Irvine Unified School District has named its first new superintendent in nearly 14 years, tapping longtime assistant superintendent Cassie Parham.
Parham has served as interim superintendent since February, after the retirement of Terry Walker — who had been in that role since 2011.
“This role is a profound responsibility and honor,” Parham said in a statement. “I understand the enormity of our promise to families to educate and care for their children, and I am committed to upholding the educational excellence that defines IUSD while honoring the legacy of those who have led before me.”
Irvine Unified is the third-largest school district in Orange County, serving more than 38,000 students across 45 schools. The district has 4,100 employees.
Parham served for 18 years as the assistant superintendent of education services, where she oversaw the district’s curriculum and instruction. Before that, she had been a director of secondary education, the principal of Northwood High and an English teacher at University High.
Parham comes from a lineage of Irvine educators. Her father, Jack, also taught at University High, while her mother, Tammy, served as a principal at multiple elementary schools within the district and opened Oak Creek Elementary.
Parham, herself, graduated from Irvine High and holds a master’s degree in English, as well as teaching and administrative credentials, from UC Irvine.
“The IUSD Board of Education is confident that Cassie’s extensive experience, collaborative approach with staff, strong communication skills, and dedication to engaging students and families make her the ideal leader for our district,” Board President Katie McEwen said in a statement. “As a student-centered leader with a proven track record of success, Cassie will continue to build on our tradition of excellence and our promise to provide the highest quality educational experience we can envision for all students.”
