partners, such as Irvine Company and the Donald Bren Foundation. Over the past 20 years, their nearly $50 million investment through the Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund has been integral to the success of our arts, science and music programs for students in grades four through six. Over 200,000 students have benefited from this investment, which for so many children has inspired an enduring love for arts and science.
What do you see for IUSD in the next 5-10 years?
We know that as artificial intelligence reshapes our world, preparing our staff and students to leverage it is non-negotiable, so we are embedding AI tools into our work. Our first professional learning day of the year focused explicitly on how we can use AI to maximize the talents of our educators and staff so they can support our students. IUSD is leaning into this transformation. We know AI is already changing the nature of the job market, and preparing our students for the professions of the future is critically important.
