Countywide : A Layman’s View of Education

Dean McCormick has served on the Orange County Board of Education for 18 years. But don’t call him an educator.

“I’m the first to admit it: I’m not an educator,” said the 64-year-old North Tustin resident, who was recently appointed president of the board. “I’m just an average businessman. And I think that’s an important vantage point to have.”

This year marks the seventh time that the board has selected McCormick as its leader. As president, he will preside over board meetings and work closely with officials from the county Department of Education.

McCormick, the general manager of a courier service, attributed his length of service to a deep interest in schools and an ability to look at educational issues in a layman’s terms.

“I have a great belief in public education and its importance to the community,” he said. “I can ask many questions because I am not an educator.”

The Department of Education runs about 20 school sites, including campuses for severely disabled students, wards of the courts and habitual truants.

McCormick said he is proud of a recent reorganization of department management that made the agency “leaner but stronger.”

Voters have elected McCormick to the board four times. Before joining the board, he served in parent organizations at Tustin schools attended by his children.