Following a comprehensive search that included input from staff, students, parents, and community members, the IUSD Board of Education has selected Interim Superintendent Cassie Parham as the District’s next Superintendent. Parham has served as Interim Superintendent since February 2025, after the retirement of Terry Walker. In her new role, she will oversee one of the highest-performing school districts in the state and nation, and the third-largest school district in Orange County, serving more than 38,000 students, spanning 45 schools, and supported by 4,100 employees.
Parham’s appointment marks the continuation of a distinguished career in public education. During the three decades she served in IUSD, she guided the District through significant educational shifts to meet the evolving needs of students and prepare them for college, career, and life. Her leadership emphasizes the importance of honoring the whole child and equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for both academic and personal success.
Dedicated to IUSD’s core mission of continuous improvement, Parham works closely with administrators, teachers, and staff to maximize limited resources and maintain a student-centered focus, prioritizing academic excellence, educational equity, mental health and wellness, innovative teaching, and meaningful family engagement. Cassie’s deep understanding of the unique culture of Irvine Unified will be instrumental in maintaining the District’s commitment to providing students with exceptional education opportunities, welcoming learning environments, and world-class schools and facilities.
“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," said Board President Katie McEwen. "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."
Prior to her current role, Cassie served for 18 years as the Assistant Superintendent of Education Services, overseeing the District’s Elementary and Secondary Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, and Student Support Services departments. Parham began her IUSD career as an English teacher at University High School, in the same classroom where her father, Jack Parham, first taught. Cassie’s mother, Tammy, also served as a principal at multiple elementary schools within the District and opened Oak Creek Elementary. Parham later worked as an Activities Director, Pep Squad Advisor, and Assistant Principal at both Northwood and Irvine High Schools, before becoming the Principal at Northwood High School. In 2007, she was promoted to Director of Secondary Education before assuming the role of Assistant Superintendent in 2008.
A proud product of IUSD schools, Parham attended University Park Elementary School, Santiago Hills Elementary School, Sierra Vista Middle School, and Irvine High School before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts in English from the University of California, Irvine (UCI). She also holds both teaching and administrative credentials from UCI.
“I am grateful to the Board of Education for the opportunity of a lifetime to serve as IUSD’s Superintendent,” said Parham. “This role is a profound responsibility and honor. 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. Together with our dedicated, talented, and caring staff, and in collaboration with our students, parents, and community, I look forward to continuing the critically important work of helping our students learn, grow, explore their passions, and realize their potential.”
Please join IUSD in congratulating Cassie Parham.