Orange County Educational Arts Academy (OCEAA)

OCEAA Site Visit Landing Page

May 19-20, 2025

  • School Profile

    The School Profile offers a high-level overview of the school’s particular context, and includes key data gathered thus far through the Credential process. All participants must review the School Profile before attending the site visit.

    View OCEAA School Profile

  • Site Visit Schedule

    The schedule outlines the logistics of how the school will tell their story in 3DSA during their site visit. Schools draft their agenda in collaboration with their coach, informed by this Site Visit Planning Guidance doc.

    View OCEAA Site Visit Schedule

  • Site Visit Notebook

    All credential site visit participants will be provided with a Site Visit Notebook upon arrival at the school, containing: Site Visit Components & Roles, Attributes of HQW, Site Visit Walkthrough Tools, Data Synthesis Tool, Focus Group Questions, and blank pages for taking notes.

    View the Site Visit Notebook

  • Dual Language Guide

    These tools support EL Education credential program participants in navigating dual-language environments during site visits and renewal presentations. It is designed to uphold equity, access, and authenticity—ensuring all participants can fully “see” the school, regardless of language background.

    View the Dual Language Resource Guide

General Information

Participant Team / Phone Numbers

Jen Wood: 303-588-3613

Ryan Maxwell: 312-369-9606

Deepa Patel: 610-256-8586

Gaby Christensen Ellis: 646-884-4230

Alexis Watt: 917-903-2593

Adam Krusi-Thom: 603-252-5939

Sarah Purdy: 408-771-3303

Shiney Sharma: 571-283-3458

Tina Meglich: 619-301-4871

Dress & Essential Items

  • Dress: Casual (comfortable shoes for walking!)

  • Bring these essential items: Your laptop, Core Practices book, comfortable shoes, and sufficient layers for the weather

SANTA ANA WEATHER

Coding Expenses

(Air & ground travel, lodging & meals):

  • Category: 001: Staff Travel

    Department: 006: Credentialing

    Partners: 189: Orange County Educational Arts Academy

    Institutes & Meetings: 038- Credential Site Visits

    Note: OCEAA Credential Site Visit

  • Please use your own team’s budget and reach out to Jen with questions.

    Partners: 189: Orange County Educational Arts Academy

    Institutes & Meetings: 038- Credential Site Visits

    Note: OCEAA Credential Visit

  • Credential School Leaders please email Deonna at dashley@eleducation.org with your itemized receipts for reimbursement.

SUNDAY, MAY 18

  • Arrival on Sunday, May 18

    —> Est. 11 min / 3.7 mi from John Wayne Airport (SNA) to hotel

    —> Est. 14 min / 7.3 mi from Santa Ana Amtrak Station to hotel

    • Arrival by air :

      *Suggested Ground Transportation: Please take the complimentary hotel shuttle if possible. Shuttles pick up from SNA at :15 and :45 past each hour. To catch the shuttle, go to the lower level of SNA, cross the roadway to the center island, and look for the hotel shuttle (see map here)

    • Otherwise, Uber/Lyft or coordinate carpool with Ryan:

      • Deepa (11:00am arrival)

      • Ryan (11:56am arrival) *Will have a rental car

      • Jen (1:06pm arrival)

      • Sarah (2:55pm arrival)

      • Alexis (5:30pm arrival)

      • Adam (10:20pm arrival)

    • Arrival by ground:

      • Shiney (arrival by Amtrak) (Suggested uber/lyft or coordinate transportation with Ryan)

      • Tina (arrival by car)

      • Gaby (arrival by car)

  • Hotel: Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa

    —> 16 min drive/8.6 mi from hotel to OCEAA

    • Check in at 4pm / Check out by 12pm (* Early check-in requested but not guaranteed)

    • You will be asked to provide credit card info for cost of stay and incidentals, reimbursable by receipt

    • Reservation is held under your name

    • Discounted parking available to EL staff for $20/night (on-site lot or parking garage)

    • Hotel provides complimentary shuttle service between the hotel and SNA

      • Shuttles depart from the hotel at :00 and :30 past each hour, with pick-up located directly in front of the hotel lobby.

  • Sunday Evening Team Huddle

    • 5:00pm PDT in hotel lobby, for all able to join

Sunday Evening Dinner Recommendations

Dinner will be on our own Sunday (choose your own adventure!) Nearby recommendations include:

Bristol Palms Pizza Bar | Pizza | located on the 2nd floor of the hotel | Hours: 11:30am-11pm

Uroko Poke | Japanese food | Distance: 6 min walk (0.3 miles) | Hours: 11am-10pm

The Halal Guys- Costa Mesa | Halal food | Distance: 7 min walk (0.3 miles) | Hours: 10:30am-10pm

Wahoo's Fish Taco Bristol and Baker | Mexican / Seafood |Distance: 7 min walk (0.3 miles) | Hours: 11am-8pm

Seabirds Kitchen | Vegan food | Distance: 13 min walk (0.5 miles) | Hours: 11am-9pm

Memphis Cafe | Southern/Comfort food | Distance: 14 min walk (0.6 miles) | Hours: 8am-9pm

MONDAY, MAY 19

SITE VISIT DAY 1:

Ryan, Gaby & Shiney will coordinate carpool to OCEAA.

  • Hotel features a Starbucks onsite, open at 6:00am & a 24-hour convenience store

  • 6:40-6:45am: Depart hotel

  • 7:05am- Arrive at OCEAA prepared for an intensive day onsite (Internal meeting starting promptly at 7:15am)

  • 7:40am: Breakfast hosted by OCEAA school leaders at the school’s Garden Grill

  • 11:50-1:00pm: Lunch will be delivered from Crave. We will request your lunch orders in the week before the site visit.

  • 3:35-4:30pm: Depart school, take a short break

  • 4:30pm: Depart hotel - head back to school

  • 5:00pm-5:30pm: Watch OCEAA’s End-of-Year showcase on their playground

  • 5:30pm: Leave the showcase early for brief downtime at the hotel before our dinner reservation

  • 6:30pm: We will reconvene at a private meeting room at the Bristol Palms Bistro for our Day 1 Dinner Debrief

DAY 1 DINNER DEBRIEF AT BRISTOL PALMS BISTRO (6:30PM)

The Day 1 Dinner Debrief is a critical component of the credential site visit. After leaving the school and taking a short break, we will re-gather in a private dining room at the hotel’s restaurant (Bristol Palms Bistro) for our Day 1 Dinner Debrief. The reservation is set for 6:30pm.

  • Directions to the private dining room (PDR): It is located on the lobby level, to the side of the restaurant.

  • Please note that alcoholic beverages ordered will be charged to members’ individual tabs.

SITE VISIT DAY 2:

RRyan, Gaby & Shiney will coordinate carpool to OCEAA. Tina will have personal vehicle.

  • Check-out before leaving the hotel (stop by the front desk to avoid late check-out fees)

  • Arrive by 7:30am sharp for another breakfast at OCEAA’s Garden Grill from 7:40-8:00am

  • 12:00-1:10pm: Lunch & Team Debrief. Lunch will be delivered from Koco Sushi. We will request your lunch orders in the week before the site visit

  • 3:00pm: Conclude debrief with leadership team; please stay for a closing circle with staff

  • 3:30pm: Depart school after closing circle with staff

DEPARTURE DETAILS:

Gaby and Tina departing by personal vehicle. Shiney departing by Amtrak.

  • OCEAA is an estimated 6 min drive or 22 min walk (1 mile) to Amtrak

  • OCEAA is an estimated 15 min drive (8.9 miles) to SNA airport

Departing on Tuesday 5/20:

  • Adam (5:40pm), Alexis (5:46pm), & Sarah (6:22pm) coordinate shared uber/lyft to airport.

Departing on Wednesday 5/21:

  • Ryan (7:00am) will drive to airport/return rental car.

  • Deepa (7:30am) and Jen (8:45am) coordinate uber/lyft to airport.

TUESDAY, MAY 20

Introducing Ourselves

We have shared this document (displayed below) with the OCEAA crew to give them a sense of who will be attending this site visit.